I am losing faith in this team/club

R. Harvey 3 votes! · Sat 09 Oct 2010 2:50pm

I think it has really hit me today as I am here watching the Caulfield Guinees race day. I have been a saints supporter for 34 years and a member for 21 years since the age of 13. I go every week in melbourne and get to a couple of interstate matches a year aswell.
The disappointment and how close we came a couple of weeks ago in the draw has become so real. What the hell have we done wrong to keep having things go wrong at the most crucial moments?
I mean I was going to moorabbin as a young fella and watching us getting hammered every week and winning two games a year during the 80's. We then have a little bit of success in the early 90's and then make a GF in 1997 only to have a number of things go wrong. We have had numerous chances this decade, only to have a shocking injury run during the Grant Thomas reign ruin any hope we had of a decent crack at a flag. Under the Ross Lyon reign we have made Grand Finals but have had no luck when we really needed it, eg: Scarlett toe poke and this year, the Milne bounce.
It is just not fair, I mean for years there was several teams who hadn't won flags for years, now that number is less with Sydney and Geelong winning premierships, the hawks pull one out of there backside and now Collingwood get another one. We have had more opportunities than the bulldogs and melbourne to win that cup, but we never seem to be able to ever get it done?
We have just had so many chances and it is depressing me now to think that if we don't get it next year, we could be waiting 10 years to even be within any sort of range for another shot...It is 45 years next year and counting. I will butter up again next year of course, but I am going into next year with no expectations because so far it has only ever resulted in disappointment after disappointment! Sorry to dampen everyone's moods but it will be another long summer full of promises that again may or may not be reached...Not sure how long I can keep on buttering up every year after year

thejiggingsaint · Sat 09 Oct 2010 3:37pm

I think it's maybe a bit too soon after such a disappointing end to the season to be losing faith. I think in time, when the pain subsides a little you will perhaps come to 2011 with as much enthusiasm as ever. (I know that I for one, will) I don't believe that winning a flag has anything to do with "fairness"....or "its our turn" The simple truth is that overall, the Magpies were the best side of 2010 and but for wayward kicking would have buried us in the first game. The fact that they did not, and that we came back so strongly is a testament to the "faith" of guys like Lenny Hayes and BJ Goddard and Roo. I am not prepared to give up on them when they need our support more than ever. Its ironic that your post comes at a time when we've played finals in 6 of the last seven years. That we've been for the last three seasons the team that the premiers had to beat to get the flag. I dont know about you, but as much as that result last week hurt me, I'll take it ANY day of the week over the numbness and shame of a wooden spoon season!
I'll be going along to Moorabbin this week to renew my membership. I will renew it without any conditions; without any demands other than for the team to do their best on the field and for the club to do similar off-field.
I thought that that was what supporting a club meant.
Be of good heart my friend, take a deep breath and be easy on yourself, try to see how good the future looks!

Best regards as ever

Dave

bobmurray · Post: # 1013737Post **bobmurray** » Sat 09 Oct 2010 3:39pm

Bit of a depressing post that...

I think we'll clock up 50 years easily from here......

thejiggingsaint · Sat 09 Oct 2010 3:43pm

I'll be rocking up for next year (after a GF loss) with the same commitment that I did in 2001 (after a wooden spoon) ready to do my bit to help!!!!! (otherwise there's no point to it!)

R. Harvey 3 votes! · Sat 09 Oct 2010 3:44pm

thejiggingsaint wrote:I think it's maybe a bit too soon after such a disappointing end to the season to be losing faith. I think in time, when the pain subsides a little you will perhaps come to 2011 with as much enthusiasm as ever. (I know that I for one, will) I don't believe that winning a flag has anything to do with "fairness"....or "its our turn" The simple truth is that overall, the Magpies were the best side of 2010 and but for wayward kicking would have buried us in the first game. The fact that they did not, and that we came back so strongly is a testament to the "faith" of guys like Lenny Hayes and BJ Goddard and Roo. I am not prepared to give up on them when they need our support more than ever. Its ironic that your post comes at a time when we've played finals in 6 of the last seven years. That we've been for the last three seasons the team that the premiers had to beat to get the flag. I dont know about you, but as much as that result last week hurt me, I'll take it ANY day of the week over the numbness and shame of a wooden spoon season!
I'll be going along to Moorabbin this week to renew my membership. I will renew it without any conditions; without any demands other than for the team to do their best on the field and for the club to do similar off-field.
I thought that that was what supporting a club meant.
Be of good heart my friend, take a deep breath and be easy on yourself, try to see how good the future looks!

Best regards as ever

Dave

Yeh good call Dave. I do actually think all of these things and I would never stop supporting the club both financially and emotionally, I think I just had a moment and had to vent! Anyone who knows me knows that the saints are one of the most important things in my life besides family. I will be there again mate and also renewing before the end of this year. I am actually looking forward to next year now and as you said I would take what we have had this decade anytime compared to the 1980's! When you say it like that it isn't too bad! Carn the mighty bloody sainters! Let's stick it up everyone next year once and for all! In Ross we trust!

thejiggingsaint · Sat 09 Oct 2010 4:19pm

Way to go me old pal!!!!!!!

spert · Post: # 1013755Post **spert** » Sat 09 Oct 2010 4:21pm

It is hard to keep the faith in this mob when like me as an older supporter, I have seen the Saints play in 5 GFs and win none. In 71 and 97, we were outsmarted tactically as we were last week. I don't care about how close we were, or a draw could have been a win etc etc.as it means nothing..another finals failure.
I will have some faith restored when I see a clear effort by the club over summer, to bring youth through, to play youngsters more often (didn't persist enough this season) and to shed some of the obvious weaknessess in the playing list who can't go any further. I hope in the new year to see a more attacking style in the pre season games. If I see that then I will know that the club has learnt something from the last two seasons.
One of the most encouraging efforts by this club was in 09 when the B team beat Hawthorn, fresh talent on show, lots of enthusiasm, but it all slipped away in the end and those guys struggled to get a game this year as I think Ross Lyon is a bit too cautious and doesn't take enough gambles. He is a top coach, but needs to add a few more strings to his bow.
Lets look forward to a fresh start and another crack at a flag in 2011!!

thejiggingsaint · Sat 09 Oct 2010 4:24pm

Spert, I feel your pain too, but there's no alternative to being full of faith and enthusiasm other than to give up and take up stamp collecting....NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT

Sunil_saint · Sat 09 Oct 2010 4:43pm

Well Said Dave I will be renewing and going along too......Sure its just another year but really worth the trip just to see Mr Jigging "gee us all up"

So we must all keep the faith.I just love BEING THERE............win or LOOSE

Go saints 2011

3rd generation saint · Sat 09 Oct 2010 4:52pm

Dave the club should recruit you as their main PR and Membership drive man.
With you in charge our membership would be greater than any club in the comp, your enthusiasm and optimistic outlook is infectious.
But, to all out there, on a serious note, that is what helps keep the club strong is strong membership, the more members, the more money, the more money attracts and keeps better players (especially if free agency comes in).
I just hope we increase our depth a little with the trade period, pick up some good youth in the draft and have some of our young guys like Stanley, Lynch, Armitage, Steven, Miles and especially Walsh have break out years next year.
I f that happens, there is a strong chance we may be meeting up at the corner on the 24 September 2011 before heading to the MCG for another crack at it.

SainterK · Post: # 1013775Post **SainterK** » Sat 09 Oct 2010 4:53pm

Try and get your hands on a copy of the interview from the B&F, may do much to restore your faith a little.

Sainternist · Sat 09 Oct 2010 5:00pm

Hang in there, mate.

Remember, there are other teams like Footscray and Melbourne who have also not won a flag in decades.

I have given up on going to watch them once before and it feels like there is something missing from your life.

Anyway, after the last two GF losses, not mention the frustration of the GT years, we should be pretty well immune to disappointment by now

georgie girl · Sat 09 Oct 2010 5:02pm

Like most people on this forum, I was devastated by another GF loss. However, my daughter's Facebook post eased the pain a lot.
The day after the GF she said...
"Regardless of yesterday's outcome, I'm still grateful we even made it to the Grand Final and I'm lucky to have such an amazing family to share it with. Go the mighty Saints!"
She's is right! We have enjoyed so many wonderful games throughout the last couple of years and have been fortunate enough to have experienced many great finals. In our case with a Saints mad family.
As a child following the Saints, on the odd occasion we had a win, it felt like we had won a Grand Final. So I guess we are lucky to be experiencing success at the moment. Whilst I still live for the day we win a Premiership, I am also appreciative of the journey we are on with a great footy club!!

3rd generation saint · Sat 09 Oct 2010 5:06pm

As St.kilda supporter period, you are pretty immune to disappointment, it's just part of life.
As I said before both grand finals, winning would be harder on us, more enjoyable, but harder, because the first time in our lives we'd have to deal with success.
How many here after Goddard kicked that goal had tears welling up in their eyes thinking we we're going to win.
I'll cry 100 more times if we win than if we lose.

Sainternist · Sat 09 Oct 2010 5:08pm

3rd generation saint wrote: How many here after Goddard kicked that goal had tears welling up in their eyes thinking we we're going to win.
I'll cry 100 more times if we win than if we lose.

Yes, I pretty much did after Beej pulled off what we thought was the miraculous.

Our club is a vail of tears, plain and simple.

georgie girl · Sat 09 Oct 2010 5:10pm

3rd generation saint wrote: How many here after Goddard kicked that goal had tears welling up in their eyes thinking we we're going to win.
I'll cry 100 more times if we win than if we lose.

That was the point where I started to let myself believe and dream that we might just win it!!!

SirDog · Post: # 1013797Post **SirDog** » Sat 09 Oct 2010 5:26pm

It's awefully frustrating - even more annoying is when clubs like the Brisbane Liones, Eagles, Power have had premiership success in such a short period of existing. Thats what f'n annoys me, long time supporters of the saints deserve a GF win. As do the players - I feel for the champions in the club who will go without GF success. I would have loved to see Harvey or Burkey in a winning GF team.

There are no winners amongst us. Yes it's nice being in GFs but losing them makes us no more successful than the wooden spooner. The premiership cup is the only prize in AFL. Nothing for second.

aussierules0k · Sat 09 Oct 2010 5:33pm

goods · Post: # 1013810Post **goods** » Sat 09 Oct 2010 5:38pm

take your dress off man up

georgie girl · Sat 09 Oct 2010 6:26pm

SirDog wrote: There are no winners amongst us. Yes it's nice being in GFs but losing them makes us no more successful than the wooden spooner. The premiership cup is the only prize in AFL. Nothing for second.

Oh yes it is frustrating and really gets under my skin when you have people saying - "oh the Pies have waited 20 years for this!"

However, I am damn sure that I would rather come second than win a wooden spoon -been there, done that and don't want to go there again!

snowdelisaint · Sat 09 Oct 2010 6:33pm

Sainternist wrote:Remember, there are other teams like Footscray and Melbourne who have also not won a flag in decades.

There is heartache for 1/4 of the competition, looking at the period since 1990 when the VFL became the AFL,

Number of Grand Final Appearances (Premierships in brackets):
Western Bulldogs: 0 (0)
Richmond: 0 (0)
Melbourne: 1 (0)
St Kilda: 3 (0)

We are a well run club moving to a state of the art training base. In 50 years time I think we will have 5-10 premierships.

Waltzing St Kilda · Sat 09 Oct 2010 7:52pm

I've thought about this long and hard and come to the conclusion that the only way for this club to get a flag is to

CHEAT.

Everyone else does.

Enrico_Misso · Sat 09 Oct 2010 9:03pm

Good thread.
I think many of us diehards are doing it tough.
Most of my waking (and I suspect sleeping) moments are consumed by replaying in my mind numerous scenarios of what might have happened in those final minutes after BJ's goal.

To miss out on two in two years by such close margins. is just plain unfair.
I understand you can't win them all.
But I would have been happy for one of them to come home.
That would have been fair.

The pain of this is almost too much to bear.
And it does make you wonder why we would put ourselves back in the same position next year.
All this suffering is not good for us.

Yet deep down I know I will be back next year.

westy · Post: # 1013883Post **westy** » Sat 09 Oct 2010 9:16pm

Aged 15 in 1966, I woke up the morning after the GF absolutely rapt. This was how life was supposed to be. Aged 59 in 2010, I woke up up the morning after the GF very angry. This is not how things should be. I am still angry. Very Ken angry. I don't know what to do! I really hate Collingwood.

Vazelos · Post: # 1013902Post **Vazelos** » Sat 09 Oct 2010 10:33pm

I am turning 40 in January and have had 5 Grand finals in my lifetime, with no Premiership success. There are so many reasons to be bitter, you can get screwed up really easy if you equate football success and enjoyment with only premierships.
We have grown to be a very good club, our expectations are so different to the past .

I actually broke down when BJ took the screamer, I thought for the first time in my life we were home, even closer than 2009.

It is very cruel, the disappointments in a strange way makes you more twisted yet closer to the club. It takes alot of you if you really love the club, I look at people like Ross Lyon, Roo, Lenny, BJ and I see outstanding people involved in our club and thats enough for me to keep my passion and support alive.

Never, ever, ever, ever give up!!!