New to Footy who should I root for?

[CarDawg]

Hello Footy fans, I’m Carson from Canada and I stumbled upon this great sport the other night and have been going pedal to the metal to learn as much as I can. But one problem remains and that is I don’t know who to cheer for and follow. I like rooting for the underdog but also enjoy knowing that they’re on the rise. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

 

[Headless]

Hello Footy fans, I’m Carson from Canada and I stumbled upon this great sport the other night and have been going pedal to the metal to learn as much as I can. But one problem remains and that is I don’t know who to cheer for and follow. I like rooting for the underdog but also enjoy knowing that they’re on the rise. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

Welcome! Others will no doubt have other suggestions, but the team that comes to mind based on that description is IMO:

Gold Coast Suns - one of the two new expansion teams, been in the league just over a decade, never played finals, relatively small supporter base, based in Queensland (not historically an AFL area), building a very nice squad, have a successful (elsewhere) coach.

Good luck - keep us up to date with your journey!

 

[ClarkeM]

Welcome! Others will no doubt have other suggestions, but the team that comes to mind based on that description is IMO:

Gold Coast Suns - one of the two new expansion teams, been in the league just over a decade, never played finals, relatively small supporter base, based in Queensland (not historically an AFL area), building a very nice squad, have a successful (elsewhere) coach.

Good luck - keep us up to date with your journey!

Very mature of you Headless, nice work.

Hello Footy fans, I’m Carson from Canada and I stumbled upon this great sport the other night and have been going pedal to the metal to learn as much as I can. But one problem remains and that is I don’t know who to cheer for and follow. I like rooting for the underdog but also enjoy knowing that they’re on the rise. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

In addition to the above recommendation, it pains me to recommend it however Essendon Bombers. Now, Essendon are a very big club already however they've had no success for the best part of the last 20-25 years. Essendon have not won a final since 2004 which is a strikingly long streak that their fans are certainly not fond of however I genuinely do think that that streak will end soon and when it does, it'll be monumental for the club and the fans. It might not happen this year but it's still early in the season so who knows. The other reason why Essendon might be the go is that many years ago they recruited Andrew McGrath with the #1 pick in the draft and he was born in Mississauga and lived there until he was 5. Read more about him here: https://www.afl.com.au/news/154779/bombs-away-for-canadas-newest-sporting-hero-andrew-mcgrath

Now, he's by no means a star player but he is a mainstay player and holds his own quite well. Essendon have rich history and have been around since 1873! They won 4 VFA premierships in the late 1800's and then have won 16 (equal most) premierships in the VFL/AFL

VFA - A competition that pre-dates the VFL (and AFL) and existed as early as 1877. In 1896 the VFA split and there became two competitions, the VFL and the VFA then existed at the same time with clubs separated across both, eventually the VFL became the stronger league.
VFL - Not to be confused with the current "VFL", the VFL existed from 1897 to 1989 and was the State's premier football competition. The old VFA is now the current VFL as a second tier competition. Confused? So is the rest of Australian Football fans who seem to just gloss over it these days.
AFL - VFL was rebranded to AFL ahead of the 1990 to better represent its place as Australia's premier Australian football competition with teams now in 5/8 States and Territories. A new team comes in a few years representing Tasmania which will be interesting to watch too.

PS: Essendon play Collingwood, my team, in a big blockbuster game this Friday called the ANZAC Day Match - have a bit of a read about it here, strongly recommend. Essendon will be underdogs in this match by some margin as Collingwood sits atop the ladder/standings currently but this day and game is notorious for being an all out battle with both teams equally placed in their chances to win.

 

[Beerfish]

Do not listen to this guy.

Save yourself the pain and pick another club.

 

[TheGoatBaron]

Don’t pick the Swans unless you like disappointment in the last game

 

[Toump Ass]

I like rooting for the underdog but also enjoy knowing that they’re on the rise. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

North Melbourne Kangaroos or the Mighty Sainters!

Both clubs have very small supporter bases which means they are very disadvantaged in the competition in getting less favourable fixturing, and also being a less desirable destination for free agents/ high profile players in trades.

North are terrible at the moment have won barely any games in the last few years but they have an abundance of talent waiting to click. They should be a very strong club if their potential can get it together but they'll probably always be a small club.

Sainters are not good enough to compete for a flag yet but also not bottom of the ladder so they win a bit, have a very funny coach, and some great young players coming through. They have only one one premiership in their lifetime of like 100 years (longest current premiership drought of 57 years, also come dead last 27 times) so they are basically the ultimate underdog. Awesome supporter base too.

If you like the underdog forget any of the big VIC clubs like Carlton or Collingwood. Very advantaged, very privileged, and pretty awful supporter bases if I'm being honest

 

[parano1a]

You should be aware that the word "root" used as a verb is Australian slang for fornication, so probably best to use "barrack" in this context.

 

[Fleabane]

Hello Footy fans, I’m Carson from Canada and I stumbled upon this great sport the other night and have been going pedal to the metal to learn as much as I can. But one problem remains and that is I don’t know who to cheer for and follow. I like rooting for the underdog but also enjoy knowing that they’re on the rise. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

I'd just go for whichever team makes you most interested. Apart from watching games, one thing that could be quite fun is to go to different clubs' instagram pages and flick through. You get a bit of a feeling for what they are like and their supporter base. Also, look at some of the Bigfooty threads for different clubs you consider. Might help narrow the choice.

Supporting the underdog is probably my natural inclination too but it can be tough. I had a dad who supported Melbourne as he grew up here and in his time they had plenty of success. So when we moved back to Australia in my late teens, I supported them too, for about 18 months. Problem was that I had passionately supported a shit rugby team in another country my whole childhood. Went every week, lost most weeks. So when Melbourne broke my heart in a grand final we attended, I decided that I really couldn't deal with getting so depressed anymore over a team. Immigrating was hard enough without adding that extra layer of depression was my feeling. I didn't have to support the team my dad had, in fact I wouldn't support a team at all! So for about 10+ years I was a neutral observer - not that much fun. Met a mad Hawks supporter (who in turn had starting supporting them at age 12 by comparing all the teams - history, nicknames, culture, emblems etc - and noted they weren't all that popular at the time but he liked them). I reluctantly became more interested in his team, then one day realised I was supporting them, went out and bought a scarf (defining moment!) and am now even more passionate a supporter than him, if the truth be told. As a team we've been blessed but I've supported them through lows just as much as the highs (plenty of highs but some lows).

Anyway, good luck with the choice!

Here are some possibly useful links:

Brief history of all the different clubs in the AFL (we're due to get a team in Tasmania in a few years):

AFL Clubs' Cultural Origins

The gradual de-ethnicization/Australianization of Australian soccer clubs that we have seen over the years got me wondering whether there was ever a time when ethnic/religious/class background (e.g. British, Irish, Protestant, Catholic, rich, poor etc.) influenced AFL/VFL/SANFL/WAFL etc. club...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[brutus76]

I have UK friends who moved to Australia a couple of years ago

They found and loved the game

So put all teams on bits of paper in a bowl and drew one out

He got CARLTON and she got GOLD COAST

Both lamenting

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Just keep watching games, eventually you'll fall in love with one of the teams

 

[Toump Ass]

Western Bulldogs would be a good choice too I reckon, long-time underdog club with only 2 flags, but currently have the best player in the league (Bont) and probably the soon-to-be best player in the league in Sam Darcy.

 

[Fleabane]

Western Bulldogs would be a good choice too I reckon, long-time underdog club with only 2 flags, but currently have the best player in the league (Bont) and probably the soon-to-be best player in the league in Sam Darcy.

I was thinking about them too, was about to suggest that for the reasons you mention - historically an underdog club but with a fair amount to cheer about and look forward to, solid supporter base. There's also something to be said for clubs with a bit of history if you're new to footy, living overseas.

 

[the_interloper]

You should be aware that the word "root" used as a verb is Australian slang for fornication, so probably best to use "barrack" in this context.

Was going to point this out too haha

 

[brutus76]

Favourite colour is a good starting point

 

[Handsuper47]

Hello Footy fans, I’m Carson from Canada and I stumbled upon this great sport the other night and have been going pedal to the metal to learn as much as I can. But one problem remains and that is I don’t know who to cheer for and follow. I like rooting for the underdog but also enjoy knowing that they’re on the rise. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

normally when I think underdog, I lean towards Western Bulldogs, St Kilda Saints and Fremantle Dockers but if I were you I would watch a couple of games first because you might gravitate towards another team entirely

 

[Zevon]

This thread restores my faith in Bigfooty. Some great suggestions so far

I’m with Headless in putting in a vote for the Gold Coast Suns, but you can’t go wrong with any of the other recommendations so far CarDawg

Whoever you choose, enjoy this period. Starting to learn about the game for the first time 25 years ago is still one of my fondest memories.

 

[brutus76]

Red and white of Canada surely = the Swans

 

[Gibbke]

Hello Footy fans, I’m Carson from Canada and I stumbled upon this great sport the other night and have been going pedal to the metal to learn as much as I can. But one problem remains and that is I don’t know who to cheer for and follow. I like rooting for the underdog but also enjoy knowing that they’re on the rise. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

Tasmania. Wait right there...

 

[TheUnicorn]

Hello Footy fans, I’m Carson from Canada and I stumbled upon this great sport the other night and have been going pedal to the metal to learn as much as I can. But one problem remains and that is I don’t know who to cheer for and follow. I like rooting for the underdog but also enjoy knowing that they’re on the rise. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

I'd just watch a bunch until you find a team you're drawn to. As for underdogs that are on the rise, perhaps Gold Coast?

 

[Nomad12]

Another suggestion is Freo, they have never won but have a good young team, plenty of fans in a big new stadium and have notoriously been an underdog in the AFL and their own state that they share with the usually successful Eagles.. i would just watch for this season and a team will pick you imo though, either you will like the way they play and their story or you will like the star players. You're welcome at the dogs though and we do have some likeable stars haha.

 

[Werewolf]

Hello Footy fans, I’m Carson from Canada and I stumbled upon this great sport the other night and have been going pedal to the metal to learn as much as I can. But one problem remains and that is I don’t know who to cheer for and follow. I like rooting for the underdog but also enjoy knowing that they’re on the rise. Would love to hear everyone’s opinions.

Great to hear! Obviously I'd recommend my team, but keep watching plenty of games, see which players you love watching and make up your own mind.

FWIW the Sydney Swans have the same colours as Canada and are usually competitive, they actually had a Canadian (Mike Pyke) play in their 2012 premiership win.

Unfortunately for them, their last 4 Grand Finals have been losses.

 

[evolved2]

Support Essendon if you like pain.

 

[dayisthemessiah]

If you have a full set of teeth Collingwood Is no good for you.

 

[LB#16]

Make sure you pick a team from somewhere you'd want to visit if you come here. I always recommend the same strategy when I have mates who get into American sports. No use picking a WA or SA team if you'd want to go to Melbourne, or a Melbourne team if you'd want to go to Sydney and visit the harbour bridge etc. I have two mates who follow the Cavs and Pistons respectively so they clearly didn't take that advice.

 

[CityBeerHall]

Was going to point this out too haha

Hahaha! Came here to say the same thing.