Melbourne: what a wonderful city!

[ubolt]

Went to Melbourne last weekend for the first time for a football weekend (yes, i know, i should have done it previously and do it more often - but i don't get much of a chance). I've been a few times before but specifically only for cricket matches.

Anyway: went to our game against the Saints at the Dome (and went to the Adelaide - Richmond game at the MCG). And i must say: what a fantastic city Melbourne is. The people are fantastic, the football was great and i haven't had that much fun for a long time.

It's an interesting city - it really is - besides playing spot the Aussie at times. I couldn't help but be amazed at what sort of "football culture" the city has. Here in Adelaide, you've obviously got your football fans, but people - generally speaking - are "afraid" to show loyalties to a club, you rarely see people walking down the street wearing an Adelaide Crows shirt, or Port Adelaide shirt, or any other club for that matter. In Melbourne it is a completely different kettle of fish, people wear the colours and are unafraid to do it. People wear their Bulldogs gear, their Richmond gear, their Melbourne gear and do it with pride, with passion. Everyone talks about the games, everyone gets involved - and EVERYONE is a football fan. I was on a tram in the city centre going to MCG on the Saturday and a couple of good looking girls started talking to me (i felt really popular too - doesn't happen here in Adelaide!) and they just started talking about the football, asking me who i support, why i'm going to the game, where i come from, how i became a bulldogs supporter, and that sort of thing, and why they they love their football too. It was amazing, the culture is just fantastic.


It was good to go to a game where i wasn't completely outnumbered by opposition supporters too.

What a city Melbourne is! It's just something you don't see here in Adelaide: at all!

[Mofra]

You're more than welcome to move here ubolt ;)

In terms of how different cities can be, I lived in Sydney for a while and there is a very big difference in the way Sydneysiders follow League to the way Melbournians follow football. Pople would ask if you follow League in Sydney, as it is not a given that people have a team. In Melborune, people simply ask who you barrack for (assumign everyone follows football), and if you don't have a team you will probably get the same look as if you said "my leprosy is contageous, sorry for losing a fingernail in your beer".

[The Boy From Brasil]

For avid football supporters, Melbourne has no peer. You are right at the heart of the action and there is something always going on. It is also a very livable city and a great place to live.

I lived for twenty odd years in Melbourne but made the move to a warmer climate dividing my time between Brasil and the Sunshine Coast. Although I miss parts of Melbourne I could never move back there. I find living in a warmer climate puts you in a better mood and makes you happier as an individual. I have to say that I am extremely lucky to be able to listen to 3AW and SEN via internet streaming and get the games on Foxtel, 10 and 7. Without modern technology such as this, I might never have made the move as AFL is one of my biggest passions.

[Dogs_R_Us]

I've lived on the Gold Coast since 1990. Well, it might as well be Siberia as far as AFL is concerned. Forget the prospect of a new team, it will struggle, believe me. My team is doing fantastically well, but do I dare mention it in the office? I am looked on as an embarrassing weirdo if I say two sentences about "footy". Even the other workers who follow NRL don't talk too much about it. Or Rugby Union.

Once, years ago, I saw a young bloke wearing a Dogs jumper with 3 on the back and, overjoyed, I went up to him and said something along the lines of "Go Dogs, Go Granty" and he looked at me as if I was a child molester. (Married lady :rolleyes:)

I know there are other Gold Coast AFL fans out there, but they are thinly spread! Melbourne is the ONLY place to be in the FOOTY season. TG for Bigfooty.

[hujsh]

Can't imagine people not showing their colours.

People stop you one the street and ask who won

[The Boy From Brasil]

I've lived on the Gold Coast since 1990. Well, it might as well be Siberia as far as AFL is concerned. Forget the prospect of a new team, it will struggle, believe me. My team is doing fantastically well, but do I dare mention it in the office? I am looked on as an embarrassing weirdo if I say two sentences about "footy". Even the other workers who follow NRL don't talk too much about it. Or Rugby Union.

Once, years ago, I saw a young bloke wearing a Dogs jumper with 3 on the back and, overjoyed, I went up to him and said something along the lines of "Go Dogs, Go Granty" and he looked at me as if I was a child molester. (Married lady :rolleyes:)

I know there are other Gold Coast AFL fans out there, but they are thinly spread! Melbourne is the ONLY place to be in the FOOTY season. TG for Bigfooty.

The bonus of the gold coast is that you get friday night football at 8.30pm

We get it prime time at midnight on the sunshine coast :rolleyes:

Its all swings and roundabouts though. What you miss in one thing you make up in another :)

[anthj]

I'm glad I live in Melbourne :cool:

[duqprint]

Pity you feel that Melbourne's 'spot the "Aussie"' nature detracts from its interest and wonderfulness. One of the best things about Melbourne is multiculturalism. And um... many non-white people are actually 'Aussie', too. And footy-lovers. Footy, the great equaliser and all that....

Glad you love my hometown though. I love it too.