Cheering the team after a sub-par performance

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by Schneidergirl
Agree.... as I was sitting next to you.

Also if you are the parent of the two girls sitting in front of us, please tell your children that it isn't nice to stare. Not only is it rude, but it is also uncomfortable as I scream at the umpires/players/auskickers () when they are having a crap game.

LMAO. I have exactly the same problem - these two kids who sit in front of us spend more time staring at whoever is shouting the loudest than they do at the game, and they're members dammit, so they'll be there all year!

And as for men making more noise than women, pffft.

I would say that the last quarter was one of the more animated periods of the crowd surrounding me - I have never seen so many people collectively go nuts (myself included).

[swan_17]

I totally agree...some men who were sitting in front of me in the members area were showing no emotion when I was sitting on the edge of my seat and they alway looked behind when i was hurling abuse at the ump....I mean that is what you come to the football do to...Barrack!....

[Bart]

Originally posted by Ruckman
Footy crowds have changed. we sit in the Bradman and there's so many kids around that last year my brother was getting so exasperated by the decisions of James Hirds favourite umpire that when he finally exploded - he took the little people into consideration by bellowing

"Aargh, McLaren, you complete and utter ba. . . . . bad person"

Everyone in the area burst into laughter.

But is this not one of the club's strengths ?

Sure it can seem a little staid sometimes at a match, but it is always a pleasant and non-intimidating environment. Most fans from other teams are welcomed and the banter is good (exceptions of course)

Yes I know most people here are very fanatical and will let go with the odd expletive. But I for one would hate to be sitting in front of a foul mouthed idiot all match

But when you consider our crowd compared to the Roosters-Bulldogs a couple of weeks back, I know where I'd rather my kids be.

Our crowd is very Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, Lower North Shore, conservative people. The mix is different at Telstra, but many many families from the West are in attendance. I think this is telling us something.

Lets use it to welcome new fans

[Bunyip]

Originally posted by Damien

This compared to two people at work here, who are FULL CLUB MEMBERS, they asked me the result on Tuesday morning....

Ok, that is pretty funny and it is difficult to imagine it happening to club members in Melbourne.

it's just that the cliche annoys the ?*#@ out of me, especially when it is being recited by opposition fans who, for example, politely suggest all sydneysiders cannot understand why the 'ref' doesn't blow his whislte for a knock-on more often (this used to happen often when i sat on the hill long ago).

[Bron]

Originally posted by monopoly19
LMAO. I have exactly the same problem - these two kids who sit in front of us spend more time staring at whoever is shouting the loudest than they do at the game, and they're members dammit, so they'll be there all year!

The kids around me all look at me too, however, I just encourage them to cheer along ("C'mon you do it too!")... nowadays the littl'uns (and there are some very young supporters near me) start their own version of the chant whenever it occurs to them and everyone starts laughing and thinks it's cute, so I just go along with them to encourage them to keep it up!

[Old Royboy]

Ditto to all the previous comments re party goers, yuppies etc in the Noble stand. It seems to me we need a solid "feral fanatic swan supporter area" in there. If some-one would like to suggest a general area (bay no or whatever) we could congregate there and create a small yuppie free zone.

[stellation]

some people are quiet, some people get involved in cheering... I don't see a reason to be elitist about it.

[Damien]

Originally posted by stellation
some people are quiet, some people get involved in cheering... I don't see a reason to be elitist about it.

I don't see how talking about how you would love to see Swans crowds act or whatever as being elitist, thanks very much!!

[swansrock4eva]

A giant gripe I always have, and I know the CS members on here will agree with me is when we work our butts off to get the crowd around us up and people just can't be bothered responding - they look at us like we're aliens (or easter bunnies!). Then they have the hide to come over and go "you lot are pathetic - we can't even hear you!" and it's a case of "well what a %&^* would you like us to do that we're not already doing to the best of our abilities?! come and join us you knobs!" I'd have to say the CS has THE worst seats in the house at the SCG, and being surrounded by the GA section of the crowd mostly, it's damn-near impossible to get up some regular support like what people like Peter Hatley can do - if we had regulars around us, they'd get into it.

[SwallowdaFonz]

My 2 bob's worth re Sydney crowds, having attended many interstate games as well as our home games:

No, we are not as feral as many Victorian or SA footy crowds, but neither are we chardonnay-sipping or particularly fairweather supporters. Remember how we got stick for giving Carey a hard time a few years back?

Yes, it is nice to sit among a mixed crowd (women, kids, oldies) and not feel threatened or embarrassed by thugs and bigots (compares very favourably to European soccer or cricket crowds in Australia).

No, I don't want to return to the days when supporters had to stand in beery crowds in the rain, if those are some of the traditions of footy barracking that we are so ignorant of.

Yes, we do know the rules thanks. Every club has its morons, but Sydney fans on the average are knowledgeable and fair.

No, I don't think it is right or clever to boo your own team (or the opposition, or even the umpires for that matter). More constructive to try and cheer them on, with encoragement even when they play poorly (our team, that is).

That's what the original post was questioning. I don't think Sydney fans clap their players off politely after a bad half, but they might give them some encoragement.

FYI, I watched the tape of the Swans beating Port in last year's QFinal last night (ah, memories!). Port fans near the players race were trying to gee up the Power as they came off after a shocker of a first half. So is that "clapping a poor performance"? I also noticed the following "traditional" crowd behaviour from Port fans, even when their season was disappearing down the gurgler:

* Grinning and waving when caught on camera;
* "Wooshing" the ball into play at a boundary throw-in;
* Focusing intently on beer and snacks rather than a critical moment in the game.

And this from one of the proudest, longest and best-supported clubs in the country. If that were Swans fans, you'd hear the chardonnay cliches coming fast . . .

When I go to the footy, I've been known to applaud a great opposition mark or goal. Christ, that gets me some funny looks! But instead of blindly following tradition, why don't we think about what makes the game a great spectacle and enjoyable to watch?

[BAM_BAM]

I HATE the team being booed off the field at half time or anytime for that matter. The one thing I will never, never, never do is boo my team, even if they put in a @@@@ performance. I too am near the race and one the ones who stand and clap and yell at them to lift their heads or just a heartfelt "come on boys".

I think it's all about support. I go to support my team. I may leave disappointed some times, but I supported them. IMO a footy club is an organisation made up of many facets on match day you have many people who play a part. My role on match day is to support, pure and simple.

[anne]

I live in Melbourne and go to games in both cities. I much prefer it in Sydney as the people are not so feral and threatening. In fact going to a Collingwood or Essendon game down here can be quite daunting. The supporters are rude, loud, biased and very threatening. I am already worrying about the Essendon game in a couple of weeks. However the other noticeable thing down here is that generally if you get talking to other Swans fans they are a lot more knowledgable about the team, players and the AFL in general than people in Sydney(posters on this board excepted).

[Swansinger]

Originally posted by Damien
I must admit I have always found the sydney crowds weird!, sometimes it is like I have wondered into a meeting of the Vaucluse branch of the Liberal party. It can be so damn conservative!!!

There are some who say Sydney crowds are weird.
Let them come to Bay 7!

There are some who say we are conservative.
Let them come to Bay 7 !

Damien please get that "happy medium" you spoke of to contact President Kennedy and pass on my apologies for butchering his Berlin speech.

[Damien]

Originally posted by Swansinger
There are some who say Sydney crowds are weird.
Let them come to Bay 7!

There are some who say we are conservative.
Let them come to Bay 7 !

Damien please get that "happy medium" you spoke of to contact President Kennedy and pass on my apologies for butchering his Berlin speech.

Right.

I am very happy for Bay 7.

I will be sure to pass on your apologies to the late president at my earliest opportunity.