Supporting a side when they are down

[desperatesaint]

OK, I am a very infrequent poster but passionate Sainter. I have a lot of Melbourne supporting mates. They have been looking forward to Round 1 for months and getting into me about how well they will go. This week a strange thing has happened, most of them have come up with excuses as to why they can't go to the game - you should hear the excuses: "don't like Etihad, can't get a park", "didn't realise it wasn't at the 'G'", "Axcess One is mighty expensive for an MCC member", "It's my budgie's birthday"... (OK the last one is not real but the first three are). One, more honest, Dees supporter admits that they are nervous because we are meant to be so bad that if they don't win then they are in big trouble.

In contrast, my Saints mates can't wait. There is nothing like low expectations - you can only come away satisfied.

Alan Richardson has a reputation for getting players to have a real dip and back themselves and that is all we can ask fellow Sainters and if this happens we can be proud and excited for the year(s) to come.

GO THE MIGHTY SAINTS!!!

[Verdun66]

Where is the Like button?! Go Saints!

[saintbrat]

Where is the Like button?! Go Saints!

and one for me

[SainterK]

Could you be more frequent, like your style

Go saints!

[The Fireman]

walking away from multiple losses in the moorabbin day I had many varied feelings none of which were "satisfied."

[Kick-it-lace-out]

I consider myself a 'glass half empty' type of person when it comes to supporting the saints, but strangely enough I have zero expectations in 2014, and a strong sense of optimism for what lies ahead in the years to come.

[philtee]

Like your thinking desperatesaint.
New kids, new imports, new Coach, new Prez, new master plan....
makes you think the future starts at the first bounce tomorrow night.
Geez...I'm gonna be there.

[The Fireman]

Gee Footy supporters are a gullible, resilient , devoid of logical thoughts animal...... I am one albeit a hell of a lot more cynical......something that will eventually happen to most of you.

[matrix]

I can't friggin wait for the first bounce sSaturday.
Nothing like the expectation of the first bounce of a new season.....no matter where u finish.
If I was a melbournite I'd be there with ffiggin bells on.
Bring it on!

[SainterK]

Will wear bells for you M

[matrix]

Cheer your hearts out and bring the boys home.
I'll never forget that gf when they started that stupid cooooliiinggwoood chant and we drowned them out with the st kilda chant.
Should happen every week.
Hanging for the bounce tomorrow night.

Be good to smash them and write a few off who said we would be bottom

[Toy Saint]

I've been a fan of the the 'least succesfull sporting club in the history of the free world' for over 50 years, and I'm looking forward to Saturday night. Of course I realise the probabality of us winning a flag is about 1 in 18, and this is not likely to be our year. I'm looking forward to the development of the young guys with hope and optimism. With good planning and some luck we could assemble a competative squad in the next four or five years.

Being in a Grand Final with a realistic chance of winning is a serious buzz, I know that because my team has been there before, winning one of those would be the ultimate thrill for me. Some of my friends are Hawks fans, they enjoy winning premerships, but if my side wins my "high" will be far greater than anything they have ever experienced.

[BigMart]

Feels good to have low expectations?

My best memories of supporting stk
91, 92, 97....

Even more so 2004

And another level in 2009

How proud did we feel grand final week 2009/2010... In those years Our team was among the best, our players were the best, our coach was the best... We left most games ecstatic....

We had high expectations... Which were nearly met

We felt what the big clubs got to feel, whilst not ultimately but often...

That was good

2000-2002, the 80's and now.... I DO NOT ENJOY... Whatsoever!!!

I just hope we get to have another crack?

[Con Gorozidis]

Love it.
My blood boils when it comes to supporting the under dog.

My only problem is I seriously question your judgement when most of your 'mates' are demons supporters.
What do you all do for fun ? Racist jokes and cigars and talking about the olden days when Britannia ruled the seas ?
Most of my mates are Hawks which has its own set of problems but demons.
If you know John Thwaites can you punch him in the face.

[saintspremiers]

BM it's not about enjoying being crap it's appreciating and accepting where we are at at the moment.

That's not forgiving past recruitment sins it's called living in the real world and making the most of where we arr at now.

Maybe watch our latest ad again.

[desperatesaint]

Con, it gets worse than that. I have more Collingwood supporting mates that Melbourne supporting mates, so I guess there is no hope for me! At least the Collinwood supporters hate us unlike the other supporters who generally have mild pity.

My expectations are low for this year.

They were high in 2011,10,09,05,04,97,93,92 + 91.

[maverick]

It's all about managing expectations, the reason the good times are so good because you have to go through bad times, everyone does, despite the BS written that other clubs don't.
Does anyone realise how far away from a premiership so many clubs have been?
The Bombers haven't made a PF since 2001, that's 12 years so far
We know about the Tigers.
Carlton haven't made one since 2000.
Melbourne since 2000.
North once since 2000.

and the list goes on.
If you don't finish top 4, you have had no hope for a long time…..

We might be right down, but I would rather be right up there and right down than hovering around the middle like the clubs above for the last 15 years….

[plugger66]

Feels good to have low expectations?

My best memories of supporting stk
91, 92, 97....

Even more so 2004

And another level in 2009

How proud did we feel grand final week 2009/2010... In those years Our team was among the best, our players were the best, our coach was the best... We left most games ecstatic....

We had high expectations... Which were nearly met

We felt what the big clubs got to feel, whilst not ultimately but often...

That was good

2000-2002, the 80's and now.... I DO NOT ENJOY... Whatsoever!!!

I just hope we get to have another crack?

Whats this and now stuff. We have had one bad year in 11 years. You sound like a sook. Comparing the 80's to one bad year. Seriously where do you come up with stuff.

[maverick]

Feels good to have low expectations?

My best memories of supporting stk
91, 92, 97....

Even more so 2004

And another level in 2009

How proud did we feel grand final week 2009/2010... In those years Our team was among the best, our players were the best, our coach was the best... We left most games ecstatic....

We had high expectations... Which were nearly met

We felt what the big clubs got to feel, whilst not ultimately but often...

That was good

2000-2002, the 80's and now.... I DO NOT ENJOY... Whatsoever!!!

I just hope we get to have another crack?

Whats this and now stuff. We have had one bad year in 11 years. You sound like a sook. Comparing the 80's to one bad year. Seriously where do you come up with stuff.

No no, be fair, if supporters expect more you get more, just look at Carlton and Essendon over the last 10 years or so, they have won multiple premierships

[BigMart]

I got to read that one Pluggsy

Another little insult? Can't help yourself can you, it's why you're such a top fella

My post was in response to 'not being disappointed by' having low expectations?

I don't appreciate poor performance or accept you have to be bad at any time.

We were oK in 2011/2012

We were terrible in 2013
We are going to be terrible for the next three years IMO .... And it will get worse before it gets better.... 6 of our best 10 will retire within 3 years

To me that is 4 years .... We are one year into 4 years

But then again, you denied there was a problem with our lack of care for the future

So this is the result

[BigMart]

I guess they've won as many as StK?!

Mav?

Haven't Carlton and Essendon won 32 flags between them? Not sure they are the best example if you're trying to illustrate your point?

Since StK won in 66
Carlton have won 5 premierships in 8 grand finals
Essendon have won 4 premierships in 7 grand finals

[Saint 58]

No no, be fair, if supporters expect more you get more, just look at Carlton and Essendon over the last 10 years or so, they have won multiple premierships

No no, be fair, if supporters expect more you get more, just look at Carlton and Essendon over the last 10 years or so, they have won multiple premierships

Supporters have no control over results so what they expect is irrelevant.
We have low expectations because of our history.
Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon supporters have high expectations because of their history.
Even when we beat them, we get the "yeah but we've won 15/16 premierships" bulls***.

Last year was bad but not a patch on 1983-1986.
My mates & I watched 88 games which produced 15 wins
Just enjoy watching the youngsters do their thing & develop themselves & the team.

Also - over the last 10 year Carlton & Essendon have won jack.

[BigMart]

Last year maybe

What about 2013-2016?

Be lucky to win 15 probably

Will put up with .... But enjoy it.... Not sure I will


Don't underestimate a culture of success

And don't forget.... As good as we were... We won the same amount of GFs as WB, Richmond, Essondon and whoever else failed in the last decade

[maverick]

I guess they've won as many as StK?!

Mav?

Haven't Carlton and Essendon won 32 flags between them? Not sure they are the best example if you're trying to illustrate your point?

Since StK won in 66
Carlton have won 5 premierships in 8 grand finals
Essendon have won 4 premierships in 7 grand finals

Yep and the Tiges have won 10 odd haven't they?

Not sure what relevance 66 is but I care about recent history which i watch not something that happened before anyone can remember

I am sure Tigers supporters can't even remember when they were good, not sure what relevance their so called historical power is to them enjoying flory in recent times.

I suppose for people that need to feel success through others' achievements, historical achievements are important...

[BigMart]

Mmm?...

I thought that's why we supported a sport? To be part of a club and hope to taste victory?

Richmond's recent history, if we want to be recent is better than StK... They played finals last year, possibly this year? I am sure they can remember 12 months ago? They belted us again!