In what game were your fans at their best?

[Lightning_Rod]

98 GRAND FINAL - CROWS VICTORY

I was at the 98 GF and the joy on the fans' faces for the last half of the game was wonderful.

We had copped (perhaps rightfully) a heap of abuse from the North supporters at half-time but to come back and smash them in the second half was superb.

The exits were bulging at 3/4 time with Kanga fans trying to leave the ground.

I didn't leave the MCG until well after 6.30pm (in the dark) as the Crow boys did not leave the field till after 6pm. All of Crow fans (including myself) were mighty hoarse from singing the theme song and yelling for the team.

Great day for all of the Crows faithful (nearly as good as 1997)

was that the "ere we go, ere we go, camry crows" one back them?? yes its a joke dont take it personally.

ide have to say for port it would have been maybe the 2004 prelim or the 2004 gf the relief after the gf was huge, tears certainly fell that day.

 

[Mad Dog]

I would have to say the 2005 Semi Final vs The Port Powers.

Together with the team - I thought the Adelaide faithful completely dominated AAMI Stadium that night and intimidated the Powers crowd and their team.

As a collective they took their eyes off the ball that night and were shown up for the frontrunners they really are.

.....and much of that thanks can go to the crowd

 

[writeoff]

Socceroos vs Uruguay World Cup playoff November last year. I've been to 1998 GF, 2002 Prelim final and all four of Australia's World Cup matches and nothing came close to the intensity of that qualifier. 80,000 people for one team. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.

For an opposition team Australia vs Croatia when Croatia kicked that 2nd goal. Never heard a noise like that and the singing continued until Harry's magic.

 

[natlovestheswans]

2005 GF of course but very closely followed by the 2005 semi vs Geelong. SCG being a smaller, closer ground with about 40,000 odd people.. the atmosphere there was just amazing.

 

[Dan26]

The first goal kicked was followed by the single biggest roar I've ever heard. You're on the money numbers-wise, but I reckon you're romanticising this one slightly. Essendon crushed the Eagles that day. Most of the game was played out in a relaxed atmosphere. Your team was 10 goals up and the fans were noisy, but not going spare like in the last quarter of the 84 GF. And that whole jacket-waving mularkey was pretty old by 1996. Fans are at their best when they show a bit of spontaneity and imagination. The jacket waving was as inventive as a Mexican Wave at the cricket.

Only an Essendon fan could take a thread where we're all asked "In what game were your fans at their best" and turn it into an opportunity to boast about how great they are. I think Essendon fans work on the theory that if they tell themselves over and over how they're the best, then one day it might come true.

I was reading someone's post recently about Essendon's noble loss to the Eagles at Windy Hill in 1987 or 1988, when they finished the game with 14 fit players. Forgive me for sounding off about something I know little about, but I reckon Essendon fans were at their best in this game. It dosn't matter that there wasn't 86,000 people there. The 26,000 or so who were jammed into Windy Hill roared their encouragement, made life hell for the visiting Weagles and gave their undermanned side a standing ovation at the end, even though they lost. Top stuff that.

I was at that Windy Hill game in '91 and the fans were great. We were down something like 30 to 0 at quarter time so when we recovered to actully hit the front at one stage, the crowd was going off.

Ahem.

I believe the Pies have produced a few loud noises over the years. the loudest sound I ever heard at a footy ground was actually at Waverley, usually a lifeless concrete crater devoid of atmosphere. It wa during the tied final vs West Coast (there's a pattern forming here). The entire sequence of play leading up to Daicos' goal of the century was absolute pandemonium, beginning with Barwick on the break on the southern wing. I thought my head would explode.

The eagles at Vic Park used to get bayed at. Remember when Malthouse walked the boundary before the game? Individual bursts of noise for Sav Rocca marks and certain Daicos goals have stuck in my memory.


The Pies and Bombers have the biggest crowds so we always sound loud, but I thnk pound for pound the Pies have dropped off: we're still the loudest but I think its weight of numbers these days: in the 70's we were the loudest by far. 10 goals up or 10 goals down, it didn't seem to matter, and they gave the team steel by their voice. Now we cheer a good run on, but that sustained support has mellowed.

I think the same is true of Essendon: their crowd never surprises me with their roar. Carlton have lost all heart (they found a bit of venom on Sunday but it dissapated before the game was over), and Richmond (who had an awesome crowd in their glory days, really Collingwoods only rival) are very tame. They cheer when they're in front, but thats about it.

I reckon pound for pound Geelong give a good roar: I've been surprised by their volume at games where they had less than half of 40-50K.

I agree with you about Geelong. They have a decent roar, and seem to shoot above their weight. Or maybe they actually just have more fans than most give them credit for. I've always felt they had a good decent throaty roar whenever they played at the MCG.

Generally speaking I think Collingwood are the loudest. But I think when the Bombers get on a roll, we are right up there. In the last few years I've noticed when we are the home team against Collingwood, it really feels like a massively pro-Bomber crowd.

Collingwood and Essendon are at the point where their support is so even, it simply depends on who the home team is, in regards to who is the loudest. I think Collingwood are louder over the course of a game. But I think we are louder when we get on a roll, where the whole southern stand seems to be willing us on.

When I first started going to the footy in the 80's I always thought Richmond had the best roar. But over the years, with the advent of indivdual seating, their roar is not what it used to be. I think Collingowod and Richmond are probably the loudest when they really want to be. I always felt that Collingwod and Richmond were the only clubs who could make Waverley really hum. No one else could.

You always "hear" people say that St.Kilda have wildy passionate fans, but I've never felt they had a good roar. It was always pretty tame. Of the "middle-ranked" clubs (not counting Ess, Coll, Carl, Rich), Geelong have the best roar.

 

[windyhill]

Good question.The ones Dan mentioned were ear splitting loud but I do remember the early 80`s when we finally got our act together, the `83 finals series in particular when we beat carl/fitz and norf. The Fitzroy game was at The G, close and tight all day, I swear the crowd played their part in getting the boys over the line, loud as **** !
In more recent times the `01 comeback game v norf was very good for noise levels. The biggest noise from a rival club`s game which i attended would be coll v carl, micky mcguane`s 7 bounce game, when he slotted that I`m sure the noise lifted me off the ground. I was in standing room, behind the goals he kicked it to, unbelievably loud.

 

[Dan26]

Good question.The ones Dan mentioned were ear splitting loud but I do remember the early 80`s when we finally got our act together, the `83 finals series in particular when we beat carl/fitz and norf. The Fitzroy game was at The G, close and tight all day, I swear the crowd played their part in getting the boys over the line, loud as **** !
In more recent times the `01 comeback game v norf was very good for noise levels. The biggest noise from a rival club`s game which i attended would be coll v carl, micky mcguane`s 7 bounce game, when he slotted that I`m sure the noise lifted me off the ground. I was in standing room, behind the goals he kicked it to, unbelievably loud.

Do you reckon after we won in '84 our fans lost our edge?

Up until '84 many people thought that we had the loudest roar, but I reckon after '84 (even though our supporter base increased) the roar went backwards.

Almost as if the roar up until 1984 was pent up frustration.

 

[Dan26]

I think the Bomber crowd responds well (noise wise) to being the underdogs, especailly, when deep down the fans think we're a chance.

I rememeber the 1989 Qualifying Final, and Geelong had a had a huge year and were favourites. But we had finished above them, and all the Bomber fans knew we were a chance. I rememebr Van Der Haar taking two big marks and kicking two big goals at the start of the game, and the roar was deep and passionate.

A bit like the old 'Roach' (in sync), followed by a big roar that you used to get with Tiger fans.

 

[Chewy]

Waverley, usually a lifeless concrete crater devoid of atmosphere.

The myth about the Waverley ground lacking atmosphere is due to its openness, size and the fact that most games drew less than 40,000 people. On the quieter days, crowd noise certainly didn't reverberate around the place. When VFL Park was more than three quarters full, it had great atmosphere. The 1987 Preliminary Final for instance. I've never been to game with an atmosphere like that. It was loud for three quarters, then things got completely crazy in the last.

When VFL Park was full and there was an exciting finish, the noise was at least the equal of an equivalent game at the MCG. Definitely louder than the "roar" you get nowadays. Fans don't scream like they used to. Seriously.

I remember watching the Pies on a roll out at Waverley and the Collingwood-clap clap clap chant was so loud it was scary. I mean nearly EVERYONE joined in. (Pie fans that is)

 

[Chewy]

Socceroos vs Croatia when Croatia kicked that 2nd goal. Never heard a noise like that and the singing continued until Harry's magic.

That was really spooky...

 

[Daicos_magic]

Posted by Dan26

Generally speaking I think Collingwood are the loudest. But I think when the Bombers get on a roll, we are right up there. In the last few years I've noticed when we are the home team against Collingwood, it really feels like a massively pro-Bomber crowd.

Collingwood and Essendon are at the point where their support is so even, it simply depends on who the home team is, in regards to who is the loudest. I think Collingwood are louder over the course of a game. But I think we are louder when we get on a roll, where the whole southern stand seems to be willing us on.

I totally agree Dan, it generally comes down to who is the home team these days. Anzac day was fairly awesome this year, but let me mention a few games that weren't neccessarily the biggest crowds, but just loud for their size.

V Freo last year at the G for Buckleys 250, we went nuts.
V Sydney in 03, taz went nuts in the last quarter. I got on TV