Poll: How did you get into supporting North?

[gustaaf]

I came to Australia from Holland in 1972 by ship. It was actually on the ship between Melbourne and Sydney that I saw my first game of Australian Rules football in grainy black and white pictures that faded in and out on a small tele. Until then I hadn't even heard of Aussie Rules, but I was intrigued. That game happened to be the high scoring 1972 VFL grand final when Carlton beat Richmond.

No family ties for me in choosing North as my club. I've always been a sports nut and a supporter of the underdog, so I based my choice of which VFL club to support purely on who finished last in the previous season. North only won one game and won the spoon that year, so they were my club and have remained so ever since. I picked the right time to start supporting North because North's fortunes changed almost straight away from 1973.

The family settled into Canberra where I got my first taste of kicking a footy at school at lunchtime in kick to kick and marking competitions, but as I was a soccer player I never actually played a game until I went to boarding school in Albury (Scots) about 18 months later, which allowed me to remain in Australia when the family moved back to Holland. It turns out I was one of just two North supporters at my new school, which was a bit surprising considering it was in North's designated recruitment zone at that time.

The only North game I've watched live in Melbourne was when I went with a couple of St Kilda supporting school mates to watch North beat the Saints at Moorabbin for the first time in ages when Slamming Sam racked up 30 odd possessions. I have seen the Kangas play in Sydney and Canberra, but unfortunately never at Arden Street. I did take the opportunity to go to the North Social Club when I once had to be in Melbourne for a work conference.

 

[All In Sunbury]

The Huddle

 

[Whippet1]

Dad played North ressies in 1951 kicking 10 one day and was named emergency the next week in case Jock Spencer didn’t come up. Spencer played, Dad went to Glenferrie to play in the 2’s and promptly did his knee. Career over back then. Nonetheless the family followed North and I started going to games in 1972 when I was 10. The flag in 1975 was a joyous moment with the ride along the way exhilarating. They’ll always get my membership even if it’s a donation these days.

 

[Uncle_Leo]

I grew up in a house with my mum, grandmother and aunty in Carlton about 10 minute walk from Princes Park.

My Mum and Nan both massive Carlton supporters, reserve seats at Princes Park and took me every week, everyone in the seats around us also people that live in our street, I still have a Carlton membership purchased for me every year by my mother, been a member 42 years now.

My aunty barracks for North and would buy me North jumpers for Birthday/Christmas etc. My grandfather (who passed away in 1976 before I was born) was a North supporter

I was pretty split between the two until I was about 9-10 years old but North had this young bloke playing for them named Wayne Carey which was making me prefer North and the rest is history.

When I got to 13 years of age my mum gave me the option of still attending Carlton games with them or going to North by myself (my aunty doesn't attend games for medical reasons). I chose North, to be fair to to my mum, she purchased me a membership for North and would take me when Carlton weren't playing otherwise give me money to get there and get home, I would go to games by myself (unthinkable now as a 12-13 year old) and the feeling at North games was completely different to being at Carlton games. This was my team.

The day the really confirmed it was a game in the sitting in the same members area at Princes Park in 1995 that I had sat for years in with my Mum and Nan between North and Carlton. I was head to toe in North Melbourne gear and the looks and comments I received from everyone around me was extraordinary. They also let me know about the final scores when Carlton won. After that I knew that while I will always have a soft spot for Carlton because of my family, this was not my team.

So in Summary I kind of find into both categories in the poll, but my son is a North fan and proud to say he is techinically a 4th generation North supporter

 

[Chip Scab1]

I grew up in a house with my mum, grandmother and aunty in Carlton about 10 minute walk from Princes Park.

My Mum and Nan both massive Carlton supporters, reserve seats at Princes Park and took me every week, everyone in the seats around us also people that live in our street, I still have a Carlton membership purchased for me every year by my mother, been a member 42 years now.

My aunty barracks for North and would buy me North jumpers for Birthday/Christmas etc. My grandfather (who passed away in 1976 before I was born) was a North supporter

I was pretty split between the two until I was about 9-10 years old but North had this young bloke playing for them named Wayne Carey which was making me prefer North and the rest is history.

When I got to 13 years of age my mum gave me the option of still attending Carlton games with them or going to North by myself (my aunty doesn't attend games for medical reasons). I chose North, to be fair to to my mum, she purchased me a membership for North and would take me when Carlton weren't playing otherwise give me money to get there and get home, I would go to games by myself (unthinkable now as a 12-13 year old) and the feeling at North games was completely different to being at Carlton games. This was my team.

The day the really confirmed it was a game in the sitting in the same members area at Princes Park in 1995 that I had sat for years in with my Mum and Nan between North and Carlton. I was head to toe in North Melbourne gear and the looks and comments I received from everyone around me was extraordinary. They also let me know about the final scores when Carlton won. After that I knew that while I will always have a soft spot for Carlton because of my family, this was not my team.

So in Summary I kind of find into both categories in the poll, but my son is a North fan and proud to say he is techinically a 4th generation North supporter

I know how you feel kinda. Grandfather was Carlton Member for 70 years, reckon he had the same seat in the Social Club Stand there at PP for at least 50.

I attended that game in '95. Sat as we always did, in the 'Pigs Ass' Smokers Stand. They were just too good in '95. We were pretty decent that day after 1/4 time. Lost by 3 goals from memory after being 6-7 to 1 down at Quarter time.

 

[Uncle_Leo]

I know how you feel kinda. Grandfather was Carlton Member for 70 years, reckon he had the same seat in the Social Club Stand there at PP for at least 50.

I attended that game in '95. Sat as we always did, in the 'Pigs Ass' Smokers Stand. They were just too good in '95. We were pretty decent that day after 1/4 time. Lost by 3 goals from memory after being 6-7 to 1 down at Quarter time.

We came in having beaten the Eagles and Tigers over the previous two weeks and it was 1st vs 6th, pretty big game and from memory one I thought we could win

 

[speedy]

All I remember is a shit load of kids in primary school barracking for Collingwood, and I’ve never been the sheep following type.

I think the 1980 Ansett cup grand final win sealed the deal.

Don’t think the 75 and 77 Premierships had much bearing… too young.

 

[Lomas]

All I remember is a shit load of kids in primary school barracking for Collingwood, and I’ve never been the sheep following type.

I think the 1980 Ansett cup grand final win sealed the deal.

Don’t think the 75 and 77 Premierships had much bearing… too young.

Humble brag about age….