We must be doing something right

[xplo]

However I did find out that (although many would assume this anyway) the Collingwood Football Club has a massive hatred for the Bears..I thought this was interesting to hear from the horses mouth.

And I thought that stuff was exclusively reserved for Carllton and Essendon. We've moved up in the world

 

[campbell]

And I thought that stuff was exclusively reserved for Carllton and Essendon. We've moved up in the world

Thought Micky Malthouse said we didn't have any tradition or history,so we are not worth anything.

Now that I like, what does he call being neighbours,and having a life long histpry between the Lions and Pies.

Trust him and them tototally disregard our history.

 

[xplo]

Ah, it's a badge of honour. They never really hated the actual Bears. These days in the main forum we've got them clinking beers glasses and back-slapping with Carlton supporters. That's like getting Osama and Dubya to meet to split a piece of cake with coffee.

Hehehe.. you really have to get right up their nose to accomplish a feat like that. Awesome.

 

[Melbourne Lion]

A bit of consistant flogging tends to increase our status hatred wise, with clubs and supporters.
Especially when they think there team has a flag contending chance,and are knocked of the perch.

I have even noticed in the last few weeks on this site a massive increase in anti- brisbane posts by St Kilda supporters not just the usual Pies.

 

[lionvoss]

Imagine how much they are going to all hate us after 4 if we get it??

 

[Lions43]

Its not something I can get my head around? It seems so standard for the Victorians to be jealous of the success of others. Has anyone else noticed how many Victorians always bring up something negative about the things that other clubs achieve? They accuse Essendon and Carlton of cheating the salary cap to win the 93 and 95 flags respectively, St Kilda start to look good and its only the draft system, with us its the salary cap. It just goes on and on.....

In years to come we'll be forgotten and replaced by whoever the successful side of the day is. I'd say all the hurdles being put in front of the Lions only make this bunch more determined to prevail and if they get 4 they'll start working on 5 straight away.

Does anyone want to take 5/1 about us finishing in front in the free kicks in either the Prelim or the GF (if we get there)? You know we'll have to beat the opposition, the AFL and the umpires to win this flag but as I say that only doubles the resolve of our guys.

 

[Bobby Beecroft]

Not ALL Victorians are so defensive.

A lifetime Victorian & Lions supporter I also find it quite amusing that 'interstaters' are so easily able to generalise about Victorians.
There is a genuine admiration for the Lions & their brand of football in Victoria, perhaps those outside the state may not see this (despite the envy). This is not to mention the excellent support 'monetary & vocal' that the loyal Victorian Lions supporters give on the few occassions we do get them in Melbourne. See please try not to lump us all in one bucket.

Yes some decisions have gone against us this year, but the AFL is not deliberately attempting to weaken us. Unfortunately I believe some of our own supporters are starting to sound like these 'VICTORIANS' that they criticise, for constant whinging.

Perhaps its my Fitzroy background but my AFL side has never had it so good, & in fact feel I spoilt to support the side they may well go down as the GREATEST ever. Im sure Im not the only proud VICTORIAN to feel this way.

 

[CarterS]

The level of tall poppy syndrome around is staggering.

 

[xplo]

Not ALL Victorians are so defensive.

A lifetime Victorian & Lions supporter I also find it quite amusing that 'interstaters' are so easily able to generalise about Victorians.
There is a genuine admiration for the Lions & their brand of football in Victoria, perhaps those outside the state may not see this (despite the envy). This is not to mention the excellent support 'monetary & vocal' that the loyal Victorian Lions supporters give on the few occassions we do get them in Melbourne. See please try not to lump us all in one bucket.

Yes some decisions have gone against us this year, but the AFL is not deliberately attempting to weaken us. Unfortunately I believe some of our own supporters are starting to sound like these 'VICTORIANS' that they criticise, for constant whinging.

Perhaps its my Fitzroy background but my AFL side has never had it so good, & in fact feel I spoilt to support the side they may well go down as the GREATEST ever. Im sure Im not the only proud VICTORIAN to feel this way.

Absolutely agree, Bobby.

This Vic vs. Interstate thing is getting really old.

My original post was about the traditional passion and loathing we have managed to inspire in a club that usually saves it all for the clubs they've fought running battles with for 100 years.

Collingwood have hundreds of reasons over the last century to obsessively despise Carlton (and vise-versa) - but, no, they go to sleep at night gnashing their molars thinking about us now.

People didn't adore the Hawks side of the 80's-90s (except hawk fans). Most hated the Essendon side of the mid 80's.

It's very hard to be both loved and feared. You have to choose most of the time. Enjoy it.

 

[v042]

Absolutely agree, Bobby.

This Vic vs. Interstate thing is getting really old.

My original post was about the traditional passion and loathing we have managed to inspire in a club that usually saves it all for the clubs they've fought running battles with for 100 years.

Collingwood have hundreds of reasons over the last century to obsessively despise Carlton (and vise-versa) - but, no, they go to sleep at night gnashing their molars thinking about us now.

People didn't adore the Hawks side of the 80's-90s (except hawk fans). Most hated the Essendon side of the mid 80's.

It's very hard to be both loved and feared. You have to choose most of the time. Enjoy it.

I agree with that too. And I think most of it stems from the places like the Footy Show and the obvious and continual (anti Brisbane Lions) tripe that continually emanates from that.

 

[Shaz]

Thank you Bobby.

I too come from Victoria and the Fitzroy side of the Lions family. The fact that Collingwood are beginning to "hate", I assume they mean the Lions and not the Bears, shows that the Brisbane Lions has taken its rightful place in the AFL competition. Strong, successful and the envy of nearly every other club because it has a group of players who want to be there, who want to stay and are prepared to take pay cuts to do it!

 

[Amaruu]

Oh whats this dribble I'm reading.

Nobody here hates the Lions. We respect them, but not hate them.

Other than that I couldnt care less about the Lions. I don't hate them. Stop thinking everyone hates you. The only club that is generally perceived to be hated is Collingwood. You could win the next 10 flags and still the majority of Victoria would barrack for you against Collingwood. Eventually when you come back to the pack, you won't even be talked about. You are only talked about when you are on top. My team however is always talked about, win or lose.

 

[Lensen]

Because they're dominating in a competition that isn't level. Don't want to go down this path again, but I never had a problem with West Coast when they were dominating, or Adelaide in their flag years, or anyone else based purely on on-field results.

 

[Svea Rike]

Not ALL Victorians are so defensive.

A lifetime Victorian & Lions supporter I also find it quite amusing that 'interstaters' are so easily able to generalise about Victorians.
There is a genuine admiration for the Lions & their brand of football in Victoria, perhaps those outside the state may not see this (despite the envy). This is not to mention the excellent support 'monetary & vocal' that the loyal Victorian Lions supporters give on the few occassions we do get them in Melbourne. See please try not to lump us all in one bucket.

Yes some decisions have gone against us this year, but the AFL is not deliberately attempting to weaken us. Unfortunately I believe some of our own supporters are starting to sound like these 'VICTORIANS' that they criticise, for constant whinging.

Perhaps its my Fitzroy background but my AFL side has never had it so good, & in fact feel I spoilt to support the side they may well go down as the GREATEST ever. Im sure Im not the only proud VICTORIAN to feel this way.

And you can count me as one too. Well said, Bobby.

GO LIONS!!!

 

[Lions43]

Not ALL Victorians are so defensive.

A lifetime Victorian & Lions supporter I also find it quite amusing that 'interstaters' are so easily able to generalise about Victorians.
There is a genuine admiration for the Lions & their brand of football in Victoria, perhaps those outside the state may not see this (despite the envy). This is not to mention the excellent support 'monetary & vocal' that the loyal Victorian Lions supporters give on the few occassions we do get them in Melbourne. See please try not to lump us all in one bucket.

Yes some decisions have gone against us this year, but the AFL is not deliberately attempting to weaken us. Unfortunately I believe some of our own supporters are starting to sound like these 'VICTORIANS' that they criticise, for constant whinging.

Perhaps its my Fitzroy background but my AFL side has never had it so good, & in fact feel I spoilt to support the side they may well go down as the GREATEST ever. Im sure Im not the only proud VICTORIAN to feel this way.

Certainly I've been guilty of stereotyping, but there is a fair degree of truth in what I'm saying.

I can wear the MCG contract. I think its amateurish in the extreme, but sure its been on the table for years and any other interstate team could have met the same fate, and have, in the past.

I accept the salary cap argument. I think it was a short sighted way to help the Lions retain interstate players and I think its right that it is repealed.

The things that have fired me up this week and led me to conclude that we are being targetted are;

1) Brown - He should never have been reported for anything more than wrestling in the first place. Then the AFL refuse to withdraw or amend the charge as they should have. Finally he gets off on a technicality and the AFL hold an internal inquisition and many Victorians complain bitterly. He should simply never have been in that position in the first place.

2) Why oh why do we have to cop the Saturday night Prelim? I accept that we have to play at the MCG, but why can't we play Friday? Who loses if we do? Not Port Adelaide. The only "losers" could be Sydney/St Kilda if they roll Port. We have already been robbed of a home final so I think Sydney/St Kilda should wear the Saturday night game seeing we finished in front of them. Believe me, it might be the difference between winning and losing. 1 day can be a lifetime in trying to recover from an injury.

So I've got to say I disagree with you. I think the AFL ARE treating us very poorly and I can't help but think a lot of pressure would be eased on the AFL if we weren't to win this year.

As I said, I am harsh to label ALL Victorians "Lions haters" but there is a large percentage of Victorians that are IMHO. The salary cap has been around for several years but the hatred has only festered in the last year or two. You can't tell me that hatred is not borne out of jealousy and the tall-poppy syndrome.

 

[skilts]

In terms of creating a history of animosity, I look upon the Qld/NSW border as being the equivalent of Smith St, as it was for Fitzroy and Collingwood.

We are in the process of creating enmity with just about everyone. This is a good thing. The more people who hate us, the better we're being.

We may be reduced to depending upon each other for consolation, because nobody else understands. I can live with this. At least it will build a culture of Us V Them.

However, we have never, and I hope we never will, see the necessity to demean our wonderful sport to the extent that those tribals in Melbourne find necessary, to justify their existence.

Sad really.

To me, this is the ugly, unthinking part of our sport, which we needn't embrace. I think we're well on the way to developing a much less macho, assertive culture.

Mind you, this is not an accusation which might accurately describe the way our team plays.

I seriously think we're above this grabage in which all other supporters indulge themselves. Maybe we can set a new standard of not being obnoxious.

Maybe we already have?

 

[Bobby Beecroft]

Certainly I've been guilty of stereotyping, but there is a fair degree of truth in what I'm saying.

I can wear the MCG contract. I think its amateurish in the extreme, but sure its been on the table for years and any other interstate team could have met the same fate, and have, in the past.

I accept the salary cap argument. I think it was a short sighted way to help the Lions retain interstate players and I think its right that it is repealed.

The things that have fired me up this week and led me to conclude that we are being targetted are;

1) Brown - He should never have been reported for anything more than wrestling in the first place. Then the AFL refuse to withdraw or amend the charge as they should have. Finally he gets off on a technicality and the AFL hold an internal inquisition and many Victorians complain bitterly. He should simply never have been in that position in the first place.

2) Why oh why do we have to cop the Saturday night Prelim? I accept that we have to play at the MCG, but why can't we play Friday? Who loses if we do? Not Port Adelaide. The only "losers" could be Sydney/St Kilda if they roll Port. We have already been robbed of a home final so I think Sydney/St Kilda should wear the Saturday night game seeing we finished in front of them. Believe me, it might be the difference between winning and losing. 1 day can be a lifetime in trying to recover from an injury.

So I've got to say I disagree with you. I think the AFL ARE treating us very poorly and I can't help but think a lot of pressure would be eased on the AFL if we weren't to win this year.

As I said, I am harsh to label ALL Victorians "Lions haters" but there is a large percentage of Victorians that are IMHO. The salary cap has been around for several years but the hatred has only festered in the last year or two. You can't tell me that hatred is not borne out of jealousy and the tall-poppy syndrome.

I will concentrate on your 2 points:

Brown - a target of the umpires for some time now. The Hulme one has caused a lot of this. I still maintain that he chested Hulme & strking should never have been found guilty. Unfortunately geting this undeserved 2 weeks has added to the paranoia surrounding JB. But his been up 3 times this year............unfortunately some look at his record & not the incident in isolation.

On this point though its not just us unhappy with the tribunal. Each AFL club is unhappy with the inconsistencies that currently exist, not just the Lions & the farce it is has hits its climax this week with information provided by Rick Lewis. This is not an AFL versus Lions thing, its effecting each & every club.


Prelim Final - 1stly the AFL have tried to correct the contract, but Mr Gough of the MCC is a stubborn old bugger. The AFL agree its not right, but the ransom they appear to being held too, is not right. Just another inequity of the current AFL system. Some inequities go our way & some don't.

Our game could not possibly have been played on Friday Night. Your complaining because we get a day less yet want to give Essendon/Geelong only 6 days to a Preliminary Final?? Despite their non earnt prelim home final a 6 day break in the finals is not fair.

Yes, both Prelims should be played on Saturday, us during the day, but its obvious the power of TV has taken over. We do still get 7 days in between the Prelim & GF (if we make it) & while the other Prelim sides do get a perceived advantage it ain't the end of the world.

Sometimes you have just gotta roll with the punches, & believe me in my lifetime with the AFL I & others of my ilke (Fitzroy) have had more punches than any one else. Unfortunately many have in fact been knocked by the AFL & refuse to attend anymore (some of my family & lifetime friends included), but I for was determined to continue to follow my LIONS.

So at times some of this whining in my mind becomes a little petty & precious.
While I agree in some areas we have got the rough end of the stick, from where Ive come from its nothing & we do have some advantages over others.
As I stated previously you may well support the greatest team ever, have a little humility as those who support some of these VICTORIAN clubs have little money or hope of ever seeing one flag, let alone the uncertainty of their clubs existence.

GO LIONS

 

[Tim the Toolman]

I doubt whether it's a Victorian thing as much as it's an Australian thing. We are simply the tall poppies about to get cut down. That's why I've been trying real hard to be modest over the past couple of years. It's been tough being a lions man in Vic the past couple of years. Especially working and living with so many Pies, Saints, Bombers etc...

 

[armagedon ready]

Well said. Go Lions!

 

[Lions43]

I will concentrate on your 2 points:

Brown - a target of the umpires for some time now. The Hulme one has caused a lot of this. I still maintain that he chested Hulme & strking should never have been found guilty. Unfortunately geting this undeserved 2 weeks has added to the paranoia surrounding JB. But his been up 3 times this year............unfortunately some look at his record & not the incident in isolation.

On this point though its not just us unhappy with the tribunal. Each AFL club is unhappy with the inconsistencies that currently exist, not just the Lions & the farce it is has hits its climax this week with information provided by Rick Lewis. This is not an AFL versus Lions thing, its effecting each & every club.


Prelim Final - 1stly the AFL have tried to correct the contract, but Mr Gough of the MCC is a stubborn old bugger. The AFL agree its not right, but the ransom they appear to being held too, is not right. Just another inequity of the current AFL system. Some inequities go our way & some don't.

Our game could not possibly have been played on Friday Night. Your complaining because we get a day less yet want to give Essendon/Geelong only 6 days to a Preliminary Final?? Despite their non earnt prelim home final a 6 day break in the finals is not fair.

Yes, both Prelims should be played on Saturday, us during the day, but its obvious the power of TV has taken over. We do still get 7 days in between the Prelim & GF (if we make it) & while the other Prelim sides do get a perceived advantage it ain't the end of the world.

Sometimes you have just gotta roll with the punches, & believe me in my lifetime with the AFL I & others of my ilke (Fitzroy) have had more punches than any one else. Unfortunately many have in fact been knocked by the AFL & refuse to attend anymore (some of my family & lifetime friends included), but I for was determined to continue to follow my LIONS.

So at times some of this whining in my mind becomes a little petty & precious.
While I agree in some areas we have got the rough end of the stick, from where Ive come from its nothing & we do have some advantages over others.
As I stated previously you may well support the greatest team ever, have a little humility as those who support some of these VICTORIAN clubs have little money or hope of ever seeing one flag, let alone the uncertainty of their clubs existence.

GO LIONS

In many respects we agree. As someone who has supported Brisbane from day 1 at Carrara (and a lifelong South Sydney fan) I am very humbled by this period in the club's history. I never dreamt of success like this and if we never win another flag I will consider myself a lucky man.

When our reign ends and its someone elses turn to hold the Cup aloft I will be genuinely happy for that club and their supporters, although its becoming increasingly difficult to ever see myself being happy for Collingwood or Essendon - with apologies to those genuine supporters from those clubs that aren't driven by jealousy and hatred.

Its great that you've got the attitude you have Bobby and I admire you for it. Don't you want to see us beaten by a team that's deserving though rather than have our reign chipped away at by the AFL?

Make no mistake, the revolution is gaining momentum in Victoria. The jealousy is insane and every day the pressure mounts on Demetriou and co to put a stop to us by whatever means possible. Many will see this as the crazy ramblings of a "conspiracy theorist" but I'm sorry to say that I truly beleive time will prove me to be right and eventually we will be brought down by jealousy.

All I ask is that we are beaten fair and square. If that happens next week or in a fortnights time I will be the first to congratulate the Lion tamers. If it happens by stealth though, I'm sorry to say I will be bitter about it. The Brown report and the machinations surrounding this preliminary final are just the latest 2 incidents that fill me with suspiscion.

 

[Shaz]

Its great that you've got the attitude you have Bobby and I admire you for it. Don't you want to see us beaten by a team that's deserving though rather than have our reign chipped away at by the AFL?

All I ask is that we are beaten fair and square. If that happens next week or in a fortnights time I will be the first to congratulate the Lion tamers. If it happens by stealth though, I'm sorry to say I will be bitter about it. The Brown report and the machinations surrounding this preliminary final are just the latest 2 incidents that fill me with suspiscion.

When I have to sit (I say when, for sometime in the future this will occur) and watch the Lions either not make a grand final or lose one, I want it to be by a team that has worked very hard for it. A team that has pulled itself together and formed the bonds that our Lions have done over the past few years.

I don't want it to be because the AFL is making decisions based on television coverage and not taking the players into consideration. Two possible contenders get seven days break. The other two contenders who fought to finish at the top part of the ladder are not given the same respect. Now being a Victorian, I will say that I feel that the AFL has been getting caught up in being situated in Victoria, influenced by the media and public opinion of football supporters in Victoria. One small thing that they have to remember though. They wanted to go national. They changed the VFL into a national competition with South Melbourne relocating. They brought in teams from football states and then a rugby state. This is what they wanted. They wanted an Australian competition. Aussie rules is picking up in NSW and QLD, with a lot more still to be done. The Victorian clubs at the time supported the expansion. The Victorian clubs supported the merger that formed our beloved Lions.

This is what they wanted. This is what they got. Live with it!