West Coast and you

Scotland

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Thread starter #1
Lighthearted nostalgia thread since our current team sucks and there is a lot of the stupid going around on here.

First game attended: Rd 13, 1992. At home vs Collingwood. We lost by a point in driving rain. I was 7, turning 8. Umbrellas were still allowed. Matera, Mainy, Kemp, Suma, Jako... how good is footy if this is your intro?

I remember studying the Record in great detail as a kid. Our stars were all born in the 60s and our young guns the 70s. There were still some guys born i the 50s running around. They seemed so old to me.

By the time Sampi and Seaby were drafted it was the first time kids my age were running out for West Coast. My draft dream was over.:D

After Selwood retired early Cox and Glass are the only players left older than me. Dom Sheed is 11 years my junior. Within a few years there will conceivably be players drafted to West Coast that I am old enough to have fathered. :eek:

The early to mid 90s glory years were primary school to me. Went to most games, taped the home games on VHS (usually either side of the news) and watched the away games on Channel 7. Night games I often listened to ABC before watching 7's coverage 2 hours later. The mid 2000s GFs were my time at uni. Went to the losing GF but not the winning. Boo. The disaster of the late 2000s and dead cat bounce of 2011/12 I had an established career and could occasionally enjoy footy from the corporate boxes drinking beer from a bottle. I've seen us play at Subi, the WACA, the MCG and Kardinia Park.

So yeah, where does West Coast fit in your timeline?
 

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The Passenger

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#2
The reason I support West Coast is because the first game I ever watched was either the 1992 or 1994 grand final and I was either 8 or 10 and being a massive front runner of a kid I decided I was going to support whoever won that game. It was West Coast and I've stuck with them since.
 

WCEswift

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#3
First game attended: RD 18 1998 V Fremantle. I was 6 we won by 39ish and I remember Peter Matera getting a vicious bump and stayed down for a while and just looked into the crowd felt like forever, but probably only 5 seconds.

Dean Cox on debut i remember going to my dad at quarter time " Who is Dean Cox they say his name alot?" His reply was " Some kid that will probably be delisted at the end of the year." Oh the sheepish look he gives me when i remind him.

2005 Preliminary final I was sitting next to a Sydney swans fan the look on his face when Sampi kicked the sealer was just pure pain.
2005 Grand final was on the same day as my nephews naming ceremony/first birthday party, man was the mood low that evening.
2006 Grand final was pure joy. I Remember hearing my neighbors cheering after the siren went.
 

Eagle87

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#4
First game watched was the first game in 1987.

Sat on the wing/half forward line on Subiaco Road side in the stand. With my then GF and my best mate.

A number of mates played for the Eagles including a couple in that first game. Great finish where we came from behind to win. Wasn't a big crowd from memory and Maurice Rioli remains at the centre of most of my memories of the game.

I'm a fair bit older than Scotland given I drove to the game and legally drank. Was a member from Day 1.

I remember meeting MM for the first time at a Perth Heat baseball game in pre-season, I guess 1990. Was a youngish, very fit looking Mick back then.

My individual player memories are scratchy. I remember Headys first game and he looked like he belonged from the outset. Which was weird cos at Subi I was never sure what his real/best position was. I remember seeing Tommy Kemp at one of his first pre-season training sessions and walking past him and not realising he was a player. He was so skinny and young looking I thought he was a trainer/ball retriever or something.

I remember being excited about seeing Lewis player for us. He played the best junior game is ever seen any kid play in a high school game before a SOO game when Lewy was about 15/16. And knowing he was going to be at the Eagles was super exciting.

I remember the excitement of 1990 when we really arrived as a team and seemed to have new stars standing up every second week. Then the summer of 1990/91 and the expectation that we might actually win a flag. Our first game that year was at Subi v Melbourne and we may have never (before or since) started better. We won by about 15 goals and they kicked 2.

I won't forget that side. Our first half of the season we killed teams for fun. We were ruthless. We beat Vic teams in Melbourne easily. We killed teams in Perth. We lost our first game in round 14, a dodgy 3 pointer to Carlton.

That season was completely memorable because it was as complete a team domination as we've ever had

We lost 3 games. 2 by 3 points. Then we lost our last game to bottom side Fitzroy by 10 points.

But crucially we lost our home qualifying final to Hawthorn. As all other finals had to be in Melbourne we played 3 weeks in a row at Waverley.

We were dead by GF and got rolled.

Our reward for finishing first and losing a QF v the team that finished 2nd was an away game v Melbourne who finished 5th and had knocked out the 6th placed team. What a joke system!

I'm sure that was our best ever home & away year and I'll never forget it. That was when we arrived as a genuine force.

1992 was almost inevitable and we should have done better in 1993.

With the same system as we have now with home & away, plus home finals and a tiny bit of luck in 1993, we'd have won 1991, 1992, 1993 & 1994.

That's how good that team was. In 1992, we had 5 mates of mine in the GF, 3 who were subsequently at my wedding and I really didn't realise how awesome it was to be so close to such an awesome side.

I think I possibly underrated that group for years via they were blokes you hang out with. It's only with the benefit of time that you get perspective.

But to have seen the evolution of footy into a few KP players and a large group of semi-interchangeable ruck rovers - the forerunner of modern footy, was pretty cool.

It was a pretty good period in my life, with career taking off and lot going on in the personal life and the best team I've seen us field. 2 GF wins in Melbourne. Drinking out of the cup. Pouring off the plane and down to the Swanbourne on Sunday. Speaking drunken swahilil with Smash for a few hours is a humorous memory.

Just good times ... and an era of quality that teams will struggle to match




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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dajesmac

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#5
I started watching footy in late 2002 when I moved to Australia from BKK. West Coast were the family club so I went with that. Grew pretty fond of them, seeing us lose a derby for the first time in 2003 was the worst pain I've felt as a supporter.

I was at the 06 Prelim and GF wins and those 7 days were the best of my life (I won a Tae Kwon Do national championship that same week). I remember losing interest a little in late 2007 as my TKD ramped up, then we turned shit and I moved to the middle east where it was hard to follow for a while. I think I got back into it around my BF join date - I think it was when we beat the Dogs at Etihad in 2009 when the love was rekindled. I've loved the club as much as I love anything in my life ever since - sad, I know.

Probably the younger end of the spectrum compared to other posters but I started feeling old when guys like Coniglio, who is younger than me, were drafted.

I have a similar anecdote to WCEswift. I remember in 2003 when we were playing the Saints, we were down 63-19 in the third quarter (funny how you remember these things) and Andrew McDougall snapped a spectacular goal out of a pack. This pumped my dad up to the point where he chirped "Geez he's good that McDougall, I really like him, he'll go far." I never let him forget. It was funny until he said the same thing about McGovern yesterday. We may aswell delist him now.
 

ChampRevesby

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#6
Started supporting the Eagles in 1990 as a sprightly 11 year old. I think it was Dean Kemp that really drew me to the team. Absolute gun. Like everyone, I enjoyed our success in the early 90's. It wasn't until 1997 that I started to go to games. First game was against the Hawks at Subi, we won, then the Bulldogs a few weeks later at the WACA, we lost. The 90's was the best era in footy I have ever experienced.
 
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fidstar

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#7
I remember before the Eagles joined the competition Channel 7 (or 9) had a phone in vote thing about whether a WA team should join the VFL. We had an internal family vote to see what we should do, but it was tied 2 all, so we didn't ring (I voted 'No' fwiw). I assume the vote was pre 1986, so I couldn't have been older than 8. From memory I think the WA vote was evenly split 50/50.

Can't remember exactly when the first game I saw was, but it was at the WACA (I assume it was late 80s), and for some reason I though Laurie Keene was the man. Probably because he was the biggest guy there. I decided to watch him and count how many kicks he got. By quarter time he didn't have a kick and so I got bored of that counting game and just watched the rest of it. I think we won.

Followed the Eagles ever since. Suma was my hero for my time at primary and high school. I remember when he started getting shit and was constantly getting dropped, he came back and kicked 7 goals. The West had a back page saying "Sumas Seven" the next day. Boy was I happy.

I haven't missed watching a game since the mid 90s.

I'm one of the rare fans that hopes a player does well when he moves to another club. This includes Judd and Cousins. Even Spanger :cool:

I have been to 1 eagles game in the last 20 years, but I haven't lived in Perth for 10 years, so that is a contributing factor obviously.
 

Jarlcorbz

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#8
When I was younger and only really half interested in football I was a Freo supporter (was like 8). But ever since I moved from Perth to NSW in 2004, I've loved WC. Was a good time to be a supporter then ;) Unfortunately I have barely been able to watch any games but life goes on.
 

kranky al

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#9
Grew up with a father who was a footy tragic took me to every east perth game and incalculated me with contempt for the dirty vics that stole our best players them played them against us in the state games pre soo


When the eagles came out it was us vs them - dad was a noteholder - we just loved them - went over to nth qld for 5 years where it was hard to see games but watched the 1991 gf with a bunch of vic pricks from my platoon who assured me that it was completely impossible for a wa team to win a flag. They had it structured and we just werent good enough.

Went the next year with the same guys and they were ******* horrified - it really was like a slaveholder in the deep south being beaten in a game of wits by a slave - they just didnt think it was possible .....they were that ******* arrogant.

And let me tell you - did i give it to them - pissed as a newt and loud and proud - there was probably three west aussies in that pub full of poxy mexicans and we celebrated so hard - the sour look on the collective mexicans pusses was gold - solid rolled gold

My dad has been to every grand final - i never had the coin for that sort of thing till about 07 - where i went to geelong - hawthorn - best mates a geelong supporter

Even though it wasnt my team - walking into the g on gf day brings you up in goosebumps - no way i will miss the next eagles granny







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West Coast 06

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#10
It's funny thinking back and realising how many memories you have associated with West Coast! I attended the first match at Subi with my Mum and Dad (God I am old!)

I remember watching a match at the WACA with my first boyfriend and high school friends. One of my English girlfriends wanted to know who the people wearing green were on the oval (runners) we told her they were called "Grasshoppers" and they passed football wisdom onto the players ( ala Steve Vizard).

Remember faking a sicky on the Saturday of the 1991 Grand Final so I could stay home and watch it. The next year we were told if we took the day off without a doctors certificate we would be sacked. So I faked it again, wrapped myself up in blankets for a couple of hours, put pale makeup on my face and went to a doctor and convinced her I had a fever and wasn't well! Got my medical certificate and watched the game the next day, and we won! So worth it.

I didn't become a member until 1996 when I brought my husband a membership for Christmas. My son was born in September 1998 and we continued to take him to the footy each week until his sister was born in 2000. We gave our membership up not realising what a challenge it would be to get it back!

My son was watching the football on TV when Sampi took the mark of the year. He was fascinated with football from that moment onwards. By then he would sit and watch whole games of football on TV regularly, not just West Coast games, but whoever was playing.

We started going to games again in 2004, and were lucky enough to get a family membership in 2005. The whole family attended both 2005 and 2006 GF. My son was heart broken after the siren in 05, a sobbing inconsolable mess (a bit how I felt!) My daughter spent the whole game colouring in as she didn't like football and still doesn't!
We often say we must have got the wrong baby in hospital with her, the only person in our family who isn't football obsessed.
 

Miguel Sanchez

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#11
Great thread Scotland :thumbsu:

The earliest game I can remember going to was against Melbourne in 1990. I was eight or nine, and my chief memories are of Dean Kemp and Phil Narkle, and Peter Melesso getting reported for stepping on Earl Spalding's face :)

Also went to the first game against the Crows in 1991 (we thrashed them from memory) and the game against Geelong at the WACA when Dwayne Lamb got concussed and swallowed his tongue :( . I remember watching the 91 GF on TV and being devastated.

I was living in New Zealand in 1992 but when we won the granny I proudly wore my Eagles guernsey to school the following Monday, of course none of the Kiwi kids knew what it was. It was the start of a new term and we were all asked what we'd done for the holidays, I couldn't for the life of me remembered any of the exploring of NZ that I'd done, all I could think to say was "My team won the grand final" :D
 

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Marlin01

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#12
I remember when the idea of a WA-based VFL team was first floated.

Dad brought home a newspaper with a fake cover page, with a headline stating he (my dad) was to become the next prime minister. After I had stopped crying at the prospect of moving to Canberra and leaving all my mates behind, dad explained the story on the backcover.

It said a WA-based club was to be introduced into the VFL. It would raid the WAFL clubs of talent and travel across the country every second week. How could a club possibly be expected to perform with so much travel and more importantly, which of our beloved Perth Demons would be stolen away? My household was very skeptical to say the least.

The turning point came, for my family, when the club song was released. To say it appealed to my dad would be a massive understatement. Dad had long held the belief that his Eastern States work colleagues didn't give the WA blokes their due respect. "So watch out all you know-alls, all you wise men from the east...". Dad couldn't have worded it any better himself. This wasn't about football any more, this was about respect and state pride. Us vs them.
 
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erbenz

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#13
I was always vaguely into the Eagles growing up because my parents were keen supporters (Mum jumped over from Carlton once we started in the VFL Days, Dad always kind of just supported us I guess).

When we moved out to the outer suburbs though, in late November my parents pulled my brothers and I and told us we were getting something pretty special for Christmas that year; Eagles Memberships for the whole family. I was 6 at the time and I don't think you could've scripted my excitement.

My great grandmother gave me a collection of clippings from newspapers after the 1992 flag, it is my regret that I've since lost this but some of the things that were read in there only put the mystique of the Eagles higher in my mind. It is/was a pretty special thing.

First game was in 1998, I forget who we played, but I've been there hook line and sinker ever since, there was a phase where we were shit between 2008 and 2010 (Coinciding with end of high school and uni) where I was less invested (not just because of the losses, but my interest sort of drifted away from footy for a while) but I've never stopped following the club and I still am a member to this day. 17 years and counting.

My personal at the ground highlights were 2005 Prelim vs Adelaide and Bluey McKenna's final game, sneaking forward to get a couple of cheeky goals even though we were losing by 70 points. Sydney game's were incredible to be at for that long stretch of time. As a year, 2011 was the most enjoyable because as a young supporter it was nice to feel like and see a group of players mostly around your age bracket do some amazing things - there's a sense of identification that isn't always there, and is probably a unique time to be a footy supporter.
 

royalsfan

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#14
I was brought up an East Perth supporter as were my entire extended family. I had no interest in the VFL until the talk of a WA based team started.
I went to our first game v Richmond and was hooked from that day forward. I attended every home game and have been a member since 1989. I went to the 1991 GF and still remember people outside Waverley handing out "West Coast Wanker$" stickers. I was back again for the 1992 GF and left the MCG singing Waltzing Matera at the top of my voice! I met a Geelong supporter later in the evening and when he said "you must be happy", I replied it was the best day of my life - even though I was married and the mother of two beautiful children- I think I was a bit carried away with the excitement!
I feel privileged to have seen some of the best footballers this state has produced wear the blue and gold. Suma, Woosha, Roo and Mainy were my early favourites. More recently Ben and Daniel Kerr - Ben is the best footballer I have ever seen.
I am still a member of both WCE and East Perth so the alignment is a marriage made in heaven for me. I take my grandson to Royals games and he loves having a kick on the oval and being able to get autographs from the stars.
I used to watch every game of every round but I find my interest in the AFL is waning. I don't like "modern " football where it seems if you are not 6 foot two and can run like the wind there is no place for you. I think 18 teams is too much and the standard has dropped accordingly. If it wasn't for my love for the WCE I think I would give the AFL away and just stick to the mighty Royals.
 

MIKE85

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#15
My first experience of footy was in 1991 I was 6, as a family we went down to Bridgetown to see my cousins who lived there, my cousin was 8 I think, maybe 9, I remember going into his room and seeing he had all these Hawks posters all over his wall. I knew he liked the Eagles, I'd seen all his posters earlier in the year, and in the past, having never really watched footy at that stage just knowing a few teams through him, and hearing people talk etc. I said why do you have all these Hawks posters up, he told me that the hawks had beaten the eagles in the grand final and that he was so sad and dissapointed that he put the hawks posters up out to remind him of how much the loss hurt, WTF, what bloody 9 year old kid does that!!

Anyway a year later we were all at the royal show and I remember watching the GF on this big wall of tv's, remember back in the day before big screens, they would some how get a massive picture spread over like 30 normal size tv screens? Didn't pay too much attention to it, although remember my cousins being stoked we won.

93 Is the first grand final I remember actually watching, remember Michael Longs goal down the wing and remember going for the bombers:eek: Not sure why, I was 8.

Went to my first game in 94, against the Hawks at subi, it was pissing rain and I couldn't see anything through all the umbrella's, I think we left early and went home to watch it on tv. Obviously remember watching the 94 GF very well, watched it on vhs about 50 times over the years after as a kid, couldn't get enough of it.

Became a seated member in 95 as a 10 year old with my old man and sisters, they were never into it until I started following and slowly dragged them all down with me! Been a member ever since, hope to take my own son's in a few years time when they are old enough to sit still for more than 2 minutes, and able to hike up 12 flights of stairs to get to our seats.

The 90's for me was my favourite era of footy, I was in primary school, lived and breathed footy, loved all the big forwards and they way the game was played. Also had a Glen Jakovich doona cover, kinda creepy now when I think about it, going to bed with a bloke every night:D

All in all the Eagles have been on of my main passions, and being able to celebrate the 06 GF as a 21 year old, having been so shattered the year before made that whole year of 06 one of my best. Ealges winning most weekends, a 21st just about every weekend, no serious commitments, well work and study but nothing else, then being able to go crazy after the GF having only celebrated a GF win as a 9 year old kid was awesome.

Times have changed now, still go every second week, much to the wifes disgust, struggle to watch the away games at home, I get to angry and just pisses me off for the whole weekend, not nice for the rest of the fam, so I watch a bit, turn it off once I get pissed off, check the score on my phone every 2 seconds, we lose, I pretend it doesn't effect me and I start the week all over again.
 
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#16
I honestly can't remember my first game.

I assume it was 1987 - I would have been nearly 10.

Going to the footy was the norm - whether it be SWFL, WAFL and then eventually in 1987 the Eagles.

Went pretty much every weekend to some form of footy. At that age, having not followed the VFL - it didn't seem much different to be honest which I'm guessing is why I can't remember the first game

1990 was probably the time I really started following intently the Eagles over the other sides.
 

Scotland

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Thread starter #17
I was 8 at the time so the post-game celebrations of the 1992 GF win for me consisted of maybe having another can of soft drink while the parents were out and having junk food for dinner having eating pies and sausage rolls all day.:)

I re-watched my DVD of the 1992 GF (I think the home-made VHS copy has bitten the dust, not that I have a means of playing it anyway) last year as a 28/29 year old. I still remember the game just as clearly as when I was a kid. I even remember where I was and what kind of TV I watched it on. Pyke being KO'd. Cork in the ocean, oh my word! Matera sets sail for home, and the Eagles - have hit the front! Mainy leaping from the bench on the final siren with his bung ankle. I took greater note of the post-game, though. Having seen 2005 live and 2006 on TV as an adult, watching a mulleted Jako run around like a goose and the players drink champers from the cup and red cans of domestic violence on the ground was just awesome.
 

MIKE85

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#18
I was 8 at the time so the post-game celebrations of the 1992 GF win for me consisted of maybe having another can of soft drink while the parents were out and having junk food for dinner having eating pies and sausage rolls all day.:)

I re-watched my DVD of the 1992 GF (I think the home-made VHS copy has bitten the dust, not that I have a means of playing it anyway) last year as a 28/29 year old. I still remember the game just as clearly as when I was a kid. I even remember where I was and what kind of TV I watched it on. Pyke being KO'd. Cork in the ocean, oh my word! Matera sets sail for home, and the Eagles - have hit the front! Mainy leaping from the bench on the final siren with his bung ankle. I took greater note of the post-game, though. Having seen 2005 live and 2006 on TV as an adult, watching a mulleted Jako run around like a goose and the players drink champers from the cup and red cans of domestic violence on the ground was just awesome.
Haha, that pic of Lewie going up to get his medal, and raising the red can in celebration, would not happen these days!!
 

Monocle

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#19
I was at the first game at Subiaco against Richmond with about 15 mates. The family were note holders and Members from day 1.
I had mates that played in the very first Eagles game, who I had previously played with. Was quite a buzz seeing my mates running around for the new team. Was a good come from behind win and I remember a lot of back slapping and subsequent drinking after that first victory.

Prior to that I was a Richmond supporter because the were ( like Claremont ) the Tigers.

I remember seeing on TV the announcement of the team name , colours and Foot jumper. I liked the name Eagles from the get go and the blue and yellow did sit well with me being a Claremont supporter.
Can still remember the yellow peril being worn with the yellow shorts, looks far better IMO than the white clash piece of crap design that we wear now.

How good was the feeling when in 1990 the Eagles really arrived as a force in the league.

Got hammered watching the 1991 GF played a silly drinking game where we each drew a number out of a hat and every time either player ( yes both teams) got a kick you had to take a swig and when they goaled you had to skull what was left of your stubbie. Sometimes you just cant help bad luck I drew #7 ...so that was Craig Turley a midfielder and Gary Ayres a two time Norn Smith medallist ...the only one worse than me was my mate who drew #1 Heady and Jencke.
Remember that night feeling so depressed and in mourning as if a close friend had died.

Then we were spoilt with two flags in three seasons 92 and 94 and we so unlucky not to have won in 93 as well.

So I can remember the birth of the Club the first wave of success in 92 & 94 then the period of time when we made the finals most years then the slide down the ladder . Fortunately the Worsfold coaching era returned us to glory in the mid 2000's with the great success in 2006.

The current plight of the Eagles is depressing however its the shitty lows that help make the premierships all the more memorable.
The Club has delivered a lot of joy to me and whilst I hate not winning, I acknowledge that having seen three premierships I have been a bit spoilt .I hope I get to see a few more before I depart this world and if I never witnessed a Fremantle premiership that would be a real bonus.
 
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The Dodger

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#20
My first game of footy that I remember and watched in entirety was watching the 1990 GF on tv, I was 10. From the start of the next year I started watching all of the Eagles games (I had family members who had been fans from inception). I remember the losses they all stick out as it was odd to lose that year felt really wrong. The Carlton game, with Sumich having 2 goals not awarded with one being called a behind despite replays showing it passed on the inside of the goal post and soccering a ball that several Carlton players dived over but didn't look like any of them got a finger to it that was called touched it was a bloody outrage I tells ya. The North game at the G on a Friday night listening to it on the radio and to Longmire sealing the game and then the Fitzroy game. Apart from a 99 point hiding at Subi earlier in the year during our dominant period they always played well against us. With Roos, Lyon, Ironmonger & Stephens soccering their way to a win over us. It was greasy conditions and they did that all game rather than taking possession and it worked against us. I remember Sumich kicking his 100th goal against Melb in the semi. Don't remember much about the GF other than getting some early goals to then be completely over run.

'92 was great with some up and down moments. The Draw with the Bears the thumping from Footscray & StKilda to the great game at Kardinia Park later in the year when we won by 14 pts. That was when I thought we were in with a real chance as Geelong were destroying everyone that year.
One of the best memory I have is playing junior footy on a Saturday and coming off the ground and listening to score updates on radio at the game. The GF was at a mates place and there were about 7 of us and we all went to the park to kick the footy unit labour 7:30 isn when Mums started looking for their boys. All I can remember is car after car driving by with scarves hanging out of their windows yelling "Go Eagles" and the like out at us.

The first game I went to was against Essendon at Subi in '91. In the standing section booing my brains out ;). Been a fan ever since.

And then there is this now...year after year of groundhog day.
 

flamingEMBERS

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#21
I can never remember the day I started supporting West Coast.

As a toddler I attended the '92 Grand Final just incase my mum and dad needed some goons taken care of. Unfortunately I have no memory but I remember waking up on Sunday mornings between the years of 94-98 and inserting the grand final VHS in to the player. My favourite moment is when Al from Home Improvement meets Bruce or Dennis before the 92 GF.

Famously I turned down the chance to go to Eagles St Kilda in 96 to hang with some friends and unfortunately it would be the career changing game for Glenn Jackovich (my idol)

I loved the Cummings Fido partnership, Gherig slapping the umpire and Wilson bowling archer and king over simultaneously.

I was lucky enough to be at both 05 and 06 two of the most emotional days of my life. I can die happy knowing I have seen two eagles flags but can remember one. Or maybe I will die mad and angry trying to chase that premiership ecstasy.

My life revolves around this club. I love it and everything about it. Unfortunately the last few years I have felt the club has become stale and generic as it has become a brand (church) promoting our off field work more so than our football.
 

Falco

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#22
The first Eagles game that I can remember watching properly was the '91 GF. My Dad was a mad Hawks supporter and he gave it to me throughout the whole game, which I thought was a bit rough because I was only 5. He's wasnt a fan of the Eagles because they took all of the great Subi players of the mid and late 80's and ended a golden age for Subi in the WAFL. He's still that way now!

Of course we were in touch for most of the game but got torched in the 3rd and 4th quarters. It was definitely character building. 1992 and 1994 were great years, I can remember the kids at my school all being mad Eagles fans. We used to run around in Eagles guernseys at each others houses reliving the heroics of McKenna, Jakovich, Sumich and Heady (my favourite player!).

After the suffering of the late 90's /early 2000's and the departure of MM, we came to life again. Boy it was great to watch. One of my favourite memories is watching the games with my grandmother at her place on this small rear projection Sony TV after lunch or dinner. One particular game sticks in my head; we were playing the Western Bulldogs and were getting pumped all through the first half. We were 50 points behind, but mounted a huge come back to win the game. It was fantastic, I remember Braun having a great game.

I didn't make it to the '05 and '06 GFs, instead I watched them in Subi with a few mates. We were as dark as Kamahl in '05 but when we won in '06 we all had smiles like Cheshire cats, whooping and laughing at a great victory. It was a great time because Subi was dominating the WAFL as well, footy was all glory then.

Since I left Perth about 6 years ago I've watched games at Etihad (2011 vs Essendon - we led til the 4th quarter and then got rolled) and the Gabba (2012 - led entire game and then lost by 2 points when the Lions mounted a comeback). I was away last year and am eagerly awaiting the Eagles in Brisbane in July and August, I will be at those games if I'm not away with work. I never get to see live games on TV because Brisbane is hardcore League country, the BF community helps me keep in touch with whats going on.

My family are Subi fans so I can remember going to Phil Scott's last game against the Royals (?) at Perth Oval as well. Great game. I still make an effort to make it to Subi games when Im back in Perth during the footy season.
 
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#23
First game I ever actually sat down and watched was the '92 Grand Final. Dad jumped on the bandwagon the previous year when we lost to Hawthorn and insisted that I watch the 92 grand final with him.

Best game I've ever been to was the grand final replay, not the '06 one. Couldn't get tickets :(
But the '07 Rd1 match in Sydney which the media were calling a game between 'good and evil' was great.

Worst game was the Derby lost in 2010. I actually flew over from Melbs to watch our boys take on Freo at home and the butt whipping we got really soured my 'mini-vacation'.

Regardless of what I might post during the game day threads, always proud to fly the Eagles colours in Melbs
 
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#24
Being born in 86 I grew up knowing football and nothing else, and our house was Eagles mad. I have photos of me at eagles training aged 3. First real memories are probably the 92 gf, I remember my mum picking me up and throwing me in air at the final siren. I would watch the VCR of the grand final a lot during the 90's. My support and love of the club is probably the biggest constant in my life. I remember being in Melb for the semi final against essendon in 1996, we stayed at the same hotel as the players and there body language the day before they all looked flat, and they played that way, was an intimidating crowd to be in as a 10yr old, the bombers were loud and hated us. Became a member in 2000 and have been to see us in melbourne a fair few times, slept over night for tix in 05 and was there in 06, which was an incredible day. It hurts to see where the club is at the moment, but footy can change very quick, and I think we can be back soon. Love our club.
 
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