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Footy ferals are loud and proud
23 April 2004 Herald Sun
Shaun Phillips
EARLY form has Richmond and Collingwood vying for one of the most dubious honours in football – having the worst supporters.
The sight of frothing fans spitting profanities at coaches Danny Frawley and Mick Malthouse on the weekend has the Tiger and Magpie sub-species neck and neck.
Perhaps not surprisingly, both camps rate the other the most vile.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide are also prolific vote-getters for their rabid supporters.
On the home front, Essendon and Carlton also remain widely loathed by opposition fans.
Judging the worst supporters is very subjective.
Arrogance and aggression are obvious measures. But the blackest sin for many is a propensity to turn on one's own.
Many Tigers are savage about their 1-3 start to the season. Coach Frawley and players copped a fearsome spray after capitulating to Geelong on Saturday. Fans on radio tell how they have tossed their membership card. One fan was so infuriated at Telstra Dome he tossed his jumper at the players.
A debate has raged on the passion-infused Punt Road End website this week about the merits of a crisis march.
"Why should we silently sit out the rest of the season and say nothing?" asks one fan.
"Freedom of speech. Get angry and get our club back."
Punt Road End administrator "Rosy" says Richmond supporters take pride in their passion.
She says Collingwood and Essendon fans are the ones that go overboard.
"(Collingwood supporters) are obscene and abusive – really in your face when they're winning and taking it out on opposition supporters when they're losing," she writes on the website.
"The ones who annoy me most are Essendon. They are so full of it when they are successful yet nowhere to be seen when they're not winning."
Another Richmond bulletin board poster says: "Scumwood (Collingwood) are the ferals from hell . . . however we do run a close second."
Jackster's self-appraisal is similarly brutal.
"Sorry to say, but I reckon we are the worst Victorian team, supporter wise," Jackster said.
"A jumper was thrown at the players as they walked off the other night, something I haven't seen before."
The faith of Collingwood fans is being sorely tested after Sunday's loss to Fremantle took the Pies to second last.
Despite some unsavoury post-match behaviour, high-profile Magpie fan Jeff "Joffa" Corfe says there's no contest.
"Richmond are the worst," he said.
"You walk through the `grog squad' in the standing area behind the city goals and you'll see what I mean," Corfe said.
On the online Nick's Bulletin Board he writes: "The way some Richmond supporters turned on Danny Frawley on Friday night just shows what sort of supporters they really are."
But a Collingwood comrade "creedymagpie" could see some similarities with Richmond.
"I firmly believe that we all hate them 'cause they are like us – passionate, feral and complete nuts!"
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,9361319%5E19742,00.html
23 April 2004 Herald Sun
Shaun Phillips
EARLY form has Richmond and Collingwood vying for one of the most dubious honours in football – having the worst supporters.
The sight of frothing fans spitting profanities at coaches Danny Frawley and Mick Malthouse on the weekend has the Tiger and Magpie sub-species neck and neck.
Perhaps not surprisingly, both camps rate the other the most vile.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide are also prolific vote-getters for their rabid supporters.
On the home front, Essendon and Carlton also remain widely loathed by opposition fans.
Judging the worst supporters is very subjective.
Arrogance and aggression are obvious measures. But the blackest sin for many is a propensity to turn on one's own.
Many Tigers are savage about their 1-3 start to the season. Coach Frawley and players copped a fearsome spray after capitulating to Geelong on Saturday. Fans on radio tell how they have tossed their membership card. One fan was so infuriated at Telstra Dome he tossed his jumper at the players.
A debate has raged on the passion-infused Punt Road End website this week about the merits of a crisis march.
"Why should we silently sit out the rest of the season and say nothing?" asks one fan.
"Freedom of speech. Get angry and get our club back."
Punt Road End administrator "Rosy" says Richmond supporters take pride in their passion.
She says Collingwood and Essendon fans are the ones that go overboard.
"(Collingwood supporters) are obscene and abusive – really in your face when they're winning and taking it out on opposition supporters when they're losing," she writes on the website.
"The ones who annoy me most are Essendon. They are so full of it when they are successful yet nowhere to be seen when they're not winning."
Another Richmond bulletin board poster says: "Scumwood (Collingwood) are the ferals from hell . . . however we do run a close second."
Jackster's self-appraisal is similarly brutal.
"Sorry to say, but I reckon we are the worst Victorian team, supporter wise," Jackster said.
"A jumper was thrown at the players as they walked off the other night, something I haven't seen before."
The faith of Collingwood fans is being sorely tested after Sunday's loss to Fremantle took the Pies to second last.
Despite some unsavoury post-match behaviour, high-profile Magpie fan Jeff "Joffa" Corfe says there's no contest.
"Richmond are the worst," he said.
"You walk through the `grog squad' in the standing area behind the city goals and you'll see what I mean," Corfe said.
On the online Nick's Bulletin Board he writes: "The way some Richmond supporters turned on Danny Frawley on Friday night just shows what sort of supporters they really are."
But a Collingwood comrade "creedymagpie" could see some similarities with Richmond.
"I firmly believe that we all hate them 'cause they are like us – passionate, feral and complete nuts!"
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,9361319%5E19742,00.html
