Anti-Swans sentiments in Melbourne last weekend - UGH!

[Tuesday]

Well, I just wished to find out experiences of those who were in Melbourne over the weekend. I returned home tonight, thus the thread is probably a little late considering we're all progressing toward the 'optimism' phase that is Wednesday.

So anyhoo, my experiences:

I flew down for the game on the weekend - my first ever interstate viewing. I was so excited and thought nothing could dampen my spirits but I have never in my whole life encountered the degree of general hostility and animosity directed towards Swans supporters down there! I was amazed! We were harassed all day and were only in our scarves!


How do all you Melbourne-based Swans supporters cope?!?!

I know I will need to grow some thicker skin before I return, but having been Sydney born and bred, I have never encountered this nastiness before. Whilst there are people who are rabid supporters of a variety of teams in Sydney, I rekon the general population couldn't care less if you barracked for a certain team [with the exception of the Bulldogs]. Or perhaps it's my apathy once again [damn uni!].

Anyhoo, I was just really shocked. It took us until today [well, Tuesday] to pluck up enough courage to pull our scarves back out and even then I had to stand in Bourke Street Mall and shout at people who were complete tools to us. Talk about bad vibes...

I do not intend this to be a Sydney [lovely city] v Melbourne [terrible!] rant, because that's not what I felt. I was blown away at the degree to which people take the game to heart and how they directed their hatred for a team toward the supporters. I would never do that! Am I misled in my footy ettiquette?

It just really hurt my feelings
Has anyone else encountered this?

[ScottH]

I've never expereinced this, whether at the game, or in the street.

There is a lot of animosity btw supporters of different clubs, here in Melb, coz they are so passionate. Maybe it wasn't coz you were a swan, maybe it was coz you were from a rival club.

Maybe its just you???

[Glenn]

Well with the weather,etc in Melbourne this time of year those down in Mexico tend to get even more jealous of us Northerners and have to take the frustrations out someway

Seriously, they really need to get over themselves and get a life and realise the VFL is now a second teir competition

[Matt79]

I generally fly down for 2-4 games a year to Melbourne and always wear my Swannies gear walking around and I must say I have never encounted any hostility.

One of the things I have always loved about Melbourne footy culture is the fact you can walk around in your team's gear and people will say, "Go Swannies" or "Go Saints" etc. if you are playing them in friendly banter.

You don't tend to get that as much with the league crowds in Sydney.

You must have just hit a bad patch!

[ScottH]

When in the city once I got "your a long way from home".

I replied "Yeh,a 20 min to drive is a killer."

But even on the train station, you get the odd "go swannies", or "go saints(or whoever)", but not very often.

It's funny on the station tho' people in swans gear look at you like, -- Swans supporter, we have a bond -- .

[desredandwhite]

Can't say I've really had any negative experiences in my many trips to Victoria. The Boss is from Geelong, so I tend to go down there at least 4-5 times a year. I always have something Swannish to wear, whether it's a jacket, or shirt or whatever.. and I've very rarely copped anything other than good-natured banter. Which is impressive considering the obscene number of times I've seen us lose badly there.

Mind you, most of the time I'm in Geelong, where they are generally laid-back to the point of coma most days (right, Cher & Dan? ).

Maybe you just look like you want to pick fights, Ms Day

[ROK Lobster]

I copped some flak recently in Canberra while filling the car with petrol. The car beside had a Demons member sticker on the back. The bloke noticed the Swans sticker and mumbled, "Swans eh? Your mob are re wrecking the game." And then he wandered away.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
I copped some flak recently in Canberra while filling the car with petrol. The car beside had a Demons member sticker on the back. The bloke noticed the Swans sticker and mumbled, "Swans eh? Your mob are re wrecking the game." And then he wandered away.

Was he driving a Range Rover??

[NMWBloods]

Occasionally there are nasty tools who have a go at other supporters, but I've seen that with every club. I think you were just unlucky as the atmosphere is normally fine.

[Charlie]

What was said?

We tend to bait and niggle each other, but 95% of the time it's light hearted. I guess you learn not to take offence when a) you know that you're usually just as bad and b) it's not really worth the effort when you know that it would only stop people talking footy with you.

[Wil]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
I copped some flak recently in Canberra while filling the car with petrol. The car beside had a Demons member sticker on the back. The bloke noticed the Swans sticker and mumbled, "Swans eh? Your mob are re wrecking the game." And then he wandered away.

The Swans, Lions, Eagles, Dockers and Power are ALL wrecking "the game" (VFL).

[swansrock4eva]

I've always loved going to Melbourne - I've been to about 10 matches in Melbourne, and every time I've always ended up having decent footy conversations with supporters of every club - even our rivals for that weekend are happy to sit and have a chat and be friendly, but always bearing in mind the "hehe my team's gonna kick your team's ass" aspect, but it's never been nasty, except for the drunk psycho roos supporters in 96 (imagine getting dragged out of the grand final by cops by your hair, and missing your team's premiership!).

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by ScottH
Was he driving a Range Rover??

To his weekend chalet at Jindabyne or Bullock's Flat by any chance?

JF

[Mike_B]

I too have been down a number of times now and always had a positive experience. I've never once copped abuse from anyone there while wearing my colours. In contrast, I have copped a fair bit leaving the SCG on a few occasions from feral opposition supporters.

As has already been mentioned, most of the time it's just a light hearted "go <insert team here>" and after the game, if there's been another on in town at the same time, you will often get asked about your team's game. Plus I like the fact people wear their colours every day of the week there - you don't see that nearly as much here with NRL jumpers.

[Glenn]

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
To his weekend chalet at Jindabyne or Bullock's Flat by any chance?

JF

Obviously the Sat Nav in his Range Rover was out, if he was going via Canberra