Okay. So after 9 years in Australia, I think I should pick a football team.
So far I have Carlton and Collingwood, I'm told they don't mix well though.
Should where I live (Melbourne, next to Albert Park Lake) have an influence on my choice?
Open to suggestions and/or bribes.
But if doing so, make sure you knock out at least 1 or 2 teeth to fit in properly
And start liking VB
Cant be 2 hard, there is only 2 football teams in Melbourne
There's only one actually. It's not the Rebels…
Should an OzBargainer just pick the one with the cheapest membership?
In the interim you can join the tipping competition and then go for whatever team you tip.
Don't pick Carlton if you want to see any success in the next decade. And unless you have a criminal record and lack basic intelligence, you won't fit in with the Collingwood fans.
From where you're living you could probably go with Melbourne or St Kilda, but again, don't count on attending any finals for quite a while.
Mate, get on the North Melbourne Kangaroos!
They play an exciting brand of footy with emphasis on attack, and when they're on they'll beat any other team in the comp and are considered a genuine premiership threat over the next few years. (unlike the Blues or Pies)
They offer the best value memberships in the league and are a very accommodating club that offer great access to the players (that some of the 'larger' clubs would think was 'beneath' them or charge for).
At clubs with bigger memberships, their supporters only touch their colours, but at North we have the Shinboner spirit. North people can touch that spirit – they are the real Shinboners, they are the club.” — Ron Joseph
They're a very community-minded club, running a multi award winning program for migrants/refugees called the Huddle, and despite being a historically financially disadvantaged club, they still choose to not run poker machine venues.
They pioneered Friday night Football and will likely host the first ever Good Friday match in 2016 (with proceeds to the Royal Children's Hospital).
Over 146 years, they've always had to innovate and work hard for their successes (unlike some clubs who get gifted advantage on a silver platter).
“In two aspects North Melbourne stands second to none. One is the loyalty of its supporters. The other is the determination to carry on, despite its disadvantages. In the face of adversity, which might well have broken the spirit of most men, we find that from the earliest days there were always enthusiasts to fight for North Melbourne.” —The Australasian 15 June 1940.
They won the AFL's only ever Gold Premiership cup.
Our games record holder Brent 'Boomer' Harvey will pass the 400 game mark this year and if his typical form continues, he will likely go on to break the all-time AFL games record in the next couple of years.
At the other extreme is a skinny kid named 'Sugar' Kayne Tuner. He's a tough and tenacious, footy-seeking and tackling machine who has already amassed an impressive 'kill-list' for someone with only a handful of games (including three finals already!) under his belt.
I've backed him to win the 2015 Rising Star award ahead of the more fancied candidates.
Also, you seem to share the name of our 2014 (and three other seasons) leading goal kicker, Drew Petrie :)
So are you convinced yet?!
I've only just begun to scratch the surface of the reasons why I love this great club.
Oh yeah, they also have the best colours, a great Aussie mascot and a ripper theme song.
PS. Ignore their rather poor showing on the weekend (the Crows were absolutely on fire and the Roos unfortunately always seem to struggle in Round 1 matches - as they did last year yet still made the preliminary final). Check them out tomorrow against Brissy for a better demo of what they're capable of when on song. I'm sure they'll #GetReal
He is looking for a Melbourne team, not the Canberra/gold coast/tasmanian roos…. judging by where you live you would be a st kilda supporter (I don't follow the saints)
sigh In case you hadn't heard, the Roos rejected a basquillion dollar offer to relocate almost 10 years ago, and have gone from strength to strength in Melbourne ever since, breaking membership records every other year.
And I am nowhere near StKilda?!
So, who do you follow then?
Oh they rejected an offer to relocate? Why do they play home games in tassie then?
I'd suggest because it makes sense to do so.
Do you also think Hawthorn are going to relocate to Launceston?
Nice, an article from 2010, here is my favourite part of your quoted article.“The truth is North Melbourne is pushing to move part-time to Tasmania because it cannot afford to sustain itself at Arden Street and Etihad Stadium – when it assured its members and fans that it could and would. It has taken less than three seasons of the new board to break that promise,” I think I officially win the debate about the kangaroos, seems like you have been "hoisted with your own petard".
@slimdavy5: Nice selective quoting from the article, which is actually a quote from a separate, inaccurate Caro article.
Brayshaw said from day dot they'd explore a similar model to Hawthorn, and it's been very successful.
Again you say you think? I'm not convinced.
In order for there to be a debate, you'd need to be adding something accurate/informed.
Or you could even try answering any of my simple, direct questions?
You are asking a person who lives in the St kilda vicinity to support the kangaroos (I won't write north melbourne because judging by the roos they could be basing home games somewhere new by the time you read this) and I am saying: 1. Why would you support a team who has a history of selling home games interstate to make a buck 2. Is an unprofitable team who has to be propped up by other successful clubs to remain in the league. Your defence is "well who do you follow" does that really matter? You are the one who continues to deflect and dodge answering a simple question, if the roos were in any other professional league in the world would they still be there? The answer is no, because other clubs have to prop them up.
Golly. I've tried to answer all of your questions, while you ignore mine and re-hash already debunked trolling statements.
The Roos are indeed profitable, and are a great team for all the reasons I've already mentioned.
I was only asking which team you're too embarrassed to name your support for, to try and better understand why you're so keen to single out North with your misguided scorn?!
FYI, St Kilda also sell home games.
Are they called North Melbourne again? Thought it was just the kangaroos….
You thought? Yes, as stated in my first post, we're the North Melbourne Kangaroos.
I'll take your reluctance to reveal who you support to mean you are an Essendope* Bombres supporter.
I can understand your preference to keep it secret. Enjoy Friday night ;)
Not a bombers fan either, thankfully. So how many location/name changes does that make it for north melbourne? I wonder how many home games they have had at different grounds. Let's see, canberra, tasmania, gold coast, mcg, etihad…. That's just in the last 10 years! Really about time they folded or merged. Melbourne roos has a good sound to it. Too many victorian teams anyway need to cut at least 2 and the amount of money the AFL has to pay to prop up the roos could be better used elsewhere.
Tell you what, come back to me when you can either answer a simple question, or have anything informed to say. Until then, I'm all outta troll pellets.
Fact is north melbourne sell home games interstate, If this was any other league in the world they wouldn't exist anymore. It is an absolute disgrace my membership dollars go to propping up a football club that isn't needed.
@slimdavy5: Heheh, ok your hyperbole deserves more pellets.
Many clubs sell home games. Do you have a point beyond the apparent trolling?
Can you answer simple questions?
You're a member of some club now are you? But still appear too ashamed(?) to name who.
Seems to point towards the drug cheats again. So did you enjoy the game last Friday night?
The big clubs in Melbourne are Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond and Essendon. Much of the suburban rivalry comes from those 4 teams. Others will debate how many members each of those clubs has or how they are travelling at the moment but there is no doubt these clubs are the big clubs in Melbourne. If you are going to pick a team then pick one for the long haul, not for what is happening this week. Believe me, people that switch footy teams are considered just below war criminals and insurance salesmen in this town.
If you lived in the West then Bulldogs or Geelong would be a good choice but otherwise probably not.
St Kilda are rebuilding and have a good exciting young list. There is possibly some excitement about following them but they have only won 1 premiership in their history and traditionally for most of their history they have been at the wrong end of the ladder. I'm not sure your location is a big discriminator, if you lived in Seaford or along the bay it possibly would be.
Melbourne are one of the older clubs in the league, proud tradition and in the 50's were unbeatable at times. Nowadays they aren't travelling so well. Steretype (fairly or unfairly) is that Melbourne is the club for wealthy old money families, MCC members and private schoolkids from the inner city. Most other clubs used to joke about Melbourne fans calling out 'go number 4' or there not being anybody at their games during ski season as everyone was at their lodge at Mt Buller. Obviously just bigotry and stereotypes. Melb has one of the best coaches going around and they have a stack of talented kids .
Hawthorn are almost one of the traditional clubs but they were a later entrant to the league way back in the old days. They have a proud history and a great team at the moment. Much of their support comes from the Eastern Suburbs as their training base is down at Glen Waverley at the old AFL park. They nearly ceased to exist not so long ago and almost merged with Nth Melbourne to stay viable at one stage. They seem well sorted now though. They are possibly coming to the end of an era of greatness and possibly a few of their champion players will be leaving the game in the next 2 or 3 seasons. Hawks fans seem proud, successful and the club seems well run, you could do worse that Hawthorn, I would recommend the Hawks as a choice.
North Melbourne has been a successful club, particularly given that for much of their history they have been surviving on petrol fumes. As with melbourne they get annual handouts from the central AFL to keep going. They were almost bought by Carlton in the 1990's, almost merged with hawthorn after that and I think had people on street corners rattling tins to stay going at one stage. They don't have a large membership despite having had some of the best champions the game has ever seen and having won a few premierships back in the 70's and 90's. their president is footy Club co-host James Brayshaw and they seem to have a rising contender for a team at the moment. They also have a charismatic coach and strong prospects for success. Not sure they will ever become one of the big powerhouse clubs but their small contingent of fans are very passionate.
Essendon is one of the Big 4 Melbourne clubs. They have been smashed over the last couple of years with Drug scandals but they are a very successful club (equal with Carlton for most premierships). They have a fierce rivalry with Collingwood and Carlton and have a large following. I hate them too much to recommend them as a choice but you could do worse!
Collingwood is the biggest team in Melbourne but the stereotype woods fan is very polarizing. Obviously there are no doubt high court judges and surgeons that barrack for Collingwood but the popular stereotype is the 'down-and-out' with missing teeth wearing mocassins. Nuffies as they are sometimes called. The biggest rivalry in AFL is probably Carlton v Collingwood, certainly the biggest in Melbourne. Collingwood are always in the media thanks partly to their very public president, Eddie McGuire. Their club seems well run and stable and they seem to be doing well this year. But I hate them too. Probably an OK choice but when you tell people you follow them folks will make jokes about shoplifting and the dentist.
Richmond is another of the big Melbourne teams. They have an enormous fan base but because of their lack of success for the last 30 years many don't follow as passionately as in the past. Richmond have a reputation for some of the most feral fans in the game (worse than Collingwood) and it is a longstanding joke about Richmond members cracking the sads and cutting up their membership tickets after a loss. There was one episode years ago when a fan paid for a truckload of chicken hearts to be dumped on the road outside the club HQ. When Richmond are up and winning their fans come out of the woodwork. They also have far and away the best club song of any of the teams, particularly when there are thousands singing it at the MCG. Their team right now is inconsistent and their fans are known for 'eating their own' and being hyper critical of bad performances. IfRrichmond ever get it right they could almost be the biggest club in Melbourne but they always find a way to manufacture defeat at the critical time. An interesting choice, if you like drama and aren't too upset seeing one of your own fans spitting on your coach after an insipid loss, could be a choice.
My team in Carlton and at the moment they are all over the news. Our club was a powerhouse back in the 70's to 90's but was caught out breaking the salary cap in the early 00's and punished heavily. Carlton has struggled to recover from the punishments handed down. Carlton is also a bit of a sleeping Giant as many fans drift away when the team isnt winning. Like Richmond though, if Carlton starts winning again there will be loads of fans coming out of the woodwork. Carlton is known for being the club for some of the rich and famous and several rich benefactors seem to be always pulling some of the strings at the club. People like Geoffrey Edelsten, The Pratt (Visy) family and Bruce Mathieson the pokie king are current influential figures. Carlton had a reputation for success by stealing the best players from other clubs but the move to a draft and salary cap pretty much stuffed up their strategy and they have not adapted well to the new regime. Carlton are in for some tough times in the short term but if they can start winning again they will be one of the powerhouse clubs again. I am totally biased to the Blues so recommend Carlton.
Not a bad summary there!
Just a couple of corrections…
Hawthorn and Melbourne were lining up to merge in ~1996, while North Melbourne and Fitzroy were set to merge, before Fitzroy were essentially rail-roaded into merging with Brisbane instead.
Also, to call the AFL equalisation policy 'handouts' is an awful oversimplification.
At least seven AFL clubs receive equalisation payments for various reasons.
North Melbourne for example are compensated for the many biases in the AFL fixture and stadium arrangements.
eg Give the Roos Collingwood's fixture and we'd turn an even bigger profit than we have for the last many years.
Poor Essendon. Where is the love? That drug scandal hurt the clubs rep but they are playing some quality footy this season. Bombers have the best nickname and jersey design too!
My understanding as a northerner is you should pick Collingwood to be assured of a robust welcome wherever you go.