I’m a bit loath to speak footy, however this column is for all of the West Coast Eagles followers who’re hurting in the mean time.
I used to be as soon as given some recommendation about how one can cope when your favorite staff loses and remarkably, it began with “accept your impotence”.
Don’t despair — your staff didn’t lose since you weren’t carrying your fortunate underwear or since you determined to alter chairs throughout the match or tweet a touch upon the sport.
(Though it’s my sturdy recommendation to not bounce on social media and make daring predictions throughout a recreation, as more often than not they don’t age effectively and are onerous to delete. Think AFL nice Robert Walls predicting the demise of the Eagles in 2018, earlier than they proceeded to win the premiership.)
I did hear of 1 uncommon approach to overcome the ache of West Coast’s historic loss to Sydney. A gamer was capable of shrug off the frustration of final weekend’s historic defeat by enjoying AFL 23 on his Xbox. He merely set himself up because the Eagles and proceeded to pound the Swans into oblivion. Playing fantasy footy can even give the identical feeling of management, nonetheless minor.
My recommendation is to remain loyal to your staff, via good instances and dangerous, similar to the vows that folks make on their marriage ceremony days. The dangerous instances will make you respect the nice instances much more.
The different suggestion is to take pleasure in a little bit of reminiscing. Remember the nice instances. Peter Matera’s 5 targets within the 1992 grand remaining, the Cats getting thrashed within the 94 decider, the nailbiting moments of the basic 2006 flag or just that remaining historic play that began with a McGovern mark and completed with Dom Sheed’s purpose in 2018.
Of course, you could brace for some taunting from the followers of different golf equipment throughout these robust instances, particularly Dockers supporters. That’s a given. But simply have a look at that as banter — a part of the entire fan expertise.
One survey confirmed those that watched their staff lose at 16 per cent extra saturated fats than these watching their staff win. Fans selected chips, chocolate and lollies if their staff misplaced, and more healthy meals like fruit and greens if their staff gained. No marvel I’ve placed on 5 kilos this yr.
So why will we do it? Why do footy followers open themselves as much as all this ache and distress? Apparently, it’s a phenomenon known as basking in mirrored glory.
Our vanity will get a lift after we can boast about our connections to an elite footy staff — it’s like gloating about your youngsters’ accomplishments or speaking about Dennis Lillee, Sam Kerr or Daniel Ricciardo being from Perth. That’s why many individuals dislike so-called fairweather followers, just like the fella who known as on members to boycott the primary quarter of the following Eagles recreation. Real followers undergo when their staff loses and but, they nonetheless come again for extra.
I’ve even been informed by some footy followers that they’re happy with enduring the “bad” instances. Loyalty is the mark of a real fan, a lot in order that should you undergo when your staff is shedding, you deserve all the enjoyment you get after they pull off a miracle.
If there’s any upside for me personally, it’s shedding the mantle as the largest loser. I used to be enjoying when West Coast had been crushed by 142 factors in 1989. That file because the membership’s best shedding margin was blown away by the 171 factors loss in opposition to the Swans in spherical 15.
Our “punishment” 34 years in the past for shedding so badly was to run 100 100m sprints after we returned residence to Perth. Can you think about ordering AFL gamers to do this lately? There could be a league huge strike or a minimum of authorized motion from the gamers’ attorneys for breaching the AFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
