[mainstandsilentmob]

My brother and I are new converts to Aussie rules and are currently getting pumped up about the new AFL season. We are going for Collingwood as our team as they play in the black and white stripes of St Mirren.
We have even done a dream team on the AFL site to try and get more interest and competitive when we watch games on ESPN.

Are there any other fans of the sport out there and what are your views for the coming season?
I'm so pissed of with SPL football that AFL might be my new interest for Saturday afternoons. I'll Sky plus the games and watch them in the afternoon with some VBs and toast and vegemite!

[Papad]

Collingwood, of all teams..........

The St Kilda schoolgirl saga has been hillarious for the past few months. Latest is that she has managed to bang Nick Reiwoldts manager then gone to the press! Great entertainment.

I love how a 17 year old bogan has turned St Kilda into a laughing stock. Only in Melbourne.

This post has been edited by Papad: 19 February 2011 - 12:26

[A-Mac]

Bloody Collingwood.....

Come on Doggies, can't wait to see how we go come Round 1.

[mainstandsilentmob]

been following the st kilda thing. It does seem bizarre on so many levels. Why were they seeing a school girl? Why did the club try to pay her off if there was nothing to the stories? Why were players taking nude photos? All very strange. Now the manager thing takes it to a new level! At least its given me something to read during the close season and hopefully it'll stuff up st kilda, allowing collingwood to dominate.

[jmothecat]

Yeah I barrack for St Kilda.

Hope St Kilda can come back another year, few of the youngsters looked pretty good in the first round of the NAB cup, pity they couldn't see it out though against Essendon.

Collingwood really are the worst choice of team to pick though.

[mainstandsilentmob]

jmothecat, on 19 February 2011 - 14:35, said:

Yeah I barrack for St Kilda.

Hope St Kilda can come back another year, few of the youngsters looked pretty good in the first round of the NAB cup, pity they couldn't see it out though against Essendon.

Collingwood really are the worst choice of team to pick though.

why are collingwood so bad in your opinion? They seemed to play well last season and have some very decent players.

[jmothecat]

mainstandsilentmob, on 19 February 2011 - 16:19, said:

why are collingwood so bad in your opinion? They seemed to play well last season and have some very decent players.

They are currently the best team in terms of players, just like the Old Firm are the best two teams in the SPL in terms of players...

[mainstandsilentmob]

jmothecat, on 19 February 2011 - 19:04, said:

They are currently the best team in terms of players, just like the Old Firm are the best two teams in the SPL in terms of players...

ah so it could be a bit of jealousy on your part. If i've studied correctly its not that long ago that collingwood were pretty poor and have a tradition of blowing big chances- the colliwobbles. Thats the sort of rollercoaster ride i'm used to. And as i say the black and white stripes win it for me. They don't seem very popular in oz though-lots of claims of being criminals and bogans!

[jmothecat]

mainstandsilentmob, on 19 February 2011 - 20:03, said:

ah so it could be a bit of jealousy on your part. If i've studied correctly its not that long ago that collingwood were pretty poor and have a tradition of blowing big chances- the colliwobbles. Thats the sort of rollercoaster ride i'm used to. And as i say the black and white stripes win it for me. They don't seem very popular in oz though-lots of claims of being criminals and bogans!

Well no, not jealousy, yes on the bogans and criminal part. Sort of imagine everything you don't like about the Old Firm outwith the sectarianism and fact they are good at football.

Collingwood have the worst and most arrogant fans. It has nothing to do with them currently being good, even when they are bad they are still by far the most hated team in the league. This year is St Kilda's year anyway.

This post has been edited by jmothecat: 19 February 2011 - 20:09

[mainstandsilentmob]

jmothecat, on 19 February 2011 - 20:08, said:

Well no, not jealousy, yes on the bogans and criminal part. Sort of imagine everything you don't like about the Old Firm outwith the sectarianism and fact they are good at football.

Collingwood have the worst and most arrogant fans. It has nothing to do with them currently being good, even when they are bad they are still by far the most hated team in the league. This year is St Kilda's year anyway.

hmmm you are making me think but once you've picked your team you are stuck with them. For some reason i hate geelong and western bulldogs but don't mind sydney or essendon. All this from following one season! I bow down to your superior knowledge as you sound like an actual aussie. How seriously do you take the dreamteam stuff as it seems a serious business, my brother and i have choosen ours already. Perhaps too soon as we should have checked out the nab cup. You don't know any way of watching it in the uk do you?

[jmothecat]

mainstandsilentmob, on 19 February 2011 - 20:19, said:

hmmm you are making me think but once you've picked your team you are stuck with them. For some reason i hate geelong and western bulldogs but don't mind sydney or essendon. All this from following one season! I bow down to your superior knowledge as you sound like an actual aussie. How seriously do you take the dreamteam stuff as it seems a serious business, my brother and i have choosen ours already. Perhaps too soon as we should have checked out the nab cup. You don't know any way of watching it in the uk do you?

Loyalty is a good way to go. I'm not an Aussie but I lived in Melbourne for a while. Got really into AFL as I couldn't get into the 'soccer' over there. Came home a couple of years ago but I'd caught the bug.

The Dreamteam is fun, though I've not bothered this year. You doing the official one on the AFL site?

http://www.aussiesport.tv/ has all the games up though it is delayed. You pay about £30 a year and get access to every game, usually up a couple of days late. Quite good to watch if you avoid the score elsewhere and it means you don't have to stay up until the middle of the night to watch it. Omnisport.tv has select games up from time to time live. That's more expensive and only really worth doing on a match to match basis.

ESPN has a few games up. Last year it seemed like almost every game involved either Collingwood or St Kilda so being a Collingwood supporter will set you right.

A few bars show games as well, in Glasgow I think Walkabout shows a few games. In Edinburgh Walkabout and Oz Bar show games fairly regularly. Usually games on tv but occasionally they 'acquire' other games.

There is also the option of illegally downloading games, not that I would ever suggest doing such a thing.

[mainstandsilentmob]

I was in oz last june on a short trip and aught a few games on tv and got sucked in then. Upgraded to espn when i got home to follow the season. The 1st grand final was amazing! Although probably not for a saint kilda man! I'm doing the afl site dreamteam, as is my brother. We have out own wee league set up so can go head to head. I am a bit crap when it comes to online stuff so won't be illegally downloading anything as i don't know how so i'll probably stick with sky plusing games. Have found some nab cup highlights on youtube which will have to do me until the season kicks off as i think espn will show a couple of games a week along with the round up show.

[jmothecat]

mainstandsilentmob, on 19 February 2011 - 22:05, said:

I was in oz last june on a short trip and aught a few games on tv and got sucked in then. Upgraded to espn when i got home to follow the season. The 1st grand final was amazing! Although probably not for a saint kilda man! I'm doing the afl site dreamteam, as is my brother. We have out own wee league set up so can go head to head. I am a bit crap when it comes to online stuff so won't be illegally downloading anything as i don't know how so i'll probably stick with sky plusing games. Have found some nab cup highlights on youtube which will have to do me until the season kicks off as i think espn will show a couple of games a week along with the round up show.

I'd probably recommend the Aussie sports tv package if you don't mind paying the price. Fairly decent coverage and includes the NAB cup games. Quite convenient that you can watch them when you please as well.

Not that the NAB cup is particularly interesting other than seeing the younger players come through. St Kilda vs Essendon was marginally interesting due to Essendon equalising with the last kick but I'm a little sick of St Kilda draws!

First Grand Final was fantastic to watch, though I sat there at 9am in a pub a little bit drunk thinking 'f**k, I've got to get up at 4am again next week'.

[mainstandsilentmob]

jmothecat, on 19 February 2011 - 23:44, said:

<br />I'd probably recommend the Aussie sports tv package if you don't mind paying the price. Fairly decent coverage and includes the NAB cup games. Quite convenient that you can watch them when you please as well.<br /><br />Not that the NAB cup is particularly interesting other than seeing the younger players come through. St Kilda vs Essendon was marginally interesting due to Essendon equalising with the last kick but I'm a little sick of St Kilda draws!<br /><br />First Grand Final was fantastic to watch, though I sat there at 9am in a pub a little bit drunk thinking 'f**k, I've got to get up at 4am again next week'.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I couldn't believe NIck Maxwell wanted extra time after the 1st final, St Kilda had been so strong in the 2nd half i feel sure they would have gone on to win. Makes Heath Shaw's smother on Nick Reiwoldt even more important (if that happened in the 1st final) or Maxwell punching a sure goal for a behind. Its that sort of thing that makes the game so exciting. And the fact there is a salary cap so that teams can't totally dominate like the old firm here. Still looking forward to Collingwood being strong again this year! Is that the sort of glory hunting comment you'd expect from a Collingwood fan? Always good to know if I'm picking up the right traditions. My sister may be moving to Melbourne so looking to visit and coincide with some games as I'd like to sample the live event - and enjoy some Tooheys while I do so.

[Papad]

mainstandsilentmob, on 20 February 2011 - 12:30, said:

<br /><br /><br />

Is that the sort of glory hunting comment you'd expect from a Collingwood fan? Always good to know if I'm picking up the right traditions. My sister may be moving to Melbourne so looking to visit and coincide with some games as I'd like to sample the live event - and enjoy some Tooheys while I do so.

If you have a mullet, no teeth, like dressing in a tracksuit. like beating your wife and have a southern cross tatoo then you will fit right in amoungst Collingwoods support. Seriously, there are a lot of mulleted Pies fans. A LOT!!

If you tried to order Tooheys you'd be laughed at. It's an NSW beer. For Collingwood, Victoria Bitter (VB) would be for you. It's available in Aldi.Lidl in the UK too. It's rank!

[mainstandsilentmob]

Papad, on 21 February 2011 - 05:11, said:

<br />If you have a mullet, no teeth, like dressing in a tracksuit. like beating your wife and have a southern cross tatoo then you will fit right in amoungst Collingwoods support. Seriously, there are a lot of mulleted Pies fans. A LOT!!<br /><br />If you tried to order Tooheys you'd be laughed at. It's an NSW beer. For Collingwood, Victoria Bitter (VB) would be for you. It's available in Aldi.Lidl in the UK too. It's rank!<br />

No to all the requirements above for me I'm afraid but I'll still be supporting the magpies. Maybe I'll be at the vanguard of a 'new' nicer breed of Collingwood fan.
On the VB issue, I like it but would prefer a Tooheys or a Hahn premium. Used to quite like Carlton Cold but it seems not to be the same anymore. Crown is quite nice too and I don't mind James Boags. I'm also a fan on Kiwi beers. Actually I'm pretty much ambibeerstrous althoug Tennents is pish and I'll not be drinking it as long as they sponsor the old firm.

[Mainstand Sweary Mob]

So as my brother has said weare new converts to Aussie rules and are getting very excited about the new AFL season. We are indeed going for Collingwood due to the black & White Stripes (though not a fan of them being like the OF or being arrogant even when they were duff....kinda like a Killie fan I guess too). Only game I have seen was Melbourne (Demons) Vs St Kilda. I went with a family my sister was staying with at the time that were Demon fans (don't know if I sould be a Demons fan then?!). We have both done a dream team on the AFL site and will be watching games on ESPN (hoping be on HD too). We have entered a public league and I set up a private league too. Would anyone fancy joining it to get even more banter going?

[kiddy]

mainstandsilentmob, on 21 February 2011 - 13:31, said:

No to all the requirements above for me I'm afraid but I'll still be supporting the magpies. Maybe I'll be at the vanguard of a 'new' nicer breed of Collingwood fan.
On the VB issue, I like it but would prefer a Tooheys or a Hahn premium. Used to quite like Carlton Cold but it seems not to be the same anymore. Crown is quite nice too and I don't mind James Boags. I'm also a fan on Kiwi beers. Actually I'm pretty much ambibeerstrous althoug Tennents is pish and I'll not be drinking it as long as they sponsor the old firm.

Haven't seen Boags here in years.

[jmothecat]

kiddy, on 22 February 2011 - 21:31, said:

Haven't seen Boags here in years.

They sell it in Peckhams and a few bars in Edinburgh.

Probably my favourite of the Australian beers, one thing I couldn't get into when I stayed there was the beer but it seemed like Carlton Draught, VB and Melbourne Bitter was all most places sold.

[Papad]

jmothecat, on 22 February 2011 - 21:52, said:

They sell it in Peckhams and a few bars in Edinburgh.

Probably my favourite of the Australian beers, one thing I couldn't get into when I stayed there was the beer but it seemed like Carlton Draught, VB and Melbourne Bitter was all most places sold.

Agree. Boags Premium is the best. A lot of bars here stock micro brewery beers which has really taken off in the past few years. There's always Coopers which is a decent alternative to VB, Draught etc in most pubs.

[kiddy]

Papad, on 22 February 2011 - 23:54, said:

Agree. Boags Premium is the best. A lot of bars here stock micro brewery beers which has really taken off in the past few years. There's always Coopers which is a decent alternative to VB, Draught etc in most pubs.

I can mind picking it up in Haddows in G/mouth eons ago, but they never got it back in. Had relations over a few years later who had never heard of it, but it comes out of Tasmania apparently.

[mainstandsilentmob]

So typical of Scotland that a thread looking at sport should descend into a discussion about beer! It says a great deal about our culture and identity. That being said I'm liking my brothers idea of a P and B league in the AFL dreamteam. Anyone else up for that? I'm in!

[Mainstand Sweary Mob]

Aye, let me know if you are up for the cup and I will forward on the league details. I'm hoping I beat my silentmob brother if others join anyway!

[jmothecat]

I'm in.

NAB cup is looking surprisingly entertaining this year. Looking forward to the St Kilda game against Geelong.

[Mainstand Sweary Mob]

Aye. start of the season can't come soon enough!