How do fans decide which team they support?

[Philth]

Jumped on the Brisbane bandwagon when they won 3 in a row. Stuck fat during the s**t years and looking forward to a bright future.

I have a mate who did exactly the same thing.
Only difference is that he lives in Perth. Filthy bandwagoner.
He's remained loyal though.

 

[Philth]

Back in the 70's my Ma took my siblings and I to games at Claremont oval to watch the mighty Tigers play.
This is how I became a Claremont man. This is also why, as much as the modern AFL supporter finds it hard to believe, I am a Claremont man as much as someone who goes for Collingwood, Essendon, Footscray et al is a supporter or identifies with their teams.

I barrack for Freo and WCE whenb I watch them, but they aren't my first footy love.

I'd love to go back in time and see some WAFL matches of the 70s and 80s.
Some of my older Perth mates talk about the epic crowds/games/rivalry.
Great times.

 

[Tigerlaird]

Well it depends on the sport.

Usually in city v city or state v state leagues people will support the city/state they were born/grew up in. This is usually the case for sports like Association Football, Baseball, NFL, etc.

In a suburban comp like AFL people's allegiance is more towards the club rather than the city that the club is located in, so who your family/friends support could have a big influence, or maybe you just like the colours/song/moto/emblem/values of a particular club.

For example, Richmond, Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon fans may deeply hate each other as they are rivals in the AFL, but may all come together as Melbourne Victory fans in the A-League (or whatever city they're from).

It could be argued that Adelaide United is the one team to keep the peace between Port and Crows fans during the AFL off season

 

[Sky]

My old man (geelong fan) ensured I would follow...however my younger sister when she was only around 5/6 years old was given a dermott brereton badge by the old man after going to a hawks game for school and since then she has gone for hawthorn, married a hawthorn supporter and now have 2 hawthorn supporting kids.


Absolutely tragic, one of the worst decisions the old man ever made! Would have been happy with literally ANY other team! Was like losing someone to an extremist ideology! Hahaha

Don’t know how old you are but you both lucked out with these teams. Hawks more flags but Cats at least always up!

 

[Bartel84]

Not really sure except I saw Gary Ablett SNR play and was hooked.

I was a saints fan for a year thank god I changed when I was 6. Dodged a bullet

My entire family other than that is hawthorn.

 

[NetworkNerd]

Italian background so liked Dipper... Dermott was on the bread... nothing too interesting for me

 

[Engimal v3]

I'm surprised at how common it seems to have picked a footy team. I was under the assumption that everyone was brainwashed by their old man.

 

[The wily weagle]

Ross Glendenning saved me from a lifetime of pain

When i was about 4 years old (the year eagles came into the competition), me and my family were staying in a Melbourne hotel. Now at that time, my dad (who is a mad St Kilda supporter) was trying desperately to turn me into a saints supporter, and i believe we were even in Melbourne that weekend to watch a St Kilda game

Anyhow, we are sitting in the hotel lobby and in walks Ross Glendenning. Now me being a 4 year old i had no idea who he was, but my parents certainly did. They strike up a conversation with him and at the end of that conversation he leant down to me (at 4 years of age i remember thinking he was like a giant, he was a big guy) and he says to me:

"So, who do you go for in the footy mate?"
"Um, i dont really go for anyone"
"Well, why dont we sign you up as an eagles supporter!"

So he takes my mum and dads details, and about 3 weeks later a little Eagles jumper and football arrive in the mail from WA. Have gone for them ever since

So Ross, wherever you are, thank you. You saved me from turning into a depressed miserable bastard that has lived close to half a century and still wouldn't have seen St Kilda win a flag. As it stands, i am grateful to have witnessed the Eagles win 4

 

[hilly]

Ross Glendenning saved me from a lifetime of pain

When i was about 4 years old (the year eagles came into the competition), me and my family were staying in a Melbourne hotel. Now at that time, my dad (who is a mad St Kilda supporter) was trying desperately to turn me into a saints supporter, and i believe we were even in Melbourne that weekend to watch a St Kilda game

Anyhow, we are sitting in the hotel lobby and in walks Ross Glendenning. Now me being a 4 year old i had no idea who he was, but my parents certainly did. They strike up a conversation with him and at the end of that conversation he leant down to me (at 4 years of age i remember thinking he was like a giant, he was a big guy) and he says to me:

"So, who do you go for in the footy mate?"
"Um, i dont really go for anyone"
"Well, why dont we sign you up as an eagles supporter!"

So he takes my mum and dads details, and about 3 weeks later a little Eagles jumper and football arrive in the mail from WA. Have gone for them ever since

So Ross, wherever you are, thank you. You saved me from turning into a depressed miserable bastard that has lived close to half a century and still wouldn't have seen St Kilda win a flag. As it stands, i am grateful to have witnessed the Eagles win 4

Great bloke RG. Wish he had got to you a year earlier!

 

[Sky]

Geelong chose me when I was 7; I didn’t pick it. Paid off 3 years later

 

[FrustratedTiger]

I don't understand this concept of deciding what team you support? I always thought you were just born that way

 

[Carringbush2010]

Family.

Grandfathers 1st cousin was Pies captain.

 

[Philth]

I don't understand this concept of deciding what team you support? I always thought you were just born that way

Not really. My old man was a Pies supporter, but not overly passionate and was happy for me to choose my own team (first footy socks were yellow and black).
I live in WA now, and encourage my 2 boys to support the Tigers.
But we are a long way from Melbourne, so they can't go and see them play any time they want. If they change to Eagles/Dockers I won't protest.

 

[Tigerlaird]

Ross Glendenning saved me from a lifetime of pain

When i was about 4 years old (the year eagles came into the competition), me and my family were staying in a Melbourne hotel. Now at that time, my dad (who is a mad St Kilda supporter) was trying desperately to turn me into a saints supporter, and i believe we were even in Melbourne that weekend to watch a St Kilda game

Anyhow, we are sitting in the hotel lobby and in walks Ross Glendenning. Now me being a 4 year old i had no idea who he was, but my parents certainly did. They strike up a conversation with him and at the end of that conversation he leant down to me (at 4 years of age i remember thinking he was like a giant, he was a big guy) and he says to me:

"So, who do you go for in the footy mate?"
"Um, i dont really go for anyone"
"Well, why dont we sign you up as an eagles supporter!"

So he takes my mum and dads details, and about 3 weeks later a little Eagles jumper and football arrive in the mail from WA. Have gone for them ever since

So Ross, wherever you are, thank you. You saved me from turning into a depressed miserable bastard that has lived close to half a century and still wouldn't have seen St Kilda win a flag. As it stands, i am grateful to have witnessed the Eagles win 4

That's a beautiful story mate!

 

[Tigerlaird]

I don't understand this concept of deciding what team you support? I always thought you were just born that way

Traditionally yes, but nowadays people come and choose. Especially newcomers to the sport who have no historical supporter heritage from their parents.

 

[Toump Ass]

I'm surprised at how common it seems to have picked a footy team. I was under the assumption that everyone was brainwashed by their old man.

My dad barracks for Saint Kilda, he’s miserable as ****. No way I wanted part of that.

So fair enough my own son can choose his club too, but I do think supporting the small clubs builds a little character. He gets a choice between Dees, North, Saints or Dogs.

Anyone else and he can get ****ed.

 

[Tigerlaird]

My dad barracks for Saint Kilda, he’s miserable as *. No way I wanted part of that.

So fair enough my own son can choose his club too, but I do think supporting the small clubs builds a little character. He gets a choice between Dees, North, Saints or Dogs.

Anyone else and he can get *ed.

I grew up in SA and I'm super passionate about supporting my local team (South Adelaide), which I inherited from my Dad, and If I ever have children I would probably convince them to continue that tradition. Richmond are our Victorian team and Subiaco our Western Australian team.

I hold membership with all three and will probably get the kiddies membership for my children if I ever have any.

 

[footyfan1978]

I don't understand this concept of deciding what team you support? I always thought you were just born that way

Weird concept you think like that.
Why assume whole familes barrack for same team?
I know some do but geez, my own family has about has 7 different clubs covered.
My Mum never really followed footy but she like cats so her nominal team were the Cats so you could almost count it 8 clubs covered.

 

[Sky]

I don't understand this concept of deciding what team you support? I always thought you were just born that way

My grandparents are Port and Essendon on one side, mum Port. On the other side they either don’t care or are all diehard Blues. Some extended fam like the Tigers. Yet I ended up with Geelong.

A team chooses you mate.

 

[footyfan1978]

A team chooses you mate.

Indeed.

 

[Sky]

Indeed.

Although if my family had anything to do with it I’d have been born a Blue. Is it normal to like teams your family supports though? I don’t think I’ll ever hate Port, Carlton or Richmond.

 

[footyfan1978]

Although if my family had anything to do with it I’d have been born a Blue. Is it normal to like teams your family supports though? I don’t think I’ll ever hate Port, Carlton or Richmond.

I have a soft spot for a couple of teams a few family members have as their team but I have no fondness for three teams othe family members picked. My sisters have horrible taste in teams and so does my younger brother so no liking of their teams. But a number of my family members do not follow their teams that closely as they were more into athletics and playing sport than following their team in real time.

 

[sdfc]

It just happens.

I thought I'd barrack for WC when they came in because Phil Narkle was playing for them and they are from Perth but it just didn't happen.

I tried to support West Perth when my mum bought me their jumper for some strange reason, didn't take.

 

[Mayes2Gray]

I got a teal jumper thrown on me and stern words telling me “like heck you’re gunna be growing up like one of these purple numpties or Flying Weasles like every other snot nosed brat in school”

And then that was that.

 

[cactuscall]

How many Freo supporters jumped ship from WCE? And from Crows to Port. Sydney to GWS. How many would admit it? That's what I don't understand. Does it mean they could jump ship again to a third team?