What Sydney-based Collingwood supporters are saying.

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by TazzaInThePocke
Firstly, NMWBloods, like i say, get back to me with one I HAVENT HEARD.

I thought Eddie McGuire was very funny on TFS the other day when he was lamenting all the injuries that Collingwood had this year and implying that Collingwood were hardest hit by injuries.

* The Swans have had at least two key players out injured in every game this year.

* The Swans have had the #2 and #3 forwards both fit and on the park for just two quarters of football this year.

* The Swans lost to Port this year by 12 goals because the Swans had a dozen first-choice players all out injured.

* The Swans have lost three players this year to ACL knee injuries, more than any other club.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Lost me there. As the founder of the Rainbow Swans (yeah, isn't that going well lol ) I am highly bemused that people would follow our club of all people who stoop as low as resorting to taking the @@@@ out of the queer community to prove a point to Collingwood.

At a bigotted homophobic club like Collingwood the Pink Magpies should be thoroughly applauded for getting together and asserting themselves. The stood up to Joffa when he uttered his crap last year. And are helping destroying the stereotype that gay people can't follow footy, and that the gay community are footy fans like the rest of us too.

Luckily things in Sydney are far far more accepting. But sadly far far harder to try and organise.

For more information on what I am trying to organise, go to the URL below.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/rainbow_swans/

JF

[Ruda Wakening]

Why do people have to be divided into groups depending on their sexuality, just to follow a football team?

[Bart]

Originally posted by TazzaInThePocke
And heres the reason, its their supporters. When you support an AFL team, you follow them through thick and thin. REGARDLESS. Thats what alot of Sydney fans dont do. When the swans are on top, attendences rise, when they arent they fall. the Swans, if they are to ever rule this town, need to stop the crowd rising and falling.

This is precisely the reason why Collingwood have been the biggest underachievers in the past 50 years of football with only 2 premierships. For all your superiority and riches, only 2 flags. What reason am I refering to you ask ? The reason is their supporters. It hit me after the Swans win against the Pies at Telstra. I was walking out after the game delighted with the result, and I saw a group of Colligwood supporters singing there club song at full voice and bagging Swans supporters around them. It then hit me that these supporters (and thousands more like them, just visit any Collingwood message board) are so blinded by their clubs sense of superiority, that ultimate success is really irrelevant. We are the Pies. We are the best. Totally in denial that the vast majority of you have seen only 1 flag in your lifetimes. Well sunshine, you are not the best. This culture permeates from your Pres through every part of the club.

Magpies uber alles, even premierships it seems.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by TazzaInThePocke
And heres the reason, its their supporters. When you support an AFL team, you follow them through thick and thin. REGARDLESS. Thats what alot of Sydney fans dont do. When the swans are on top, attendences rise, when they arent they fall. the Swans, if they are to ever rule this town, need to stop the crowd rising and falling.

How many teams don't have a rise and fall of crowds related to there onfield performance. It happens every year, when a team goes well the crowds increase, Look at Hawthorn this year, I'm sure their attendances are well down on years when they have played well.

[Bart]

Originally posted by hemsleys
How many teams don't have a rise and fall of crowds related to there onfield performance. It happens every year, when a team goes well the crowds increase, Look at Hawthorn this year, I'm sure their attendances are well down on years when they have played well.

http://www.abc.net.au/businessbreakfast/content/2002/s685254.htm

Then there are those who want to translate Collingwood's success to a much bigger playing field.

Step forward Victorian Treasurer John Brumby, who's commissioned a Treasury analysis on the economic benefits to the State of a Collingwood GF win.

25/9/2002 JOHN BRUMBY, VICTORIAN TREASURER: "A Collingwood victory would mean something like a 4.3 per cent GDP rate in the year following, and something like an unemployment rate of 4 per cent."

Collingwood. AFL's biggest club ? Yes, when the bandwagon is on board

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Bart
http://www.abc.net.au/businessbreakf...02/s685254.htm

Then there are those who want to translate Collingwood's success to a much bigger playing field.

Step forward Victorian Treasurer John Brumby, who's commissioned a Treasury analysis on the economic benefits to the State of a Collingwood GF win.

25/9/2002 JOHN BRUMBY, VICTORIAN TREASURER: "A Collingwood victory would mean something like a 4.3 per cent GDP rate in the year following, and something like an unemployment rate of 4 per cent."

Collingwood. AFL's biggest club ? Yes, when the bandwagon is on board

Enough said on the bandwagon issue then, Thanks Bart!!

[Bart]

Collingwood bandwagon, sorry, memberships.

Season Memberships Previous Year ladder

2004 41,128 2
2003 40,455 2
2002 32,549 9
2001 31,455 15
2000 28,932 16
1999 32,358 14
1998 27,073 10

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by Bart
25/9/2002 JOHN BRUMBY, VICTORIAN TREASURER: "A Collingwood victory would mean something like a 4.3 per cent GDP rate in the year following, and something like an unemployment rate of 4 per cent."

Here's how the economy is boosted by a Collingwood bandwagon:

Bandwagon construction: 15,000
Bandwagon decoration: 4,000
People needed to propel bandwagon: 40,000 (all Collingwood members)
Extra police needed to keep path of bandwagon clear: 1,000
Extra police needed on bandwagon: 3,000
Bandwagon cabin crew: 3,000
Mechanics needed to fix bandwagon when wheels fall off: 2,000

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Ruda Wakening
Why do people have to be divided into groups depending on their sexuality, just to follow a football team?

I don't really get that either.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Ruda Wakening
Why do people have to be divided into groups depending on their sexuality, just to follow a football team?

Because it is so much better to be with other people who will accept you for what you are. Just like how many femae Swans fans like to be with other female fans.

On the Rainbow Swans list we had people saying they went to the Collingwood game on their own. I want to address things like that. It is as much about networking within the niche AFL market as RWO is networking the niche of Swans fans in the Sydney sporting market. I think all of us are highly appreciative of RWO being here. Within it we'd not have met so many people.

Footy is still a pretty bigotted place at times. Some of the ferals in Melbourne are the most homophobic creatures on this planet (not that it worries me, as I'm not "obviously gay"). Knowing that you are not alone in being both gay and a footy fan is a very comforting thing. Knowing I can talk to fellow queer Swans supporters about personal issues I am having is of great comfort to me.

As much as my straight friends try to understand me, they never will. I mean Cathy even ran up for a chat on Mardi Gras day when I was in pre-march trauma at what to wear because of the rain.
;-) And one listee said I was "cheating" on my partner, to which I said I was in an open relationship. All I got was a confused look from the other party.

We are still part of a greater whole. But as shown by how important Mardi Gras is to us, asserting one's self is not only good because of the social networks it brings, but because it challenges people by confronting their attitudes to the queer community. And in the long term greater visibility promotes a broader understanding our us as not only supporters at matches but people who want to meet like-minded 'brethren'.

We have been HUGE followers of the Swans all along right from the early days. Whilst it may mean nothing to you, it means a lot to us. But if you have never been in a minority, you wil NEVER understand what I'm talking about.

Full marks to the Pink Magpies and the crew from gayfooty.com.

JF

[Ruda Wakening]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG

Whilst it may mean nothing to you, it means a lot to us. But if you have never been in a minority, you wil NEVER understand what I'm talking about.

Doesn't liking Nic Fosdike qualify me for a minority group?

[Tooth Fairy]

Originally posted by Ruda Wakening
Doesn't liking Nic Fosdike qualify me for a minority group?

I'm in that same minority. I know how you feel ruda

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by Ruda Wakening
Doesn't liking Nic Fosdike qualify me for a minority group?

As long as you don't like Fosdike and Saddington ( ), then you should be okay.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by monopoly19
As long as you don't like Fosdike and Saddington ( ), then you should be okay.

What are the odds of that though? 1,000,000 to 1????