This may be a bit controversial

[Tbone McGraw]

Ok i will start by saying i love our club.

However i have some massive issues with the Pies.

It is undoubted that we are the biggest sporting club in Australia. I love this.

However, do our players (and maybe SOME supporters) take this for granted?

I will start with the players. They realise, pretty much whatever they do, they are at the biggest sporting club in Australia. Opportunities are endless. Even if they play like shit, they have the best facilities, the best crowds. They are also on decent money playing a sport they are good at. Do they care that much?

Now , onto a completely separate point, the fans (members and non members). I will say i love everything about supporting Collingwood. I will say we almost care too much. We are blinded by our passion. My point here is do we go overboard with our praise and overboard with our hate?

I hope this doesn't seem negative at all but interested in thoughts.

SIDE BY SIDE.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Of course we do. That's entirely the point. It's uncool to be as passionate about anything else in life, as much as you are about your football team.

 

[Captivating]

Go and watch Fever Pitch

 

[jathanas]

Supporting a club is more instinctive and emotional than it is logical so yes, we are "over the top" with our love and hate. This is a good thing! In this PC, sanitized modern existence of ours there is room for a bit of "tribal release".

As for the players I disagree. Their job is very high risk/high reward. They would not have made it to AFL level if they were as you describe them.

 

[drafted hawk]

I will start with the players. They realise, pretty much whatever they do, they are at the biggest sporting club in Australia. Opportunities are endless. Even if they play like shit, they have the best facilities, the best crowds. They are also on decent money playing a sport they are good at. Do they care that much?
Now , onto a completely separate point, the fans (members and non members). I will say i love everything about supporting Collingwood. I will say we almost care too much. We are blinded by our passion. My point here is do we go overboard with our praise and overboard with our hate?
I hope this doesn't seem negative at all but interested in thoughts.
SIDE BY SIDE.

I'd say the main difference between players and supporters is the genuine "love" for the club. Back in the "old days" players would play for the club and genuinely "love" the club. However when serious $ became involved in the game and the fact that you generally don't play for the club you grew up "loving and supporting" then that "do it for the jumper" / "play for the club" mentality was lost / destroyed. Players enjoy playing at the highest level and most of the top clubs now have very similar facilities which are of a very high standard. As Pendlebury said at the B&F night last year - "having the facilities we have means nothing if you aren't prepared to put in the work, our weights may look prettier but they weigh the same as the Western Bulldogs or Richmond or Hawthorn's weights."
So from where I sit, it's not about the players "loving or playing for the club" it's about pride in themselves and pride in their work as a group in this professional era of modern football. There are very few players these days who "bleed black and white" like there were in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's.
However from a supporter point of view, yes it's expected you "love" the club or why else would you bother going to games or signing up as a member to support the club. And when "love" is involved - of course emotions are going to run high, be they positive of negative! If your emotions aren't running high then you probably don't "love" the club and would fall under the category of barracker more than supporter maybe?

 

[loki04]

I'd say the main difference between players and supporters is the genuine "love" for the club. Back in the "old days" players would play for the club and genuinely "love" the club. However when serious $ became involved in the game and the fact that you generally don't play for the club you grew up "loving and supporting" then that "do it for the jumper" / "play for the club" mentality was lost / destroyed. Players enjoy playing at the highest level and most of the top clubs now have very similar facilities which are of a very high standard. As Pendlebury said at the B&F night last year - "having the facilities we have means nothing if you aren't prepared to put in the work, our weights may look prettier but they weigh the same as the Western Bulldogs or Richmond or Hawthorn's weights."
So from where I sit, it's not about the players "loving or playing for the club" it's about pride in themselves and pride in their work as a group in this professional era of modern football. There are very few players these days who "bleed black and white" like there were in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's.
However from a supporter point of view, yes it's expected you "love" the club or why else would you bother going to games or signing up as a member to support the club. And when "love" is involved - of course emotions are going to run high, be they positive of negative! If your emotions aren't running high then you probably don't "love" the club and would fall under the category of barracker more than supporter maybe?

Great post DH pretty much sums it up.

Although I would hope that most players who spend 10+ years at a club or win a flag get a much bigger emotional investment with the club for life then meh it was a work place and thats all GO Saints/WC/rdm team pre draft 2020 lol.

Like Maxwell as he said recently he now leaves having Black and white blood through his veigns and has a clear love for the club.

 

[doodles98]

I often think that for me the Collingwood Football Club is a place for me to let out some of the emotions I have bottled up. It is a place and theme for me to vicariously express these emotions that I otherwise normally have to keep in check in real life. I find it a convenient dumping ground for this and going to the footy is like one big group therapy session but with pies and beer.

 

[jmac70]

Ok i will start by saying i love our club.

However i have some massive issues with the Pies.

It is undoubted that we are the biggest sporting club in Australia. I love this.

However, do our players (and maybe SOME supporters) take this for granted?

I will start with the players. They realise, pretty much whatever they do, they are at the biggest sporting club in Australia. Opportunities are endless. Even if they play like shit, they have the best facilities, the best crowds. They are also on decent money playing a sport they are good at. Do they care that much?

Now , onto a completely separate point, the fans (members and non members). I will say i love everything about supporting Collingwood. I will say we almost care too much. We are blinded by our passion. My point here is do we go overboard with our praise and overboard with our hate?

I hope this doesn't seem negative at all but interested in thoughts.

SIDE BY SIDE.

I don't believe our players take it for granted anymore than players at other clubs. There are always going to be fluctuations betweens players in terms of application and professionalism. As for our fans we are indeed a passionate lot but I don't think we are any different from other supporters of traditional clubs. I exclude GWS and GC because they are new clubs in non-football states. I think it is a myth that Collingwood supporters are more one eyed than other supporters. Other than your perception that the players don't care to you have any other massive issues with the Pies?

 

[cleomenes]

All supporters are one-eyed. That is what it's about. The great thing about Collingwood is that other supporters take the trouble to hate us. It gives us a uniqueness that none of the other clubs achieve outside particular rivalries.
Playing for the love of it is history. Modern football pretty much ensures a crippled old age. Who can blame players for getting all that they can during their brief careers.

 

[jmac70]

All supporters are one-eyed. That is what it's about. The great thing about Collingwood is that other supporters take the trouble to hate us. It gives us a uniqueness that none of the other clubs achieve outside particular rivalries.
Playing for the love of it is history. Modern football pretty much ensures a crippled old age. Who can blame players for getting all that they can during their brief careers.

Essendon supporters have managed to achieve it.

 

[mattys123]

Football/sport is therapeutic to us fans, it's the one outlet we have where we can go and act with our primordial emotions without being outcast or looked down upon.

It's our weekly release really.

As for the players I don't buy into the "their hearts aren't in it" thing, we simply aren't good enough to cover our injuries at the moment.

 

[Markfs]

There are very few players these days who "bleed black and white" like there were in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's.

I remember looking at the Collingwood - St. Kilda grand final a couple of years ago....the last quarter.... I remember thinking .... why dont they go in harder? Don't they know there's a premiership up for grabs? They looked tired too.... I thought to myself ....why didnt they get fitter? They must have known that it was a lot easier to get an edge in fitness in those days...example Tommy Hafey's sides.

I tend to look at old players and think about a bunch of blokes looking for a bit of fun...

 

[domus]

Collingwood is not just a vehicle for me to vent my weekly frustrations. They are deeply connected to who I am because generations of my family have followed them. I have been told stories about my beloved Pies since the time I could walk. I know all the great legends of bygone eras and above all I have such joy filled memories of going to games with my dad as a boy and young man and then taking my own son. He still comes with me and it is one of the magical aspects of my life.

Our dining room at home is like a Collingwood museum. I have framed season tickets from 1897 through to 1901, A piece of the Sherrin seat with the number on it, the team of the Century and framed pics of Victoria Park, Buckley leading us out in the 2002 prelim and a jumper signed by the team.

It is not a trivial thing. It is a deep passion and when I am on my death bed I will be grateful for the enormous joys, heartache, companionship and sheer ecstasy I have experienced when the tribe roar as one or we win a tight game and hug or kiss strangers.

Does it make sense? No. Does stamp collecting or any other pursuit?

Oh the memories. And more to come!

 

[cleomenes]

Essendon supporters have managed to achieve it.

True, but they had to cheat.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

Football/sport is therapeutic to us fans, it's the one outlet we have where we can go and act with our primordial emotions without being outcast or looked down upon.

It's our weekly release really.

As for the players I don't buy into the "their hearts aren't in it" thing, we simply aren't good enough to cover our injuries at the moment.

Sorry, just reentered this thread.

Matty, the reason i made the player comments, was our response to the dogs game, then response to suns game. Our response this week to bombers game will be crucial.

We have thrown away a top 4 spot this year with our last 4 games. I have no doubt about that

 

[Morganashlee]

I often wonder if it means as much to them as it does to me. I know it's their life, it's their job and playing AFL was something they dreamed of. They would have done it in any jumper.

I never chose to support Collingwood, I was born into it. I've loved this club since I can remember and will continue that til I die. It's not my job, it's my passion. A release from my everyday life where I can feel apart of something that brings me hope, excitement and joy.

With the highs we also get lows and i can accept a loss, I've seen plenty. A lack of heart, a lack of pride in the jumper is what gets me though. I'd bleed for this club, unfortunately not every player shares that passion.

 

[TradeDraft]

Football/sport is therapeutic to us fans, it's the one outlet we have where we can go and act with our primordial emotions without being outcast or looked down upon.

It's our weekly release really.

As for the players I don't buy into the "their hearts aren't in it" thing, we simply aren't good enough to cover our injuries at the moment.

I don’t think that.

I go nuts at the Footy but Quiet Often I am told to be Quiet or Settle Down