My neighbor today stopped for a chat and after the usual pleasantries she mentioned that she was going to the AFL grand final and she in fact is a Collingwood supporter. My response was the rehearsed expected reaction from seemingly every Melbournian: Gasp! No way! Surely you cannot be a Collingwood supporter, come on, it’s (Anyone but Collingwood)
She then comes back with the well-known implied rule in the world of Aussie Football which is; if a Victorian team is in the finals against an interstate team, then you must support the home team unless the other team is yours. Not knowing how to get out of this I say, trying to sound reasoble, “yes but you see I’m an Essendon Supporter”. That seemed to have gotten me off the hook because she thought for a second then said “ oh ok then that’s fair enough”
If my life depended on it, I could not tell you why Essendon and Collingwood do not get a long. I have never bothered to find out and quite frankly i don’t care but maybe I should find out. However, I do have personal reasons as to why I don’t care much for Collingwood and it has nothing to do with the brainwashing and initiation process that happens as soon as you step off the boat/plane/rocket or whatever means you got here in.
To those who don’t know what I’m plowing on about, allow me to explain. Collingwood is one of the most disliked footy teams in Australia. For most it’s a healthy team rivalry, and for others they hate it because mum, dad, and everyone they know are against it, no one knows or remembers why but they just do and it’s passed down from generation to generation.
As I drove to an unknown destination, I reflected back on the conversation with my neighbor and I have come to see the similarities between football teams in the western world and tribalism.
Back in my mother land, different tribes have different features and mannerisms. They favor a certain animal over the others, they are accustomed to certain weather conditions and they have slogans and colors that sets them apart from the rest. Some tribes do not see eye to eye, no one knows or remembers why but they just do and the hate is passed down from one generation to another.
For example, if you have a bit of a swag, eat fish for breakfast,you favor orange (Not sure if the fruit also counts) and you construct a sentence or two with proper grammar and vocabulary, you will be assumed to be from the Luo tribe.
Similarly, when it comes to AFL, if every second word out of your mouth is a two dollar word, your dental hygiene is questionable, your wardrobe consist of mostly black and white, and you are crazy about the magpies (the bird),instantly you’ll be assumed to be a Collingwood fan.
There comes a time when some tribes clash and people have to pick sides. They would wear their respective colors and chant their theme songs as a pledge to their support and loyalty. During these clashes people avoid work and stock their houses with food and various beverages. There is a lot of exodus from those who want no part of it. Some go back to their hometowns, others vow to stay indoors for days, while the well to do ones catch a flight to some another country or place with coral reefs. You then have the die-hard ones who stay and fight or support.
Today in less than six hours such a clash is about to happen right here in Melbourne and the two tribes are Collingwood – Magpies and West Coast Eagles. The streets are eerily quiet, the anxiety in the air is infectious, houses are bursting with theme songs and the city is drowning in a sea of black & white (Magpies) and blue and yellow (Eagles). Then you have the other team still donning their tribal colors as if to say ” hey this is not my war, and i will not pick sides”
As much as Nathan Buckley’s story is compelling and i’d want the magpies (the team not the birds) to win for his sake. I admire the Eagles (the birds not the team) for their power, freedom, and transcendence.
My Tip? The rain is holding off so the Eagles have a chance and my washing will dry.
May the best tribe/bird win!
Cathy Aoll Rambles 