How many of you are ex-Eagles supporters?

[DanWA]

Seems a trend of lots going for Eagles as thats all there was and lots of hatred for Victoria

My 2 brothers and my dad were all Geelong supporters until Freo started but growing up near Freo they naturally switched

I stuck to my team

 

[PapaJ]

Sort of followed WC in the early days as a patriotic WA person, but only vaguely. Was Sth. Freo in the WAFL and personal connections to Sumich at the time had me quite interested in Eagles early 90's reign, went to a few games, basically cheered them on.

However, the day the Dockers were announced as the 2nd WA side (I remember exactly were I was watching the news in a mates old house in East Fremantle), that was it, I stopped my vague flirtation with the Eagles there and then even though the Dockers wouldn't play a game of AFL for a couple of years. I just stopped being interested in them. Not a big WC hater though, just don't give a rats about them basically.

 

[freoextra]

I'm seriously interested, how many here were formerly Eagles fans? Like those who supported West Coast, because they were the only WA AFL (and indeed VFL club for a few years) club, so they sort of represented WA.

And why did you make the switch? You identified more with Fremantle? You supported one of the Freo WAFL sides? You wanted an alternative?

I have more of an affinity with Fremantle and grew up south of the river, but I think I had too much of a sentimental attachment to the Eagles to switch when the Dockers came around.

Perhaps there is also a difference between supporters and members as well.

There was only one team in town and your favourite WAFL club players who got an opportunity were playing in that team so of course they were of interest. But I was never a member of an AFL team until Freo came along.

 

[sportsmaniac89]

Not born or raised in WA, have only ever followed Freo since 1995 and been a member since 2015

 

[yyou]

I'm seriously interested, how many here were formerly Eagles fans? Like those who supported West Coast, because they were the only WA AFL (and indeed VFL club for a few years) club, so they sort of represented WA.

And why did you make the switch? You identified more with Fremantle? You supported one of the Freo WAFL sides? You wanted an alternative?

I have more of an affinity with Fremantle and grew up south of the river, but I think I had too much of a sentimental attachment to the Eagles to switch when the Dockers came around.

How many west coast supporters were intellectually special needs kids at school?

 

[theGav56]

He'll no. Have been to a few of their games to support the opposition when free tickets are around. Particularly enjoyed games McDougal played, and wish there had been more. Can't get too much comedy.

 

[mayne iac]

I'd like t ask the original poster who he supported before the Eagles came along. Please let us know, I am very interested...
I always have Eagles supporters saying that I changed teams etc but most of them went for VFL teams pre Eagles. They dont don't consider that as changing teams....(tools)
Yeah I changed teams, from the Saints (Who I friggn hate now after Sirengate) to the Dockers. Never went for the Eagles, I disliked them from the start and dislike them more now. (By a lot!)

 

[purpleman]

I was a Hawthorn supporter prior to 1994. Originally from Scotland and was given one of those makita hats in hawks colours so jumped on board. Lived in Freo so when they formed it was an easy decision to get behind them and never looked back (did i really write that)

 

[nurries]

barracked Carlton as a kid as I loved Doull, Rhys Jones, Johnson, Harmes etc but very strong family links to South Fremantle so it was logical choice when the Dockers were formed.

 

[Carnthedockers]

I was a mad, passionate Eagles supporter until Thursday night. I left at 3/4 time to come home and change my preferences and avatar on Big Footy. Thanks for having me guys.

When I saw this thread, I was praying I would see a comment from you

 

[UFO Tatsu]

When I saw this thread, I was praying I would see a comment from you

Wouldn't be an Eagles thread on a Dockers board without a Harry post

 

[mightymouse75]

My love of east fremantle. I was the only kid at school thar went fir the sharks. Everyone was going fir the swannies who had won 3 or 4 premierships at the time.
When dockers came along oiy was a no brainer . Love the fact wa was getting a second team. And it was coming from wa footy heartland freo. And I've always loved the underdog. Some Eagles supporters really are a different breed. They like to kick dogs when they fall. Bad winners aND even worse losers.

 

[DanWA]

My love of east fremantle. I was the only kid at school thar went fir the sharks. Everyone was going fir the swannies who had won 3 or 4 premierships at the time.
When dockers came along oiy was a no brainer . Love the fact wa was getting a second team. And it was coming from wa footy heartland freo. And I've always loved the underdog. Some Eagles supporters really are a different breed. They like to kick dogs when they fall. Bad winners aND even worse losers.

People always give me a wtf look when i say i support the Sharks in the WAFL but Eagles in the AFL haha

 

[Halfbaked]

A mad sharks supporter. Knew some of the players picked to play for the egirls and had met Ron Alexander a few times.
As it happens i was offered a job over seas during their first season and missed all the games ( no internet back then ) .
I was shocked to find out they had sacked Ron , who was a very good man. They never really felt like a real club to me after that. The name didn't help - where's the west coast and why has the club got a bird in it's name. ( it's different these days. ).
But i watched a few games when they didn't clash with the sharks.
Started to dislike (later hate ) when their supporters started to rewrite history. Forgetting things like sacking their first two coaches, all the shit with ownership and how they had always been a power club.
I had so much fun when people first started asking did i support the egirls before the mighty dockers. I would answer and then ask who the egirls first coach and captain was. A lot of their supporters didn't know any history before 1992.

 

[Spirit Level]

Only started following footy in 2001 and picked Freo from the get go (what a year to join )

 

[PurpleEyes]

Essendon supporter originally, jumped to West Coast when they started and jumped to Freo as soon as I heard Neesham was to be the coach.
Have been a happy and proud supporter ever since. Although, in the early days, I found I was comfortable with Freo as my number one team and the Eagles as my second team. ... But over the years, Eagles supporters taught me to hate them. So like many others, I now barrack for 17 teams. Freo first, followed by whichever team is playing the Eagles next.

 

[Halfbaked]

People always give me a wtf look when i say i support the Sharks in the WAFL but Eagles in the AFL haha

WTF.

 

[Stuart88]

I was like 7 when Freo came into the comp and don't remember much of the early years. Just remember that I never went for the Eagles and didn't really follow AFL until high school (early 2000's). Have always hated the Eagles like some sort of natural instinct haha

 

[Deathly]

Been purple for as long as I can remember. That being said I don't hate Eagles as much as some on this board or buy into the rivalry as much. I despise all Victorian teams, Port Adelaide and the expansion clubs a lot more than them. They're probably bunched up with Adelaide and Sydney in terms of teams I will support outside of Fremantle games.

 

[freoextra]

barracked Carlton as a kid as I loved Doull, Rhys Jones, Johnson, Harmes etc but very strong family links to South Fremantle so it was logical choice when the Dockers were formed.

You forgot to mention the greatest blues entertainer of all time - Peter Bosustow!!!

 

[youmewe]

April Fool's Day, 1995.

Richmond hosts AFL newcomers Fremantle at the MCG.

At our home I'm pushing the vacuum cleaner. When I reach the lounge room I notice my soon-to-be three year old son sitting on the lounge watching the footy on tv, his little legs jutting out in front of him.

As I continue vacuuming I notice his gaze never leaves the tv screen...

"What are you doing Sam?"

"I'm watching my team".

"Which one...yellow and black?"

"No, the other one."

How and why he chose Freo as his team I'll never know (I was a Carlton supporter).

Surely his interest and loyalty will change?

Over the next month or so he repeats this ritual and after round six Freo are 3-3. I managed to get a couple of tickets to the first Western Derby and we were present to see Freo get demolished. He loved seeing his team live and wasn't too disappointed in the result.

As the season wore on and Freo starting losing games regularly I gave him the option to switch to my team. He refused.

Carlton went on a 16 game winning streak and bagged the flag that year. As they relentlessly marched toward the flag I felt less and less invested in them and more and more invested in the new local team with their unique game plan, funny jumper and ridiculous team song.

By the start of the 1996 season I was on board with Freo solely.

My son continued to be fiercely loyal and despite the team continuing to have losing season after losing season he never lost faith. Those Western Derby losses were particularly hard to take as almost every other kid in his class was an Eagles supporter. When Freo won their first WD, we were both rapt. He did report that none of the other kids wanted to talk footy on Monday. "Didn't matter, I did enough talking for all of us".

The darkest days were in 2001. Seventeen straight losses to start the season. Every week he'd sit on that lounge chair, wearing his Freo scarf, and watch them lose. After each loss he'd shrug his shoulders and move on to something else. Never a harsh word about the team. I was tearing my hair out..."For f**ck's sake win one for the boy!".

Rd 18, I wasn't able to watch the game with him. "We won dad! Down by 5 goals at half time...6 goals to one in the last quarter...Belly had 38 touches and kicked a couple of goals, JLo got 5, Pav 4 and even Koops kicked 3!!" Oh the joy! His 4 year old brother became a fan overnight.

We became members the next season and have remained so ever since. I don't get to see too many games these days but the boys are there every game.

All's well with the world.

Now if they could just win one bloody flag...

 

[Steinfreo]

Wasn't st jeromes by any chance? Remember him coming around 95 or 96. Dad took me to the first scratch match against essendon when i was 6 so no choice for me.

sure was hahah.

 

[im_a_lazy_sod]

I was a mad, passionate Eagles supporter until Thursday night. I left at 3/4 time to come home and change my preferences and avatar on Big Footy. Thanks for having me guys.

Mad props for staying til 3/4 time bro

 

[Jukesy85]

Supported Eagles until half way into the first western derby, I was 8 years old. My sweet old innocent mum supported freo as she liked the colours. We were at a bbq and everyone was supporting weagles and they dominated the game. They abused my mum, called her really hurtful things, were racist and she is the sweetest woman alive. She didn't say a thing back and just smiled and said oh well while trying not to cry.

So by half time I had an intense hatred of the weagles, the supporters and everything it stands for. I was then purple for life from that point onwards and stuck up for mum proudly

Seems to be eagles fans in a nutshell tbh, mostly a horrible mob of people - don't know why exactly they attract most of the scum-end football supporters while Freo fans are for the most part good people; have never copped any abuse (other than the little bit of friendly banter) when wearing my dons colours at a Freo-Dons game, but get it multiple times at least every eagles-dons game - the most memorable one probably being called a "fa**ot c***" after going up for a dons goal by a bloke sitting near me - who was with what appeared to be his wife and 3 kids under 12.

 

[Eski3]

I was like 7 when Freo came into the comp and don't remember much of the early years. Just remember that I never went for the Eagles and didn't really follow AFL until high school (early 2000's). Have always hated the Eagles like some sort of natural instinct haha

Pretty much exactly the same for me, I was 7 when the Dockers came in a can't even remember anything football related pre-dockers. I was too young to know what was going on in 92 and 94 and even the early years of Freo. I remember the first derby win pretty clearly though.

I grew up in East Freo and my parents were delighted there was finally a real football team that represented the Freo heartland instead of a plastic franchise that was essentially an ad campaign by Hungry Jacks and SGIO.

Also growing up having to have conversations with Eagles fans made it pretty clear to me that the Dockers were definitely my team. There's something ingrained about the difference between Eagles fans and Dockers fans. It's like not all Eagles fans are racist dumb ****wits, but all racist dumb ****wits are Eagles fans.