View Full Version : The Gabba
mongrelpunt
15 Apr 2002, 11:01
The Brisbane Lions crowd has got to be the worst in the league. Now, I've never been to Adelaide, Perth or Sydney, but from what I've heard they are pretty good compared to the Gabba. I've been going to the Gabba for over 4 years now (I've been a Lions member for that period, as its the only live AFL we get), and I've tolerated their "One-Eyed-ness" for that time, but after Saturday night, I think I'm going to the Gabba for the last time. If I ever hear anyone call another person a "weasel" I'm throwing myself off the nearest building.
The majority are the most undeserving, rabid, bandwagon supporters in the history of VFL/AFL football. There are supporters out there who when watching their team, can acknowledge the other teams great efforts. But when you are at the Gabba, you can take Mark of the Century, and the majority of the crowd will still ask for a free kick against you.
Now not all Lions supporters are that bad, but its slowly getting worse. I may be called a sore loser, but like I said, I've been a Lions member for over 4 years now, and the sad thing is, I'm more of a Lions supporter than three quarters of the Gabba crowd. (I missed my first Lions home game last season)
I've been a member when the Lions won their wooden spoon in 1998, and when they were only half the side they are now in 2000, and to see the number of people jump on the Lions bandwagon in the last 18 months has been appaling. Even when the Lions got flogged by Carlton last year, the game the next week against the Crows attracted a small crowd, and even these so called "supporters" were so negative on their own team it wasn't funny.
I'm probably contradicting myself saying this after 4 years, but with one "live" game in Brisbane every couple of weeks, there are some things you'll sit through to watch a good game of footy. But after Saturday, the only Gabba game I'll enjoy watching will be the cricket.
blackers
15 Apr 2002, 14:57
Originally posted by mongrelpunt
Now not all Lions supporters are that bad, but its slowly getting worse. I may be called a sore loser, but like I said, I've been a Lions member for over 4 years now, and the sad thing is, I'm more of a Lions supporter than three quarters of the Gabba crowd. (I missed my first Lions home game last season)
Hold on - perhaps I'm a stupid Brisbane supporter, but I'm confused. You're a Lions member AND an Essendon supporter? Any other personalities in there?
Complaining about crowd bias is like complaining about accents. I'm a Lions supporter in Melbourne and I can tell you that Melbourne crowds are every bit as biased. My guide at games is if I hear 80,000 Collingwood supporters having a whinge that means that my team has just got a free kick, taken a mark or kicked a goal. And Adelaide and Perth crowds are equally bad if not worse. And so they should be! At least there are Brisbane fans to shout - it was only 11 or so years ago that Channel Seven got in trouble for superimposing crowd noise over a game at Carrara.
And what team doesn't get bandwagon jumpers when it wins a flag? This is called growing a support base, my friend. It's what Essendon's been doing since 1983.
If the Gabba crowd annoys you to that extent, I suggest either you tune in to the games on TV with the sound turned down or follow your Essendon supporting tendencies and attend only Bombers home games to ensure the crowd always agrees with you.
mongrelpunt
15 Apr 2002, 15:26
Originally posted by blackers
Hold on - perhaps I'm a stupid Brisbane supporter, but I'm confused. You're a Lions member AND an Essendon supporter? Any other personalities in there?
Complaining about crowd bias is like complaining about accents. I'm a Lions supporter in Melbourne and I can tell you that Melbourne crowds are every bit as biased. My guide at games is if I hear 80,000 Collingwood supporters having a whinge that means that my team has just got a free kick, taken a mark or kicked a goal. And Adelaide and Perth crowds are equally bad if not worse. And so they should be! At least there are Brisbane fans to shout - it was only 11 or so years ago that Channel Seven got in trouble for superimposing crowd noise over a game at Carrara.
Crowds in Melbourne don't boo champion players like Hird and Lloyd just because. If Hird decks some bloke, then you boo him. Only Libba gets that sort of treatment. I heard one bloke behind me on Saturday say about Lloyd "Your Over-rated Lloyd!" Over-Rated? A century goalkicker 2 years running Over-rated? Come on, if you know anything about football, a century goalkicker has got to be good to kick 100 goals. I've been at games where the Lions have done something wrong, and these so called "supporters" were the first to bag them out!
Originally posted by blackers
And what team doesn't get bandwagon jumpers when it wins a flag? This is called growing a support base, my friend. It's what Essendon's been doing since 1983.
If the Gabba crowd annoys you to that extent, I suggest either you tune in to the games on TV with the sound turned down or follow your Essendon supporting tendencies and attend only Bombers home games to ensure the crowd always agrees with you.
Hey, hold on there! I'm not saying the whole crowd needs to sit there like a bunch of stunned mullets golf clapping, what I'm saying is that back in 1998 the crowd was full of people who actually supported Brisbane, not people just jumping on knowing nothing about the rules. Nowadays, ACTUAL Lions supporters are missing out of tickets to big games like Saturdays because of these bandwagon supporters who are only there because they are winning.
I never meant ALL Lions supporters are like this, but the are people who are. I remember when the Lions were going into the finals last year, there were all sorts of stories on the news about so called "fanatical Lions members" who were their so-called "Biggest fans" These people didn't even know the correct words to their own club song!! How can you call a person who doesn't even know their own club song a true supporter? Another case what at the St. Kilda Wizard cup game this year, there were people sitting in front of us who thought ALL GAME that Jamie Charman was Alastair Lynch! These people were supporting the Lions, and didn't even know their own team players!!
Its not just with Essendon. I've been on all parts of the field - supporting the Lions, supporting the opposition, and just going for the footy. Its the same every game, with every team.
Like you said, flags bring people to the games. But when these people make it so hard to watch the game because of their lack of knowledge and respect for the other team, then the enjoyment of AFL live tends to wain.
BrainOfMorbius
15 Apr 2002, 15:57
I'm all for this. If the Gabba's so unhospitable for opposition supporters it just makes more room for our supporters. And more noise for our team. It's a shame you feel this way, but it's no great loss.
sbagman
15 Apr 2002, 16:19
Now, I'm not the Gabba crowd's most vocal supporter, but I can't believe I have to read all this. Maybe there is alot of "bandwagon" support, but there is definitely a core support as well. The tradition isn't here, but it will be. Sounds like the Melbourne people want Brisbane to be there as long as they aren't doing too well. As soon as they start winning, along come the sour grapes.
It's in the absolute best interests of the game and of all clubs that football thrives in places like Brisbane and Sydney. So some parts of the crowd aren't as knowledgable as you football "conniseurs" (sp?) in Melbourne... get over it. I understand what you are saying, but it is coming across as very churlish and insulting to those who have supported the team through thick and thin.
Sbagman.
My mate, a rabid Colling**** supporter, reckons we Brisbane followers are going to have to get used to copping a slagging from the Essendons, Carltons and Colling****s of this world, because we are starting to be successful, and a huge threat to the entire competition.
Bring on the slagging, I say. Especially if we keep winning games. It's a price I'm prepared to pay. It's better than being flogged every week. Isn't it nice that they care enough to begin hating us? That's better than being ignored, or patronised.
Originally posted by skilts
Bring on the slagging, I say. Especially if we keep winning games. It's a price I'm prepared to pay. It's better than being flogged every week. Isn't it nice that they care enough to begin hating us? That's better than being ignored, or patronised.
Is that what your signature means? :D
M29, I must be as dim as I sim. Please explain.
P.S. Did you hear that the 1938, inaugural, annual general meeting of the Procrastinators Society has, yet again, been postponed?
Originally posted by skilts
M29, I must be as dim as I sim. Please explain.
As in nobody knows what its like to be a tree. As I assume trees are "being ignored, or patronised. " That's what I meant. :)
P.S. Did you hear that the 1938, inaugural, annual general meeting of the Procrastinators Society has, yet again, been postponed?
AGAIN! Bastards! :mad: