Fans of Australian football flock to Melbourne at this time of the year. If they can’t get a ticket to the game they can soak up the atmosphere and watch it on the big screen at the Federation Square live site, which is just walking distance from the big stage at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Sitting back and taking it all in was Neil Heywood, a 53-year-old school teacher at St Joseph’s college, who comes from Echuca on the Murray River near Victoria’s border. He’s a St Kilda supporter who has seen his team’s last five appearances in the Grand Final and was at the 1966 match when they won by a point over Collingwood.
“I was nine. I don’t remember much of it but it was a great celebration—the only flag ever. And we will cherish it until about 5 o'clock tomorrow and then it will be game on, celebrations for a year I think.”
Neil, as one can expect from a man in his profession, was rudimentary about the cultural support for the two teams.
“It is a real ABC Grand Final which means that you barrack for anyone but Collingwood—unless you are a Collingwood fan.”
Any sign of the Collywobbles? The Magpies have become famous for choking in finals. However, this year they show no indication of any imbalance. No wobbles.
“Well wait for it,” he said. “The time is right for it. Let’s hope we can win it. It will be great.”
Sitting back and taking it all in was Neil Heywood, a 53-year-old school teacher at St Joseph’s college, who comes from Echuca on the Murray River near Victoria’s border. He’s a St Kilda supporter who has seen his team’s last five appearances in the Grand Final and was at the 1966 match when they won by a point over Collingwood.
“I was nine. I don’t remember much of it but it was a great celebration—the only flag ever. And we will cherish it until about 5 o'clock tomorrow and then it will be game on, celebrations for a year I think.”
Neil, as one can expect from a man in his profession, was rudimentary about the cultural support for the two teams.
“It is a real ABC Grand Final which means that you barrack for anyone but Collingwood—unless you are a Collingwood fan.”
Any sign of the Collywobbles? The Magpies have become famous for choking in finals. However, this year they show no indication of any imbalance. No wobbles.
“Well wait for it,” he said. “The time is right for it. Let’s hope we can win it. It will be great.”
Collingwood’s Mick Malthouse is a ‘brilliant’ Coach
Another St Kilda fan who is philosophical about the culture that surrounds footy is Dr Michael Rich. A member at the MCG, the AFL and his beloved Saints, Michael rubs shoulders with the players, the wives and the coaches in his practise as a dermatologist.
“I have treated many of the players,” he said. “I have treated some of the Collingwood players as well. For example the Collingwood captain [Nick Maxwell] is a lovely fellow a really nice guy. I don’t want him to play that well tomorrow though … .”
He thinks that Collingwood’s Mick Malthouse is a “brilliant” coach who “has done an amazing job. He has managed to get a young team up with players who were not top drafts picks. He’s done very well in getting his team performing at a very high level at a very young age. The youngest average of any of the finals teams ... that’s it.
“It is amazing that most Collingwood matches 70 per cent of the crowd would support Collingwood—the Grand Final being an anomaly in that 25 per cent of the crowd will be Collingwood supporters and the rest of the crowd really—the total mass will support the opposition.
“A lot of people say that ‘we don’t mind who will win as long as it isn’t Collingwood.”
“Melbourne’s exciting this time of the year. The crowd the people, the Grand Final parade was amazing. The atmosphere—I mean you see everyone walking around—It’s an unusual city in that you see St Kilda and Collingwood supporters intermingling and there is no real animosity or hostility. They sit together in a crowd at the matches.”
“Studies have been done from a psychological point of view, people who support a football team in this city there, if the team won, they feel good all week, if they lost they actually are not functioning as well—which is really quite unique.”
“I have treated many of the players,” he said. “I have treated some of the Collingwood players as well. For example the Collingwood captain [Nick Maxwell] is a lovely fellow a really nice guy. I don’t want him to play that well tomorrow though … .”
He thinks that Collingwood’s Mick Malthouse is a “brilliant” coach who “has done an amazing job. He has managed to get a young team up with players who were not top drafts picks. He’s done very well in getting his team performing at a very high level at a very young age. The youngest average of any of the finals teams ... that’s it.
“It is amazing that most Collingwood matches 70 per cent of the crowd would support Collingwood—the Grand Final being an anomaly in that 25 per cent of the crowd will be Collingwood supporters and the rest of the crowd really—the total mass will support the opposition.
“A lot of people say that ‘we don’t mind who will win as long as it isn’t Collingwood.”
“Melbourne’s exciting this time of the year. The crowd the people, the Grand Final parade was amazing. The atmosphere—I mean you see everyone walking around—It’s an unusual city in that you see St Kilda and Collingwood supporters intermingling and there is no real animosity or hostility. They sit together in a crowd at the matches.”
“Studies have been done from a psychological point of view, people who support a football team in this city there, if the team won, they feel good all week, if they lost they actually are not functioning as well—which is really quite unique.”
‘I would like to see St Kilda come home’
Dressed in St Kilda colours, his face bearing the marks of a weather-beaten man who has seen Melbourne in the rare occupation as a Horse Carriage Driver, is Mark.
“Well I think that Collingwood seems to have all the right form. It seems all the supporters have come out of the woodwork. I can understand why they say that because there are Collingwood supporters absolutely everywhere,“ he said. ”There are a few St Kilda supporters around. I would like to see St Kilda to win to tell you the truth … I think Collingwood'll win but I would like to see St Kilda come home.”
Although Mark is an Essendon Bombers supporter he wasn’t aware that his team is currently tied in the lead at 14 premiership wins with the Pies. With the Bombers membership and fan-base rivalling the Woods’, bragging rights are important to the supporters and clubs. It is all on the line tomorrow. “Well that could be a reason,” Mark drawled. “That will be the reason. Go the Saints!”
“Well I think that Collingwood seems to have all the right form. It seems all the supporters have come out of the woodwork. I can understand why they say that because there are Collingwood supporters absolutely everywhere,“ he said. ”There are a few St Kilda supporters around. I would like to see St Kilda to win to tell you the truth … I think Collingwood'll win but I would like to see St Kilda come home.”
Although Mark is an Essendon Bombers supporter he wasn’t aware that his team is currently tied in the lead at 14 premiership wins with the Pies. With the Bombers membership and fan-base rivalling the Woods’, bragging rights are important to the supporters and clubs. It is all on the line tomorrow. “Well that could be a reason,” Mark drawled. “That will be the reason. Go the Saints!”
‘I support Collingwood forever’
Tas, who works in Melbourne’s busiest commuter spot as a 47-year-old barista, can have the final word. As I watched him moving methodically, I decided he would be my last interview of the day and first Collingwood supporter. Quickly serving customers, heating up some party-pies and attending the coffee machine, he would call out “Go Pies” to all and sundry in Flinders Street Station.
Red-hot favourite to win, his simple conviction that Collingwood is the best team mirrors how every one of the Collingwood Army must be feeling as the starting bounce approaches.
“I support Collingwood forever,” Tas says.
“There’s probably over one million Collingwood supporters in the Melbourne CBD and you can only find one?” he asked amused.
“My gut feeling says Collingwood by 30 to 40 points. May God bless Collingwood with a Collingwood victory. Because otherwise it will be very tragic news globally. Pies forever!”[etssp 115]
