I'm Mad as Hell and I am Not Going to take this anymore!

[JackFlash]

View attachment 376247

At some point in your early life, under peer or parental pressure or just because they happen to be winning or have a nice mascot you pick a club to follow ... its like getting a tattoo, its your club and you can never switch (even if sometimes you want to) ... I chose the Tigers.

I still love my club but after years of mental stress and tension I can no longer listen to or watch Richmond games live ... I wait until I know the game is over then check the scores. I learned the results of the Bulldogs, Freo and GWS games after they were over, we lost them, ok, then checked to find we fell in a heap in each of them. I was disappointment of course but I was not wrecked by the experience as I would have been had I rode every contest.

True I do lose the thrill of anticipation late in a game we might win but I also don't end up with palpitations. I no longer go into a rage wanting the coach sacked or some player keelhauled for a mistake or hating the umpires or wanting to kick the dog. No highs, no lows.

If we made a Grand Final I would go fishing or get very drunk before the game started because I am not sure I would survive the stress.

So ... I no longer watch our games ... I go to a few games each year with friends but never a game involving Richmond because the game would take too heavy a toll on me. I do love my club but from a safe distance.

Does every game your club plays either leave you euphoric or totally drained?

Have any of you ever felt that you cannot take one more disappointment?

The Semi Final loss to the Swans in 2005 and the 1997 Semi final loss to Adelaide. As a kid, it was virtually every week when we lost!

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I have been spoilt. I luckily decided upon the Hawks back in 1968 because Peter Hudson was my favourite player. Since then, 12 flags, so very lucky indeed. I've seen all the highs and lows of an exciting roller-coaster ride. Success for the Hawthorn Football Club is very important to me.

However, there ARE far more important things in life, and to be honest, I don't really enjoy the game all that much these days. My sole interest is how the Hawks are going, I love the club and always will, but the rest of it just doesn't interest me. AFL football ceased being a sporting competition years ago which disappoints me greatly.

 

[Ando727]

I can't listen on the radio because of how little respect the Tiges are given, and deservedly so. Just can't listen as we put on another miserable performance, and have it rammed down our throat by commentators who have grown to pity and despise us. Who can blame them. The last few years we have performed better and have started to earn a bit of respect, but I'm scarred and would rather not listen. Can watch it on TV or live no problems, so I can at least eek out a positive here and there, especially in the darkest days. I can even watch us lose the unlovable game, but I still can't listen to the radio. It's very much a Richmond thing, although somehow being a Melbourne supporter feel might be similar, and I'm not being distrespectful.

I have to say I think radio commentators stick it to you guys more than they do to us. I think it's because you have more supporters and are considered one of the "big 4" Melbourne clubs. More is expected of you - even though we've been worse than you have in terms of losing close matches and missing finals. In a way it's even more sad for us: we don't even get the respect of being relevant enough to taunt. But I agree, they do overdo the whole "this is so Richmond" thing. It's a gag gone too far, to the point of being poor commentating/journalism.

 

[jdz101]

It's just a game. It's meant for your enjoyment.

If you're not enjoying watching the games, then maybe being a footy fan isn't good for you and you should consider something else.

There are plenty of other more relaxing things to do.

 

[smasha]

View attachment 376247

At some point in your early life, under peer or parental pressure or just because they happen to be winning or have a nice mascot you pick a club to follow ... its like getting a tattoo, its your club and you can never switch (even if sometimes you want to) ... I chose the Tigers.

I still love my club but after years of mental stress and tension I can no longer listen to or watch Richmond games live ... I wait until I know the game is over then check the scores. I learned the results of the Bulldogs, Freo and GWS games after they were over, we lost them, ok, then checked to find we fell in a heap in each of them. I was disappointment of course but I was not wrecked by the experience as I would have been had I rode every contest.

True I do lose the thrill of anticipation late in a game we might win but I also don't end up with palpitations. I no longer go into a rage wanting the coach sacked or some player keelhauled for a mistake or hating the umpires or wanting to kick the dog. No highs, no lows.

If we made a Grand Final I would go fishing or get very drunk before the game started because I am not sure I would survive the stress.

So ... I no longer watch our games ... I go to a few games each year with friends but never a game involving Richmond because the game would take too heavy a toll on me. I do love my club but from a safe distance.

Does every game your club plays either leave you euphoric or totally drained?

Have any of you ever felt that you cannot take one more disappointment?

No,to me following Richmond is a privilege,I meet all my Tiger friends,the scent of footy in the air,the excitement of a massive Tiger Army waltzing into the MCG.
I have learnt to never take my club for granted.
There is a great soul to my club that you can't manufacture,no matter how bad I feel,turning up to watch the Tiges,takes all the sadness away.

Stand up,if you love Richmond!

 

[brett_warne]

Another tiger supporter that is the same. I can watch if I am at the ground but not on TV or radio. When we lost to GWS I saw the goal that was touched go on the Afl app score and then come off. There was 90 sec to go so I shut my eyes counted to 90 turned the app back on saw we lost, sighed and played with the kids. It's only a game but in the moment it is hard.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[Al Heimer]

Support Hawthorn and lower your stress levels. The euphoria to disappointment ratio is the best in the league.

Got a Hawthorn mate and the easy, calm way he can take a loss is unnerving.

Even the floggings against the Handbags and Aints he was a picture of calm acceptance.

Weird.

 

[Ando727]

It's just a game. It's meant for your enjoyment.

If you're not enjoying watching the games, then maybe being a footy fan isn't good for you and you should consider something else.

There are plenty of other more relaxing things to do.

Do you go to the footy often? At least a quarter of the people there are rabidly obsessed by what they're watching - they are not enjoying it at any stage as long as their team is behind. I don't know how you explain that from a psychological perspective. There are people who know that it drives them crazy - it makes them spit with rage and physically ill, yet they keep going back for more. Maybe it's actually an addiction? Like social media or pr0n addiction. There could be a dopamine response in the brain that they only get from watching football. If they don't go, they get withdrawal symptoms. Addictions do bad things to your life and relationships. Some people probably need an intervention. The more I think about it, I think there might be something to this theory...

 

[jdz101]

Do you go to the footy often? At least a quarter of the people there are rabidly obsessed by what they're watching - they are not enjoying it at any stage as long as their team is behind. I don't know how you explain that from a psychological perspective. There are people who know that it drives them crazy - it makes them spit with rage and physically ill, yet they keep going back for more. Maybe it's actually an addiction? Like social media or pr0n addiction. There could be a dopamine response in the brain that they only get from watching football. If they don't go, they get withdrawal symptoms. Addictions do bad things to your life and relationships. Some people probably need an intervention. The more I think about it, I think there might be something to this theory...

I go to plenty of games and love a yell and get frustrated just like the next person. I've been to 3 games so far this year and if at any one game I feel I'm not enjoying watching, win or lose, I won't continue to go. I don't really see that happening though.

I went to 3 of the 4 finals for the doggies last year including the GWS prelim with a mate and it was 3 of the best weekends of my life. At no point during those games was I stressed about it.

There are so many things in life that should be stressing you out far more than melting at the footy. I get Aussie fans are some of the most passionate in the world, but if you're getting that emotionally involved it's probably worth a step back in my opinion.

 

[Moshie The Mook]

This is why alcohol was invented.

 

[Percel]

What's the point of supporting a club if you don't go along the emotional rollercoaster?

• I've yelled at games where I can't talk until mid week,
  
• I've cried,
  
• vomited from anxiety.
  
• Even if you're a grumpy shit until the following week.

• 
  

None of these things are exciting or worth it.

 

[Beerfish]

Support Hawthorn and lower your stress levels. The euphoria to disappointment ratio is the best in the league.

Unfortunately the trade off is the high dickhead bandwagoner to reasonable supporter ratio which sits at the other end of the scale.

 

[CharacterFirst]

Be thankful you don't follow *EFC.

How anyone could continue to be a supporter in good conscience is hard to understand.

 

[Dogs till i die]

Dogs are my first love, and Crystal Palace (EPL) my second, but funnily enough I get more nervous watching Palace. Probably because the threat of relegation is constantly there and apart from a few fantastic wins over the last 4 seasons, its a constant scrounge for points over a long 38 game season. I was actually glad Optus got the EPL rights this season as getting up during the night, waking up completely and being a bit toey / disgruntled at 4am most Sundays wasn't doing me any favours later that day or during the week. So this past season, rather than getting out of bed, I now wake up and watch my app giving me minute by minute scores. A bit easier on the body.

I thought I would be much more relaxed this AFL season after the Dogs flag but I'm not. I want another one.

 

[OzJohnnie]

Unfortunately the trade off is the high dickhead bandwagoner to reasonable supporter ratio which sits at the other end of the scale.

You're right. You're out. We can't afford the increase in our dickhead ratio.

 

[Grrr]

I have to say I think radio commentators stick it to you guys more than they do to us. I think it's because you have more supporters and are considered one of the "big 4" Melbourne clubs. More is expected of you - even though we've been worse than you have in terms of losing close matches and missing finals. In a way it's even more sad for us: we don't even get the respect of being relevant enough to taunt. But I agree, they do overdo the whole "this is so Richmond" thing. It's a gag gone too far, to the point of being poor commentating/journalism.

Look we have brought it on ourselves, but as a supporter you just have to take it on the chin, just can't do that listening to the radio. I grew up going to the footy every week, TV at the worst. Can't do that now, so if it's the radio, think I'll mow the lawns. Only mentioned Melbourne because you haven't had a lot of success like us in a relatively long time. But there is always next week, year, decade.... century....etc

 

[JayJ20]

Be thankful you don't follow *EFC.

How anyone could continue to be a supporter in good conscience is hard to understand.

Pretty easy. You just pick up the TV and turn it on. Or go to games

It feels the same

 

[STFU Donnie]

I had to apologise to neighbors next day after language and smashing things during 2008 GF

That's funny. I had the exact same scenario in 2012.

 

[Gibbke]

Lol, I think you just beat all us Hawks fans to it.

My psych says I should try to empathise with people, rather than just denigrate them all the time...

 

[Billy ray]

Just checking in.
I rarely get enjoyment from my team.
But i love this game.

 

[Lord Rod]

I totally understand the OPs dilemma and anxiety. Yes, football is only a game, but to so many people it's an absolute passion. Wins can give you so much joy, losses can really hurt..

 

[Cleavy]

 

[Frank Bunn]

Support Hawthorn and lower your stress levels. The euphoria to disappointment ratio is the best in the league.

Never catch a falling knife.

 

[Bazza97]

Regardless of who you support, your team will always go through disappointments. Obviously clubs like Richmond and Melbourne for example have given their supporters a lot of grief but for someone like me who just loves the game and takes a keen interest in all the teams, I wouldn't stop watching Melbourne games just because they lose or if they continue to disappoint. For me, there's more to footy than just my team and I like watching the other teams but the main thing is that there is a lot of fun to be made in the world. Hanging out with my mates is always going to be a pisser so if I'm not watching the footy on the weekend, I'd be doing that or studying for Uni. Anyway, footy is just a game but it's a fantastic one and is definitely my favourite sport by a fair bit.

 

[OzJohnnie]

Never catch a falling knife.

Dangerfield should have heeded your advice.