By Rina Reiss
“I am very new to being a footy fan. I came from actively hating football
altogether, to taking my Swedish lover to a footy match for him to
experience an Australian sporting pleasure. I actually became entranced with
the atmosphere and the theatre off the field as well as the sporting prowess
before me. Subsequently, I actually displayed a mild interest if my big
brothers’ team Collingwood, was in a grand final… so clearly my interest
was not often aroused over the years. Then my dear friend Phil took me to
Waverly in the members stand to watch Geelong v’s Collingwood. To my great
delight Collingwood won. But here I was being treated to a game at my hosts’
great expense. I will never forget how he quietly allowed me to enjoy the
thrill of winning. What a good friend!
In 1990, I cheered on Collingwood to their great grand final win. I watched
the match on TV with my niece (10 years old) and nephew (15 years old) while
their father enjoyed the on-going party be had with all his mates and fellow
supporters. We celebrated with a kick of the footy at the local oval in St
Kilda.
Later in 2009 after falling out with some family members, (all Collingwood
supporters) and dealing with deeply sad and personal life-challenging
matters, my friend Yvette offered to take me to the footy for a bit of fun.
Well, what a mad St Kilda supporter she was. She even dressed up in the team
colours. She laughed and sang and cheered and that was just on the train
trip to the game! Her enthusiasm and joy was deliciously infectious. It was
a shot of pure and much needed pleasure for me. I was supporting St Kilda
and if felt really good to support a team that won and so often! I decided
it was time to choose my own team. I’d lived in St Kilda for over 20 years.
It felt natural to now embrace a new chapter and support the Saints.
I have joined Yvette’s happy family throng to St Kilda matches and even read
last year’s Almanac. I have been learning more and more every week but most
of all cherishing the conversations with friends and complete strangers
about how we are going and the form and possibilities for other team that we
will meet along the way. I’ve absorbed the joyous energy of thousands of
people all heading hopefully to a footy match. Where else can one experience
such massive amounts of positive Qi/energy in the city? It’s been bliss.
However, my new found innocence was horribly shattered when I went to the St
Kilda v’s Collingwood match this year. I was deeply disturbed by the
ferocious nastiness of some Collingwood supporters towards me and my happy
little band of friends. Random acts of verbal aggression overwhelmed me. I
finally understood after all these years that when I half-heartedly told
anyone that “I kind of follow Collingwood”, I would generally receive a most
unflattering response. I decided I didn’t want to go to another game with
Collingwood. My greatest fear has been a grand final with Collingwood. Their
supporters and their form are so dominating.
I cheered on Geelong as they faced up to Collingwood. How ironic, eh? My
friend Phil and I are now united in our opposition to Collingwood. I have
arrived!” But I will be at my very first grand final this weekend and I’d be
very happy to re-live the 1966 match with a one point victory! Go Sainters.
About Rina Reiss
As a late comer to footy in 2009 (aged 54), I have quickly made up for lost time by craming in as many winning games and grand finals as possible thanks to the support of my dear deserving team, St Kilda.
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