How did we all get here?

[CURVE]

In 1976 my parents purchased a colour TV to watch the Olympics. One afternoon I was flicking through our 2 channels when a football match came on. It turned out to be 1976 Grand Final, and I picked the Royal Blue and White because I thought the Brown and Yellow colours reminded me of my baby sisters (about 2 months old at time) soiled nappies. Disgusting colours.
Even though we lost I stuck with the Royal Blue and White, although a few year later I almost switched to Carlton, because I was a big Bruce Doull fan. The only player I liked more was Keith Greig.

 

[spurs]

Thank God for Ron Barrassi!

You see my Dad decided to follow North because he thought Barrassi would be a great coach. He didnt really follow a team at that stage. He decided that he if anyone can lift a team to the flag it would be him. Well he was right ( 75, 77),Barrassi was not only a great player but soon turned out to be one of the best coaches ever.
Dad took me to Waverley park, the G and Arden st.Unfortunately Barrassi then decided to coach the Dees, so Dad thought ( obviously not too well) that he will follow Melbourne
I couldnt believe it ! So i thought his loss, as i love the Roos and always will. I was 6 at the time.
Dad doesnt really watch the footy that much anymore.Maybe because Barrassi has retired from coaching . I will say that when he does watch the Footy on tv Dad follows the Roos! Even though he still wont admit it to me i know he follows the Roos now.
I live in Perth now for the past few years so its pretty hard to see the Roos now, although i watch them every week on the tv. When you have a young child, footy needs to take a backward step for now.I did buy her a Roos jumpsuit so hopefully she will get the hint and follow the Roos.
Looking forward to next year now. Cant wait to see how our young guns will go now they have had another year of footy in them.

Thanks Barrassi and Dad for letting me join one of the best clubs in the world.

Go Roos

 

[utility]

Next door neighbour, who was like an uncle to me, was at the time head trainer of North.

 

[thumping]

My parents migrated here from Greece back in the early 60's.I was born in the early 70's.
My father was a big soccer fan and didn't really understand Footy.It wasn't until grade 1 that I started follwing the Roos.
I was given a South Melbourne soccer top (Blue and White stripes) so when I went to school I used to get Bagged for following the Roos by the majority of kids who followed either the Pies,Hawks,Tiges or Blues.
I didn't have clue what Aussie Rules was until we got our first T.V and saw a replay of one of the Roos games, THAT WAS IT I was hooked!!!!!!!
Needless to say that it was me having the last laugh and I still continue to do so with my 2 kids and Wife which I bought over from the dark side (Pies) I wouldn't marry her until she bought a membership .
Even my mum who is your typical Greek mama is a ROO fanatic.
Dad,well he sought of Followed the Pies but just before he went to see the man upstairs he said " son I am wearing your Roo badge for my final journey if thats o.k" he knew what the Roos meant to me and for me The Roos will always be more than "Just a Football team"..........

GO YOU KANGAS.........

 

[Scottroo]

didnt really follow AFL for my first 6 years born 1985-1991, then in Adelaide crow mania hit, i still remember going to crows games and cheering my lungs out for them!

1996 roos Vs Sydney grand final, went to a bbq with my folks heaps of my mates were there, the crows not being in the gf and allot of adelaides people hate for wayne carey, 95% of the people at the bbq went for the swans, i thought id be different and go for the roos just for that game...was happy they won, but you know not extatic! then decided in 1997 id be a roo, only to see the crows win 2 flags in a row!

 

[mav-1]

Sitting on my grandma's floor watching the Winners on a Sunday night a here in Perth I was devastated when my dad explained the tigers that I was watching wasn't the same Tigers as those Might Monts. I hated Richmond for that (and still do ya ya). And then Phil and Jimmy moved over to some place called Melbourne....to be precise North Melbourne. How could they leave But then I realised I could still watch the magic sitting on my grandma's floor on. I used to love those Sunday nights, stuffing my face with Sponge cake praying for a glimpse of the Roo's.....Come n Drew shows us the Roos....I want to see the Roos....SHOW ME THE BLOODY ROOS. All these years later and I still screem the same thing...just at Bloody Eddie!

 

[Kangamad]

I like a few others lived in Kensington. My father was an active member of north in the 30s and 40s. Most of family supports North, but like all families have a couple of rebels. Used to jump the fence at Arden Street in the 60s and watch the roos suffer defeat after defeat, but when we won you couln't buy a sporting globe (old newspaper that used to be published on Sat nights) for miles.

Lucky enough to see 75 flag, and the amount of people that said they would be happy to go their graves now was amazing.

My family support north now as well. For me it is in your blood and although we (loyal supporters) may not be many we are dedicated. Over the past 10 years we have been so privledged to see so many fine Roo players. Hopefully in the next 10 we will also see a couple of flags and more fine players in the blue and white.

Go those might roo boys.

 

[daggles]

It's in the blood. My grandparents followed North in the VFA days and my Grandfathers uncle played in the Roos first ever game in the VFL. They went through some tough times before '75. Where i grew up i was the only North supporter in the entire Primary school then in High school there was one other girl who had any taste. Everyone barracked for either Richmond, Collingwood or Carlton. My brother the turncoat follows Richmond and he's got what he deserves with their crap performances for the last 20 years!
I,ve managed to turn my partner and 2 daughters into one eyed Roos and will love the club til the day i die!! Go Rooboys!!

 

[Tiberius]

I grew up kinda close to Waverley (VFL park) and being a bit of an Essendon supporter my dad naturally couldn't read the fixture properly, so at the age of six I ended up at a Kangaroos vs Demons match. Knowing that my grade one teacher barracked for the demons, I chose to follow the Kangas, and have ever since. Graham (or Graeme) Melrose was my first sporting idol.

 

[GoNorth]

As a kid, I used to DETEST football. Dad would watch nothing else on a Saturday night except the football replays (first on channel 7 and then 'The Winners' on channel 2). We thought it was very boring. In 1977, I had a disagreement with my Collingwood-supporting father about something. North were playing Collingwood in the replay of the GF the next weekend. Because I was cheesed off with my father, I hoped that the 'other team' would win, meaning his team (Collingwood) would lose. We all know the result! I started following North the next year and attended my first game at the MCG. It was against Melbourne and Ross Glendinning kicked ten goals. I remember people in the crowd being amazed at him getting ten goals and everyone was talking about it, but I didn't know that it was something special, at that time. My mother (who, like me, had previously had little interest in footy) came with me to the first game and we have both been loyal North Melbourne supporters (and members) ever since!

 

[daggles]

As a kid, I used to DETEST football. Dad would watch nothing else on a Saturday night except the football replays (first on channel 7 and then 'The Winners' on channel 2). We thought it was very boring. In 1977, I had a disagreement with my Collingwood-supporting father about something. North were playing Collingwood in the replay of the GF the next weekend. Because I was cheesed off with my father, I hoped that the 'other team' would win, meaning his team (Collingwood) would lose. We all know the result! I started following North the next year and attended my first game at the MCG. It was against Melbourne and Ross Glendinning kicked ten goals. I remember people in the crowd being amazed at him getting ten goals and everyone was talking about it, but I didn't know that it was something special, at that time. My mother (who, like me, had previously had little interest in footy) came with me to the first game and we have both been loyal North Melbourne supporters (and members) ever since!

It is sheer bliss when someone sees the light and hops on board the Roo train but even better when they've upgraded from the filthy maggots!!!

 

[kangaroo7]

My mother was raised in Kensington and her father used to watch North play when they were in the VFA. My Dad lived in the Coburg-Brunswick area in many different houses and knew several Carlton players of the time as many of them lived in the area. But he was swayed to North when he went with his future father-in-law to the 1945 first semi-final--North's first finals appearance.
I also remember going to Arden St many times in the 60s--and other grounds--to watch North get beaten. The first game I went to was Collingwood v North in 1961 at Victoria Park.
I was laughed at when I wore my North Melbourne jumper to primary school --most kids followed Collingwood, Essendon or Melbourne. Scorn and derision continued throughout high school and work. I finally had my revenge in 1975. Got into the MCG with a ticket purchased outside the ground on the same day. Pure magic seeing North finally win a flag.
My two sons are keen North fans. My wife has little interest in football but follows Collingwood because she "likes the colours"--although I've told her that black and white are not colours! My elder son's wife was in the Richmond cheer squad when she was younger but also now has little interest.

 

[Ghostwriter]

For me it probably started with M Blight, playing for Woodville who as a 6 year old I followed and when he went to North I think that was the reason, other than that it was probably scanlon footy cards, me and my brothers used to collect them, it was a choice between Schimma, L Matthews and Southby, also liked the name M Nolan for some reason, I also like the name Schimmelbusch, plus the added bonus of winning a couple of flags at the decision making time helped.
Also remember going to Footy park to watch SA play Vic and secretly hoping Victoria would win because K Greig and Schimma were playing.

 

[roogirl]

Never had a choice.(not that you need one)
Both my parents are North, My Dad is from North Melbourne, played in the under19s. My Mum was from Kensington.She went to the footy with her Parents and Grandmother. Have been going to the footy since I was a toddler, When my son was born he never had a choice either it was in his blood. He is now a 5th generation and loves his Kangaroos.

 

[GoNorth]

It is sheer bliss when someone sees the light and hops on board the Roo train but even better when they've upgraded from the filthy maggots!!!

For goodness sake, don't misunderstand me! I was NEVER a Collingwood supporter and neither was my mother. Hell, I'm practically hyperventilating at the disgusting thought that you might think I once barracked for Collingwood.

 

[Glory Days]

I think it was 1974 and Carlton had played in a GF (?¿). I told my mum I wanted a Bluebagger footy jumper and planned to jump on the bandwagon at the ripe old age of 5.

Next day mum returned with a Kangaroos jumper, as all the Carlton jumpers had been sold out! Much to my utter dismay. But I donned the glorious royal blue & white and suffice to say that after 2 premierships I was forever sold on them rooboys. Thank Christ that shop had sold out of Carlton jumpers....

I now thank my mother every day for her fortuitous choice!

 

[greg]

My old man made the NM final list in the late forty's, however he had me very late in life so I'm not as old as this would indicate.

He never actually played game with Nth as he went back up the bush and played country footy before the VFL season started. He subsequently won three club B&F's and League B&F in the bush resulting in letters from Coll and Rich to come back to Melb,

Thank God he never went!! there wasn't big money in footy in those days and he had a steady job and was being looked after so to speak.

However he always regretted never comming back to Melb to play league

He was mad Nth Melb and made me say the words Nth Melb before I could say anythig else.

Part of his family, the city branch, are original Nth Melb people.

His Aunty, my great Aunty (now dec) is a life member of Nth and was rumoured to have tipped in the cash required to purchse Malcom Blight when the tin tank was empty after Nths spending spree in the 70's

All my family are NM except for one rebel, my elderly mother still goes every week and is as one eyed as anyone I know.

 

[tashibatts]

Honestly.. NFI.. remember at After School care once somebody asked me who I went for (I was like 6/7), I had no idea about anything football so they rolled out a list of club names for me.. and I said North Melbourne.. first game was in 96 (? I think- maybe 95) I slept for most of it, woke up for the last siren and North had won and won big v WCE.. dad went for the Eagles at that time.. but I wasn't really a fan of footy until I think grade 4- probably 5 or somethin, I watched a game North v Sydney.. and we got thrashed, and I got really emotional about it.. I don't even know why.. but have followed North like a follow the direction of my feet ever since.

Go Roos

 

[greg]

Honestly.. NFI.. remember at After School care once somebody asked me who I went for (I was like 6/7), I had no idea about anything football so they rolled out a list of club names for me.. and I said North Melbourne.. first game was in 96 (? I think- maybe 95) I slept for most of it, woke up for the last siren and North had won and won big v WCE.. dad went for the Eagles at that time.. but I wasn't really a fan of footy until I think grade 4- probably 5 or somethin, I watched a game North v Sydney.. and we got thrashed, and I got really emotional about it.. I don't even know why.. but have followed North like a follow the direction of my feet ever since.

Go Roos

Sensational

 

[tashibatts]

Sensational

Thanks But I do have to ask.. why?

Go Roos

 

[greg]

Thanks But I do have to ask.. why?

Go Roos

Because most of us had no choice in the matter, we were brought up as Nth supporters by parents (I'm not complaining)

But to make a conscious decision to follow Nth is great

 

[tashibatts]

Because most of us had no choice in the matter, we were brought up as Nth supporters by parents (I'm not complaining)

But to make a conscious decision to follow Nth is great

Ahh k.. well maybe I should read this thread a little more closely.. I got to about the third post then posted myself..

Go Roos

 

[countryroo]

I was a South Melbourne from when I was young. I continued to follow them when they went to Sydney but when Eddlesten took over & wanted to disassociate the Sydney swans from South Melbourne I chucked it in. I was in the wilderness for a couple of years & lost interest in foooty. Then because people kept asking who I baracked for I decided I should have a team...this was late 80's when the Roos were down, but I think the main driiving influence on my decision was that i knew supporters of so many other clubs & North seemed to have the best (& least). So I started to follow the roos but it took until the mid 90's before I really became interested & started going to games again.
Its not often we get a choice as an adult to pick a team to follow, so that was probably good....I hope I never have to make that choice again because I will probably just forget footy.

 

[Shinboners]

but have followed North like a follow the direction of my feet ever since.

So eloquent.

 

[Z_K]

I think it was when my Dad said I follow North or I am not allowed to play, watch or attend football.

I think I was about two.