Its an emotional thing

Last Saturday, I ventured to the G, as I have many times before.

This time was different - superficially, the old members stand had been swallowed and relocated, bay 13 was now a civilised array of seating, supporters were not "going home in the back of a divvy van", the 4n20 was now a cheese and bacon pie, no full strength beer was available and my new footy buddy was female, not a bunch of expat Sandgropers. Whilst I felt some nostalgia for the days of old, the differences were explainable, understandable and enjoyable with the exception of the beer, the pie and the absence of Bay 13.

Now the rub, which I can't explain rationally but nervously accept. By way of context, I supported the mighty royals in the WAFL as a kid, I played a bit for Claremont and followed the careers of my childhood heros to North and the Blues and more recently my peers to The Eagles and The Hawks. I supported the Eagles from their admission to the AFL, I took my life in my hands a couple of times to support them at Windy Hill, I saw them lose the chilly GF to the Hawks at Waverley Park in 91 and I was there when they won in 92 and 94.... my allegiance to them was strong and unwavering. But, something happened in 95 when Brereton played a modest (by his standards) season with the Pies.

The next chapters of my "Kurtz like trip" were charactrised by a series of typically unsuccessful wagers on the Pies against the Lions in 02 and 03 and then an increasing interest in watching the Pies with the doors locked and the blinds drawn at home.

More recently my interest in The Pies has grown to the point that I have been selectively outing myself (generally to the dismay and in most instances disgust from a select group of friends). Early attempts to explain my change in allegiance typically involved a chronology of events and modest logic and were universally rejected and generally led to abuse. What I have increasingly realised is your team choses you rather than the alternative and this is based on the feelings they evoke in you.. it hurts when they lose. A grossly inappropriate anecdote perhaps best explains the way I feel about this; "someone slipped a mickey in my drink and I woke up a Pies supporter".

Anyway last Saturday, was my first public outing. I walked to the ground with a Pies scarf wrapped around my neck (and face), took our seats in the Collingwood supporters group and got going. Whilst it was disturbing on so many rational levels the emotion was there and I loved it.

What made it even better in spite of all the changes to the G and the associated hospitality, The Pies supporters I remembered were The Pies supporters I experienced on the night, with one notable exception.

Does anyone know of a good dental plan, I think I may need one... Go The Pies and thanks Jo, without your help I would still have the blinds drawn.