Almanac Footy: Why I’m a Lion by Clementine Reid

 

This is written by Shane Reid’s daughter Clementine.

 

Why I’m a Lion – Clementine Reid

Footy Colours Day is one of the best days for the grade five and six kids. We get to make big banners and carry them in a parade. It would be nice if there were more Lions fans. But then again, I like being able to decorate the banner how I want to. There are only three other Lions fans at my school, and that’s counting our PE teacher. I’m not the biggest fan of sports, but it’s good having a teacher who understands being a Lion. There’s not many of us. I think there is one other girl in grade three who goes for Brisbane, but she never comes up to march in the parade. Maybe she’s embarrassed because she’s the only one in her class. I get it.  The other two Lions kids are both in grade five, so they helped me with the banner. I’m glad they’re there or else we would have to get one of the kids that don’t have a team to help me.

 

 

That banner would be a disaster! The West Coast Eagles have one kid who supports them, so they always get somebody that follows rugby to help them. Teams like Collingwood and Richmond have to make about five or six different banners because they have so many followers. We are allowed to have up to five people working on a banner, but even though those two teams get a big one, there are always people who get left out because there are so many. I’m glad mine wasn’t like that.

 

When I was little, I met Bernie Quinlan. At that time, I didn’t really understand footy at all, but Dad insisted that he was famous, so we got a photo with him. I don’t really know why, but back then I was obsessed with the Dockers. So much so that I wouldn’t even wear my Lions’ guernsey or hat or scarf when we went to games. I was so little, only about two. I really liked saying the word “Docker” for some reason. Maybe it was easier to say than “Lion?” When Bernie asked me, “What team do you go for?” I replied confidently, “Dockers.” Dad got very embarrassed by this. How could you say that to Bernie Quinlan? Dad still talks a lot about Fitzroy, but I honestly don’t really know what he’s talking about. Fitzroy isn’t my team. I’m a Lions fan, even though I’m Victorian. I don’t know who Alastair Lynch is, or Paul Roos. My team are the new and different Lions. Daniher, Ashy, Neale, Cobra Kai, Cal Ah-Chee, Charlie and Dunks.

 

 

Footy cards are my new thing. I started trading this year when the season started. Me and a bunch of other kids would gather around the classrooms and get out our albums before school. My friend once showed me all her cards. She had only one Brisbane card. It was Joe Daniher. I had heard of Joe before, and because it was just a normal card and nobody wanted to trade for it, she gave it to me. I still have it. I got the card in the morning before the bell went, so I put it on my table. When I got back, it was gone. I said, “Where is Joe? Where did he go?” Then my other friend said, “You’ll never know!” And she pulled out the card from her pencil case. It rhymed. We then ended up making a whole song about him. “Where is Joe? Where did he go? You’ll never know, so best you’d go.”

 

After that I got my own pack of cards. No Lions cards, but I did get a ‘Nick Daicos, Star Power’ one which is pretty rare. I brought it to school the next day, hoping to get a good trade from one of the crazy Collingwood kids. Success! I came home with a “Dunks Stats King”. Ever since then, I got an album and continued to buy packs. In my album right now, I have almost three pages full of Joe cards. He is without doubt, no question, my favourite player. I hope he doesn’t retire, otherwise we will really be wondering, Where is Joe? Where did he go?  Footy cards were my favourite thing to do, until footy cards and Pokemon cards were banned for the rest of the year, so we haven’t been able to trade in ages.

 

My family and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the preliminary final against Geelong. As we always do, we arrived early and ran down to the fence to watch the players warm up. It was our captain Harris Andrews who heard me screaming. For some bizarre reason, he was kicking goals in the warmup. He came over and took a photo not only with us, but even some of the Geelong kids.

 

It was so amazing meeting Harris, but my goal is still to get a photo with Joe. Harris was so nice to us; I’d love to meet him again someday. That wasn’t the only time we’d gotten a photo with one of the Lions though. We’ve met Charlie Cameron and Fages as well. I didn’t really understand just how great it was to meet them at that time, because I was too young to understand.

 

 

That preliminary final against Geelong was definitely the greatest game I’ve ever seen, we were on the edge of our seats the whole time. There were two excited and noisy Lions’ fans that led us all in the cheers, like the “liiiii…oooooons, liiiiiii…oooooons, li…ons,” one. “Lions fans in the stands, let me hear you clap your hands – CLAP CLAP clap clap CLAP” And of course, “Country roads, take me home, to the place, I belong…” I want to lead the cheers one day.

 

After winning the prelim, Dad entered the ballot to get tickets for the Grand Final. He has a membership, and we have one junior membership that my sister and I share. We ended up getting two tickets for the Grand Final, and my sister said that I could go instead of her. She loves the Lions too, but she’s not as nuts and footy mad as I am.

 

We got there early so we could see the Fan Festival. Every time I saw a television cameraman, I ran up and waved. My favourite part was definitely being able to hold the actual premiership cup before the game. We had to wait a long time in the line, but it was so worth it!

 

When we finally got into the G, we couldn’t go down to watch the players warm up this time because there were people setting up the stage for Katy Perry. Watching Katy was so amazing! Two people who used to go to my dance school were actually dancing with her, it was amazing to know that they were up there even though we couldn’t recognise them because of the costumes and shiny makeup. The whole performance was such an exciting experience; I really want to go to a Katy Perry concert now!

 

When the actual game started, we were surrounded by passionate Lions fans. It was the opposite of Footy Colours Day at school! It was so different from the other games I’ve been to, because after every little move, even if somebody just marked it, everybody made a big deal out of it. It felt like everyone near us was commenting on every little thing. There was so much cheering, the noise was unbelievable. Unlike the preliminary final, the game was very one sided after a while. Don’t get me wrong, it was so great that we won by so much, but I prefer a game that is close. I was still nervous throughout the game though because you never know with Brisbane, we were thrashing Carlton in the first game of the year and look what happened there.

 

Dad loves going to games with me because I really do yell and cheer and scream and sing. I felt bad for the Sydney supporters, it wasn’t the ideal grand final, but we deserve this premiership more than any team. We were so close last year. I don’t really care now how the Lions go next year; this was our year. I was so happy when Ashy won the Norm Smith medal, though I would probably prefer for Joe to get it. Ashy was a well deserving winner and great player in the game, who led us to the victory. I’m going to be lucky enough to watch him play for the Lions for another ten years at least!

 

Joe Daniher has made me a footy fan. If he retires, I will be very upset. It would be tough next year without him. When I first heard of the rumour going around that Joe might be retiring, I instantly felt worried. My team won’t be the same pretty soon. I also heard on the news Joe’s dad saying, “He is just in a very happy place at the moment so he will keep going, he’s all right,” but I still feel as though that amazing game might’ve been his last. I guess it would be a pretty cool way to finish, but that doesn’t mean I want him to leave.

 

I have been doing lots of research on Joe Daniher this year. He doesn’t have a TV, and doesn’t listen to the media, but an article in a recent paper says that he has an iPad where he watches lots of movies. ‘Frozen’ is one of his favourites. I think this might be the reason for his song when playing at the Gabba being, ‘Let it Go.’ That’s another thing I like about Brisbane. Even when we aren’t playing at the Gabba, we still sing ‘Country Roads’ when Charlie kicks a goal or ‘Hey Baby’ when Zac Bailey gets a goal or does something good. The Brisbane Lions are such a kind and supportive team… I love being part of it and I can’t wait for the next generation of Brisbane players. When the time comes, I’ll miss Zorks, and Daniher, and Cameron and Neale. But I know that the Lions will be in good hands with the two Ashy’s and Cobra Kai. Logan Morris too.

 

I’m a Lion most obviously because my Dad is, but I’ve grown to love my footy team for myself. I like being different from everyone else at school, and when people say, they are a ‘non-Victorian’ team and I should barrack for Richmond or Collingwood, I feel annoyed. They should know that the Brisbane Lions are just Fitzroy and Bears of old and that there are kids around like me. Even though they lost last year, they came back and got the premiership they deserve. Even if I never see them in another Grand Final, I am so proud of my team.

 

 

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