It is OUR TIME!! OUR TIME!!!!!!!!!

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

I was looking through my piles of old St Kilda stuff for temporary tattoos and shit for the big day (lame? probably, but I don't care lol) when I started looking at all the photos of me at clinics as a kid with Burkey and Harves, 2001 team poster, membership stuff from 1999 and it really struck me. A whole entire lifetime of Saints supporting comes down to this saturday.

Embarrassing as it may be I got a little emotional. And I'm not even that old, can't imagine what it's like for older Saints fans who missed 66 but had to sit through the 80's and stuff.

**** I hope we win. C'mon Saints it's our time! Our ****ing time!!!

Dont worry dude I know how you feel. I think were the same age...19?

Its nothin like the suffering some supporers have gone through. Im shattered I missed out on the 80s music wise, but ****in thankful I missed out on it footy wise.

Seen 2 GFs now, enough prelims, weve pretty much been one of the most successful teams Ive seen (minus a flag). so i have nothing to bitch about, but I know how much it means to older supporters and I know this could be one of the few tiems I see my team live in a GF.

Im ****in gonna cry regardless.

I LOVE YOU ST KILDA< I ****ING LOVE YOU.

Yes im drunk, it just means my love is even more true.
<###333333333333333333

 

[Sainters4theflag]

I was looking through my piles of old St Kilda stuff for temporary tattoos and shit for the big day (lame? probably, but I don't care lol) when I started looking at all the photos of me at clinics as a kid with Burkey and Harves, 2001 team poster, membership stuff from 1999 and it really struck me. A whole entire lifetime of Saints supporting comes down to this saturday.

Embarrassing as it may be I got a little emotional. And I'm not even that old, can't imagine what it's like for older Saints fans who missed 66 but had to sit through the 80's and stuff.

**** I hope we win. C'mon Saints it's our time! Our ****ing time!!!

Could that be from the spider club out at Moorabbin?
I used to love those days.

Im even thinking about breaking out the matchworn Burke jumper my dad bought all those years ago, but then again, it's pretty roughed up, it's been worn that much.

 

[Plugger35]

I was looking through my piles of old St Kilda stuff for temporary tattoos and shit for the big day (lame? probably, but I don't care lol) when I started looking at all the photos of me at clinics as a kid with Burkey and Harves, 2001 team poster, membership stuff from 1999 and it really struck me. A whole entire lifetime of Saints supporting comes down to this saturday.

Embarrassing as it may be I got a little emotional. And I'm not even that old, can't imagine what it's like for older Saints fans who missed 66 but had to sit through the 80's and stuff.

**** I hope we win. C'mon Saints it's our time! Our ****ing time!!!

I missed most of the bad old days of the '80's too thankfully. I started following the Saints around the late '80's/early'90's when the new wave of hope, via Lockett, Harves, Burkey, Stewie Loewe and Winmar, came along.

The last 20 or so years have been relatively successful but I've still seen my share of bad times as well as good. The early 90's we made finals but it was still disappointing to not go further. Likewise '97, it was a great year and it was awesome making a GF but so shattering to lose to Adelaide like we did.

Since then we have had more bad times (the Watson/Blight years of 99-01), thankfully I was overseas then and missed most of that period. Then the revival under GT and the near misses of 04/05/06. The step backwards in '07 when I was wondering about the wisdom of choosing Ross Lyon as coach. Then another revival in '08 but the awful disappointment of seeing us lose another prelim and Harves depart without a flag.

Then on to this amazing '09 season, probably the best season I have ever seen from a Saints team. So many great wins that I have had to pinch myself at times to make sure it's actually been real. Now we're in a GF again and on the verge of our second premiership. At the back of my mind, I'm still half expecting another disappointment but still hoping that this year can finally be the year when us Saints experience nothing but bliss.

 

[paul of tuval]

I was looking through my piles of old St Kilda stuff for temporary tattoos and shit for the big day (lame? probably, but I don't care lol) when I started looking at all the photos of me at clinics as a kid with Burkey and Harves, 2001 team poster, membership stuff from 1999 and it really struck me. A whole entire lifetime of Saints supporting comes down to this saturday.

Embarrassing as it may be I got a little emotional. And I'm not even that old, can't imagine what it's like for older Saints fans who missed 66 but had to sit through the 80's and stuff.

**** I hope we win. C'mon Saints it's our time! Our ****ing time!!!

I must be one of those oldies. I was too young for 66 but remember vividly 71. 3/4 time thinking we were going to win and swearing at Jeans for not making counter moves in the last, especially Murray on to Keddy who was killing us. (A bit like 97? The story of our lives!!)
I remember every Saturday of my youth with my Dad and Grandfather in the members at Linton Ave or alternately trips to Windy Hill, Glenferrie, Western Oval and even Cardinia Park, standing, freezing and wet, in the outer. Worse, I used to dread the yearly mauling at Princes Park.
A fight was a fight and was part of the game. Not like today when we debate the justice of a goal given when a champion full back knocks over a diving champion forward before the ball was bounced. Doug Wade or Jason Dunstal or Tony Lockett would have pushed the full back's teeth in if he would have tried something like what Lake did to Riewoldt. (McKenna was always a pansy, though he had plenty of tough nuts to look after him)
It was in those days that I realized that we are basically masochistic losers but I still wouldn't miss a game.
So who's emotional about Saturday's game?

 

[bubblegoose]

I was looking through my piles of old St Kilda stuff for temporary tattoos and shit for the big day (lame? probably, but I don't care lol) when I started looking at all the photos of me at clinics as a kid with Burkey and Harves, 2001 team poster, membership stuff from 1999 and it really struck me. A whole entire lifetime of Saints supporting comes down to this saturday.

Embarrassing as it may be I got a little emotional. And I'm not even that old, can't imagine what it's like for older Saints fans who missed 66 but had to sit through the 80's and stuff.

**** I hope we win. C'mon Saints it's our time! Our ****ing time!!!

I really like this post Tas! & the posts that follow. I also recall K's post from a little while ago that really struck a chord with me too.

I'm a third generation Saints supporter, born into it. No chance of defection.

I started getting dragged along to games at Moorabbin towards the end of the 70s. It was a real tribal feel then. The crowd all bound by our passion for the Saints even though wins were few and far between. The constant banter between everyone, the humour to get us through the tough times.

There was very little joy in the 80s. Wins were massive! I was one of the very few St Kilda kids at the footy clinics in the 80s. I was the only one to admit being St Kilda at primary & high school. There was very little joy in the 80s.

Things started to look promising in the 90s. We were getting close. 97 was incredible & devastating. Final siren, I run from the ground with tears, being chased through the car park by the Adelaide theme song. Scarred.

The 00s have been amazing. Dare to dream. My football team starts getting respect. I've had to adjust my expectations for my football team. Now after this long emotionally draining journey, in 2 days St Kilda are playing in a Grand Final. I have to keep pinching myself. I don't know how I'll be after either possible result. My stomach has been spinning like a washing machine. I feel sick with nerves. So here we are. I believe it is our time! We're due! I believe!

 

[Hawk Sale]

Good luck to all you long suffering saint supporters.I am a hawk fan in a large family of saints supporters, when i was a kid ,Stkilda games at Moorabbin were the only games my older brothers would take me to so i definitely have a soft spot for them (to use a well worn cliche "my second team").I took my son (also a saints supporter) to the game on Friday night and was excited as anyone that you guys got through. I really don't think anything will stop your boys from winning this weekend they are too hungry not injuries ,the Geelong FC midfield and gameplan,nothing ! Don't take too much from the prelim result compared to Geelong's the Bulldogs can shut anyone down to a close game like that including Geelong that is their main strength.It took a very good team to get through that final which the Saints are.Looking forward immensely to the game ,i've already put money on the saints i hope they bring it home for you guys the ever faithful St Kilda supporter base thoroughly deserves it.

 

[SaintsManMat]

Dont worry dude I know how you feel. I think were the same age...19?

Its nothin like the suffering some supporers have gone through. Im shattered I missed out on the 80s music wise, but ****in thankful I missed out on it footy wise.

Seen 2 GFs now, enough prelims, weve pretty much been one of the most successful teams Ive seen (minus a flag). so i have nothing to bitch about, but I know how much it means to older supporters and I know this could be one of the few tiems I see my team live in a GF.

Im ****in gonna cry regardless.

I LOVE YOU ST KILDA< I ****ING LOVE YOU.

Yes im drunk, it just means my love is even more true.
<###333333333333333333

i started following the saints in about 1985, when i was 5...which pissed my dad right off who was a Fitzroy supporter, but i choose St Kilda (still not sure why i choose them and not some other team)

But anyway, i remember the dark days of the 80s
i remember slowly rising about thru the early 90s
1997 was in the bag, i knew it was ours, and i was SHATTERED when we lost
then heading back down the ladder for the Watson and Blight era

Then from the end of the 03 season when we started to win again, i could feel it coming, to get so close (especially that Power game ) only to not get another chance

2007 when we missed the finals i thought we were in for another down period

Then 2008 we made another prelim, which this time i didnt think we would win, and sure enough we didnt,

Then this special season, the best in club history

as the title of thread says
ITS OUR TIME

2009 is our year

 

[Half Back Pocket]

i started following the saints in about 1985, when i was 5...which pissed my dad right off who was a Fitzroy supporter, but i choose St Kilda (still not sure why i choose them and not some other team)

But anyway, i remember the dark days of the 80s
i remember slowly rising about thru the early 90s
1997 was in the bag, i knew it was ours, and i was SHATTERED when we lost
then heading back down the ladder for the Watson and Blight era

Then from the end of the 03 season when we started to win again, i could feel it coming, to get so close (especially that Power game ) only to not get another chance

2007 when we missed the finals i thought we were in for another down period

Then 2008 we made another prelim, which this time i didnt think we would win, and sure enough we didnt,

Then this special season, the best in club history

as the title of thread says
ITS OUR TIME

2009 is our year

Like you Matty, I was born into a feral-football family. Mum and older brother supported Carlton, Dad supported Collingwood. The first game i attanded at Moorabbin (aged about 7 i guess) changed my outlook on football forever. It was like someone had flicked the switch! No longer would i hang around with arrogant, stuck-up Carlton scum. I was a Saint through and through.

In high school, i teamed up with a couple of saints supporters and we'd catch the train from Greensborough to Moorabbin, watch the game and generally go home disappointed. However, there was a light on the horizon in the form of Tony Lockett. Winning matches almost single-handedly. What a star.

As mentioned, the 80's were a write-off. The 90's were full of promise (1 great game was when we beat Collingwood in a final out at Waverley Park in the early 90's), but ultimately unsuccesssful.

The 00's surely won't end up the same way?

Recently, i converted my wife (a lifelong Fitzroy/Brisbane supporter) to the Saints. Now she can't go a weekend without seeing her beloved Rooey and exclaiming "isn't he a star"!!! My 2 year old daughter is now also an avid Saints fan, and wears her custom-knitted number 35 jumper every Saturday. With number 2 due in November, he/she will be cherry ripe for the 2010 season!

However, 2009 is where it's all at...It's Our Time!!!

 

[krusden]

I missed most of the bad old days of the '80's too thankfully. I started following the Saints around the late '80's/early'90's when the new wave of hope, via Lockett, Harves, Burkey, Stewie Loewe and Winmar, came along.

The last 20 or so years have been relatively successful but I've still seen my share of bad times as well as good. The early 90's we made finals but it was still disappointing to not go further. Likewise '97, it was a great year and it was awesome making a GF but so shattering to lose to Adelaide like we did.

Since then we have had more bad times (the Watson/Blight years of 99-01), thankfully I was overseas then and missed most of that period. Then the revival under GT and the near misses of 04/05/06. The step backwards in '07 when I was wondering about the wisdom of choosing Ross Lyon as coach. Then another revival in '08 but the awful disappointment of seeing us lose another prelim and Harves depart without a flag.

Then on to this amazing '09 season, probably the best season I have ever seen from a Saints team. So many great wins that I have had to pinch myself at times to make sure it's actually been real. Now we're in a GF again and on the verge of our second premiership. At the back of my mind, I'm still half expecting another disappointment but still hoping that this year can finally be the year when us Saints experience nothing but bliss.

can't say it better than plugger here really.

Which is good, which is why i bloody post on this forum and spend a lot of my days on it because it's full of supporters like myself.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

I came to be in the the year of 1982.

I could choose my religion, but not my football team. It was the Saints all the way.

My first memory as a little tacker was seeing Plugger kick his 100th in 1987 against Footscray at Moorabbin.

I've been through it all. Experienced the feral filth at Victoria Park (aka Gilbert McAdam stadium), lost a few IQ points dealing with the locals in Geelong, any day at Princes Park was strange (though I will never forget filling the stands, toilets, interchange benches with wooden spoons when we knocked off Freo there in 2002).

You remember amazing things like the efforts of Trevor Barker. The freak that was Plugger. The wizardry of Winmar, the efforts of Spud, the biggest hands in the game in Stewie Loewe and then onto the birth of the new wave with Aussie Jones, Tony Brown, Stevie Sziller, etc.

1997 was disappointing but at the age of 15, all I was worried about was what I would say to the knockers at school. Amazing mindset.

Now, everyone who knows me and my family knows how crazy we are about our Saints. We would still be there if they had gone 2-20 this year. So many times we've said we've had enough, only to be in full voice the very next week.

This week and in fact this whole season, has been breathtaking. Our boys have given it their all and know they are one step away from adding to our history.

I wish all of our brothers and sisters here a great week. I know we will get the job done as the playing group have displayed so many characteristics this year that have been unseen by me in my time as a Saints supporter. You just tell all the knockers that come 5pm on Saturday, they'll all be converted to believers.

This is our premiership to win. Geelong can throw their best at us, but we can combat it as we've done all year.

Scream your vocal chords silly. Soak it all up and when it's all said and done brothers and sisters, high five and hug randomly as this is a journey would not swap for anything in the world.

This is our time Sainters.

Our time.

 

[ILY Leonard]

great thread

I was looking through my piles of old St Kilda stuff for temporary tattoos and shit for the big day (lame? probably, but I don't care lol)

dw temporary tattoos are where it's at!

 

[Banger724]

Love this thread. Brings back memories of early 1990 Moorrabbin when I was brainwashed on board by the old man and hooked ever since. Carn you ****in sainters. Time to deliver what we all crave and I'm confident they can.. and will.

 

[The Punter]

The first St Kilda game I remember going to was Round 22, 1985. I was five years old, and went with my Grandfather, and was in the Animal Enclosure (my only time) because we got in through a bloke my Grandfather knew. We beat Footscray that day.

Some time in 1986 I can remember standing on the wall at the top of the outer, watching Carlton creaming us before Mum decided to leave at half time.

In 1988 we went a couple of times late in the year, sitting in the Wormald "box" in the Sir Kenneth Luke stand. In Robert Harvey's third game, I remember Dunstall at the height of his powers kicking three goals in the first quarter, before Trevor Barker was moved on to him. Dunstall barely got a kick after that.

In 1989 I was in the same place when Barker got kicked in the face.

On the Queen's Birthday 1992, I wanted to leave early as we were eleven points down with five minutes to go. I've never wanted to leave a game early again.

In 1996 I was there when the lights went out. Eerie.

In 1997 I was there when Joel Smith did his knee - he was always the best of the young bunch before that moment.

Still my favourite day/night at the footy was the 1997 Preliminary Final. When Nicky kicked that goal to the end we were sitting at in the fourth quarter, we knew we were there.

I became a member of the club in 2000 when we moved to the Docklands. We sat on Level 3 initially, but moved down to Level 2 the next year, where we've been ever since.

In 2001 I hugged a stranger after Barry kicked that goal after the siren. I repeated the dose a few times last Friday.

In 2002 I saw a resurgence happen in a game where we were down by 100+ points v Essendon.

I was there when we beat Brisbane in 2003 by a second, and in 2004 walked Mum to the Station and went back to the ground, walking against 50,000 to go to the Locker Room.

We got saturated when we beat Sydney in 2004, and got tonsilitis when we lost to Sydney in 2005, and Melbourne in 2006.

I cried when Stewart Loewe and Robert Harvey retired, but not when Burkey retired (we won by 80 points and I had a concussion).

And I'm sitting about as far away as one can sit from the ground on Saturday. Bit flat about that actually, but starting to get toey after a two day footy-on-tv ban to appease the soon-to-be missus.

"I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope."

 

[CHBench]

This page: Exhibit A of why i want those 22 guys that take the field on Saturday to tear the handbaggers a new arseh*le.

Im in the same boat as A2R and Tassie that i haven't been through anywhere near the suffering the older (i say that delicately ) supporters have. I couldn't give a shit about how i'll feel after the game, i'll be sparing a thought for the old Moorabbin hangers, TAE etc. Win or lose.

 

[Sainters4theflag]

Both my parents are saints, and I was born into a "support saints or f*** off" family.
My Grandpa's cousin played for them (Brian Gleeson) and my Grandpa was also offered to train, but he refused.
I missed most of the bad times, but I can still remember getting flogged by the bad times during the early 90's.

My parents went to the 97 grandfinal, although me and my brothers were left at home to watch it on tv, so this is the first grandfinal I'm going to.

This is our time, let's f****** do it.

 

[Ricmel]

My earliest memories of following the Saints were in 1968. I was at the G in 71 but still too young to understand the loss. I used to go every Sunday to Sandringham tennis courts to watch Cowboy, Alan Davis, Garry Colling etc etc play tennis.

I remember the excitement when George Young was recruited from WA, repeated again when Nicky came across.

I remember days at Moorabin through the dark years of 1979 to 1990 when a win was celebrated like a flag. I was there in 1997 and have never fully recovered.

This is the year. I can feel it.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

I remember days at Moorabin through the dark years of 1979 to 1990 when a win was celebrated like a flag. I was there in 1997 and have never fully recovered.

This is the year. I can feel it.

I'd say most supporters who were there have never fully recovered!

 

[krusden]

I'd say most supporters who were there have never fully recovered!

I wasn't there but was watching on tv in a small bar in hobart (the tasmanian inn) and i still have not recovered

 

[StFly]

I came to be in the the year of 1982.

I could choose my religion, but not my football team. It was the Saints all the way.

Freaky, complete reversal with me in that I couldn't choose my religion but I could choose my footy team, and thank god for that.

I was in February of 1985 and being the only boy in the family was tainted by the scum and villainy of an Essendon supporter with a son to finally carry on his legacy. Instead, I'd kick the blankets off and cry in them (or so I'm told) and by the time I could speak it was the Saints all the way. The only Saints games we caught were when they played one of the Cats, Tigers, Pies or Essendon and one of us would then be grumpy on the car ride home, usually me more often than not. And was always given the opportunity that it wasn't too late to switch, wasn't too late to get on a bunch of winners and that would always brighten my mood because I always thought "one day my mobs going to win and I'm going to sing praise all the way home."

Of course, I don't recall much of the game since I'd usually fall asleep or get tired through the night matches, as kids do, and it wasn't until an absolutely insipid day at Optus Oval with my dad in a Bombers scarf and me decked out in Saints gear as he actually took me to a game where it absolutely bucketed down. We were in standing room, I was on the fence to the stadium so I could climb up on it to see over the crowds and we got absolutely drubbed, but I was just happy seeing the boys give it their best, no harsh words no shoulda couldas only "next time..."

Then came '97, the year I thought was ours and it was until half time where everything turned to shit, and I was just sitting there, a 12 year old slack jawed as Adelaide kicked away and just cried. Even now at 24, the mention of '97 still brings a tear to my eyes and I suspect that this year won't be much different, except for maybe the fact that I'm not 12 on the outside anymore.

 

[Papa Juggs]

I'm going to watch the round 14 replay for all the good tackles.

I love watching Geelong getting bashed and I need a warmup

 

[okeydoke7]

I have been nervous and reserved this week. I was so happy to get a GF ticket, even if it is standing room and I am vertically challenged. I will be a part of it. A part of history.

When the team came out this evening, it hit me. Finally, it has set in. We are in the Grand Final. For the first time in 12 years we have a shot to break the drought. And how much it would mean to all of our supporters.

Yes, I have been nervous and I know that wont change. But I was reserved because I just didn't want to talk us up because of the fear of failure, a fear common amongst us sainters. But when that team came out I realised, we have class. We have match winners. We have dead set champions. We are capable of winning any game. Anywhere. Anytime. Any opponent. And any ****ing conditions.

Who gives a shit about the weather? There are 4 goal posts at either end and grass in between. And that is all we need. The only thing between us and glory is Geelong. And we have the quality that can overcome that obstacle. Bloody oath I am nervous. It would hurt to lose. They say it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Well it is better for us to be a part of this week. As Rudyard Kipling said: "If you can meet with triumph and disaster; And treat those two imposters just the same;" We could be headed for either, but now I have this confidence that we can win.

We can do this. We have done it all year. THe finals series have played out perfectly, the best teams have won, the best midfielder won the brownlow and I bloody well hope the best team wins the premiership. To see the 10,000 fans at training, and what it means to them. To see the older, passionate supporters for whom this may be their last chance, and to see the young generation who are falling in love with the saints, was to see hope, to see belief. I hope we win, I believe we can win and bloody oath I will celebrate if we win! CARN THE SAINTERS!!

 

[red+black]

I'm on board

 

[Half Back Pocket]

I'm on board

Unbelievable thread people Some terrific posts.

 

[Sainters4theflag]

When the team came out this evening, it hit me

Same here.
My eyes are starting to water thinking about this weekend.
I cannot wait.
I don't think I will sleep for the next week.
Let's do this, we deserve it.

 

[CHBench]

I'm on board

Ahem, your name. I believe your missing something.