8 replies to this topic

[Caveman]

I can't help noticing how 'Western' supporters at the actual game are quieter than our opponents. The other mob on Friday night outnumbered us easily- but Hawthorn supporters also made more noise 'as individuals' compared to us 'Western' fans 'as individuals'. They will be louder because there was more there- that is pretty obvious, but when they kicked a goal, they all jump out of their seats, whereas us Western faithful don't get as animated.

There is no loud 'everybody joining in' chants and the bulldogs clap clap clap is an embarassment- no one joins in with that either.

You wonder what the players think- they probably won't comment on it publicly, but privately it would be interesting to know what they reckon about it?

[DMcG]

Maybe because we do not want to cheer for 'Western'. If we we're cheering for the working class heroes that were Footscray then we might be louder. As it is I'm not going to risk my voicebox for the corporate shell that is Smorgon FC.

I personally blame the cheer squad. Their banners and flags are pathetic. Either covered in sponsors logos or embarrassing words like 'Rodney Eade Our inspiration'

I mean how the !@#$% is 'Rodney Eade - Our Inspiration' going to inspire players or strike fear into opponents. Why not just write 'Rodney Eade - Coach'? It's as arbitrary as writing 'Doc Zimmerman - Our medical staff'

We HAVE a history, we HAVE character. Yet god forbid we ever use it. Play up the Scragger angle! We're the working class team, be proud comrades! Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win!


[Also my mate who was at the game on friday said he was pretty quiet from the third quarter onwards when he 'just knew' we were going to stuff it up. Maybe our collective subconscious is feeling a bit pessimistic this year]

[SonOfScray]

Maybe because we do not want to cheer for 'Western'. If we we're cheering for the working class heroes that were Footscray then we might be louder. As it is I'm not going to risk my voicebox for the corporate shell that is Smorgon FC.

I personally blame the cheer squad. Their banners and flags are pathetic. Either covered in sponsors logos or embarrassing words like 'Rodney Eade Our inspiration'

I mean how the !@#$% is 'Rodney Eade - Our Inspiration' going to inspire players or strike fear into opponents. Why not just write 'Rodney Eade - Coach'? It's as arbitrary as writing 'Doc Zimmerman - Our medical staff'

We HAVE a history, we HAVE character. Yet god forbid we ever use it. Play up the Scragger angle! We're the working class team, be proud comrades! Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win!


[Also my mate who was at the game on friday said he was pretty quiet from the third quarter onwards when he 'just knew' we were going to stuff it up. Maybe our collective subconscious is feeling a bit pessimistic this year]

Agree with most points.

We just don't get as fired up as I remember because we're just used to falling over when it counts. We never win in stunning fashion and we always lose the big games. No one wants to be the guy that gets fired right up and cop the barbs from the opposition because there is no ammo to fire back. We have nothing and never make people pay. No one fears us. They feel sorry for us! They like us, as long as we are quiet and do what we are supposed to do - lose and shut up. I have no confidence in the Club to back up my passion or arrogance or optimism, they just continue to let us down.

Pre 97 I felt Dogs fan were quite vocal, but the Prelim did some serious damage. Early days at TD there was still hope, but that has vanished. The pride is gone, its all about the clinical side of footy these days and we are poorer as fans for it.

[Caveman]

Maybe because we do not want to cheer for 'Western'. If we we're cheering for the working class heroes that were Footscray then we might be louder. As it is I'm not going to risk my voicebox for the corporate shell that is Smorgon FC.

I personally blame the cheer squad. Their banners and flags are pathetic. Either covered in sponsors logos or embarrassing words like 'Rodney Eade Our inspiration'

I mean how the !@#$% is 'Rodney Eade - Our Inspiration' going to inspire players or strike fear into opponents. Why not just write 'Rodney Eade - Coach'? It's as arbitrary as writing 'Doc Zimmerman - Our medical staff'

We HAVE a history, we HAVE character. Yet god forbid we ever use it. Play up the Scragger angle! We're the working class team, be proud comrades! Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win!

That is one of the main points- the name 'Western' and how EVERYONE (not just me alone) view it is for what it is-

that is that Western is as useful as an ashtray on a motor bike. Western is a silent word like the letter g in Silvagni or the letter y in Yvonne. I cannot see what is the point of having the word 'Western' in the clubs name when all we are described as is 'The Bulldogs'

Hawthorn defeated the Bulldogs
Carlton will be hosting 'The Doggies' next week
Adam Cooney is a 'Doggies' Brownlow medallist
Geelong are on top of the ladder, followed by St Kilda, then there is Collingwood, then after them it is Fremantle, then the Bulldogs, then Carlton followed by Hawthorn

there are millions of more examples

So what is the point of the word Western?- What newcomer to the AFL would believe that we represent some region called Western?
Because we don't we represent the Western Region, we represent some region called Bulldogs or the Doggies or THE Bulldogs.

Now to your point about the cheer squad banner 'Rodney Eade- Our Inspiration' and how it may as well be 'Rodney Eade- Coach'

I have been laughing ever since I read that from you D.McG

One ENGLISH as opposed to BRITISH comedian made a silmilar point years ago about the song-

There Will Always be an England

He claimed the song title was as relevant as

There Will Always Be A North Pole

The cheer squad could do some more signs

Bob Dylan er Doc Zimmerman- Our Medical Staff

Jake Lansdberger- Our Doctor

'Sugar' Ray Chalkley- Our Property Steward

Noel Kinniburgh- Driving Our Club Golf Cart at training

Pity they couldn't make them retrospective-

Gordon Watt- Our Interchange Steward

Ron Simmons- Relaying Roy Sart's messages #

Dick Collinson -Our President

# Roy Sart is for youngsters former coach Royce Hart. Supposedly he was at a function a few years ago and his name was written on the invitation at the dinner table as -Roy Sart

[Caveman]

We just don't get as fired up as I remember because we're just used to falling over when it counts. We never win in stunning fashion and we always lose the big games. No one wants to be the guy that gets fired right up and cop the barbs from the opposition because there is no ammo to fire back. We have nothing and never make people pay. No one fears us. They feel sorry for us! They like us, as long as we are quiet and do what we are supposed to do - lose and shut up. I have no confidence in the Club to back up my passion or arrogance or optimism, they just continue to let us down.

I agree that people sort of feel sorry for us.

Oh your a 'doggies' fan- I like 'the doggies' you beat Essendon back in 2000 and I remember years ago when you beat Collingwood when Kolyniuk ran around ........... zzzzzzzz.......

Do they really like us or like the fact that us 'nice little doggies' beat some hated enemy of theirs?

When people learn that you are a 'doggies' or 'bulldogs fan' it seems that they are about to pat you on the head like you are a happy, cute loveable little labrador going for a walk on the lead with his master

We live in a world of certainties.

The stereotype is that we 'doggies' are a nice team from the deprived western suburbs- heart as gold battlers who occasionally beat Collingwood or Essendon and non-fans of those two teams love it. Not because we won- but because Essendon and or Collingwood LOST.

People don't like their certain world turned upside down by the likes of the doggies going well and winning, they prefer the certain world of us being battlers who beat their hated rivals and they feel all warm inside about that.

These attitudes are hard to change and whilst we have quiet supporters who barely get animated this view will continue to be held for quite some time.

[Fossie 32]

Bit harsh on the cheer squad. Nobody's perfect but at least they are having a go and I thought they were quite vocal this year........ we all need to make more noise though!

[DMcG]

Bit harsh on the cheer squad. Nobody's perfect but at least they are having a go and I thought they were quite vocal this year........ we all need to make more noise though!

I've always been harsh on them. Never once in my life have I seen a banner that has been funny or clever. [Would love to be proved wrong here]

Richmond have pretty creative banners, and I remember being impressed with Essendon, North & Melbourne's banners in the past. But ours are lame - reusing the same cartoon bulldog every week, the players are under orders not to break it cause we can't afford another one.

I'd also point out that a fair few of them look the wrong side of the evolutionary scale, but that's every team's cheer squad.

[Caveman]

The messages on banners have changed in their tone from 30 years ago.

In either 1979 or 1980 (leaning towards 1980) Footscray v South Melbourne- the South banner said

"Doggies- your barking up the wrong tree"

30 years later some people still use that quote and think they are somehow being funny and original

At the Footscray v Collingwood game of 1980, a few weeks earlier (if above was 1980 and not 1979) Mike Brady appeared on one of the balconies of the John Gent Stand and sang what was to be the new them song for the club. Charlie Sutton was the President at the time in this Royce Hart's first season as coach.

We had not won a game at this stage, which was around Round 10 or whatever (will look it up in a few minutes)

Anyhow it was a (sort of) gala day, Mike Brady sung his song and it was played over the loudspeaker as well.

Then the teams came out on the ground- remember this was well pre-Terry Wallace days- the teams came out did their warm up and then the game started- no warm ups on the ground ages earlier like they do now because back then the reserves were playing.

The Collingwood cheer squad lifted up their banner and the words on it facing us were -

You may have changed your song, but you will still always be dogs and a load of bull.



However moving along 14 years later to 1994, the same fixture at the same ground- so it is Footscray v Collingwood at Footscray.

The Collingwoood banner this day went something along the lines of

Tony Shaw and Doug Hawkins two champions of Victoria.

Now this particular afternoon, Tony Shaw was playing his 300th game or was it that he was breaking Collingwood's club record? One or the other, but it was a milestone game for Tony Shaw. Now a week earlier Doug Hawkins had played his 322 game against Geelong also at Footscray, breaking Teddy Whitten's record.

Also some young kid wearing number 33 was making his debut for Footscray- this teenager making his debut this day now holds the record that Doug has taken from Ted, which Douggie held till Chris went past Doug.

Yes it was Brad Johnson's first game

So although there was arrogance back then, now banners basically state the obvious or say announce a milestone -

Ben Kinnear -50 GREAT GAMES FOR COLLINGWOOD or whatever

[DMcG]

I know there's some sort of banner law that says you can't say anything negative about the other team. Which is crap!