Were you sitting in M13 Row R last night??

[saintspremiers]

Look, whilst you are on the money Mike with this thread IMO, they shiity weather made quite a few people cranky....so it's a bit different due to that fact.

[Enrico_Misso]

Well I actually think it is one of the great things about AFL that supporters can intermingle and exchange banter without things getting nasty.

As opposed to soccer where the supporters have to be separated because the game is so boring that supporters have nothing else to do except bait each other.

Have heard so many funny comments and retorts from footy fans over the years. None of that would happen if fans were segregated in separate pens like what happens in foreign cultures.

I have friends who barrack for other clubs and I frequently catch up with them at the footy. We can enthusiastically barrack for our teams during the play and then discuss the game or our families in the breaks.
That is a great feature of Australian culture, and the day we are prevented from doing it by zealots (and some posters above) will be a sad day.

[saintdooley]

WHO CARES?

we won.

[SaintPav]

Can someone please tell me how opposition supporters can get into the Victory Room at Etihad?

Some weeks ago had some Bomber supporters going off in the Victory Room in the game we played against them. It really gave me the s***s. They had their scarves and hats on and were carrying on like pork chops.

Are these creeps allowed in OUR Social Club?

[Moods]

Well I actually think it is one of the great things about AFL that supporters can intermingle and exchange banter without things getting nasty.

As opposed to soccer where the supporters have to be separated because the game is so boring that supporters have nothing else to do except bait each other.

Have heard so many funny comments and retorts from footy fans over the years. None of that would happen if fans were segregated in separate pens like what happens in foreign cultures.

I have friends who barrack for other clubs and I frequently catch up with them at the footy. We can enthusiastically barrack for our teams during the play and then discuss the game or our families in the breaks.
That is a great feature of Australian culture, and the day we are prevented from doing it by zealots (and some posters above) will be a sad day.

I think you and others miss the point Enrico. Not sure saints66 was saying that everyone should be segregated as a rule of thumb at the footy. If the club make a rule though that ONLY the designated reserve seat holders sit in a certain area, and ppl buy those tix on the pretext that there will ONLY be saints supporters in their area, well how can you argue against that? It's like smoking in a non smoking area b/c you believe it's a free country and the rules are draconian. Smoke somewhere else. The act itself isn't outlawed. Just as I would say ' support your team somewhere else.'

No-one says you can't or shouldn't sit with a mate who barracks for the opposition - just don't do it in an area that's exclusively saints people.

Why the hell anyone would WANT to sit in the middle of a group of die hard opposition fans is beyond me. Unless you were a smartar$e $hit stirrer who enjoys getting a rise out of people.

I too (mainly) enjoy the verbal sparring that goes on b/w groups of fans. Being an AFL member I have no choice. I just can't understand why anyone would be so rude as to bring a vocal opposition supporting mate into an area which you know is supposed to be exclusive to saints fans.

[Paul B]

I was sitting in row T just behind those people. I was unaware that they were even Geelong supporters. This is an over reaction.
Agree with the opinion that footy should not become segregated like English soccer.
While members tickets should never to on sold - there's nothing wrong with bringing in a supporter of another team so long as they appreciate where they are and act accordingly. While I've experienced supporters from other teams in the reserved members area for years, I've never observed inappropriate behaviour - not even close.
What I find far more objectionable is members verbally abusing our own players with foul language.

[joffaboy]

I must admit, I enjoyed the look on the smug pricks face at game end.

he was all excited when Ablett kicked his second goal and jumped up to celebrate.

That was 10 minutes into the second quarter.

Funnily enough didn't see him jump up to celebrate a Cats goal after that point

And he got wet - hope he catches cold.

[Maxstar22]

His poncho wasn't nearly as stylish as our ones either

[Eastern]

His poncho wasn't nearly as stylish as our ones either

And, he didn't get any bikkies either !!

[starsign]

i had a row of 8 arrogant male Cats supporters immediately behind me in the members
They weren't too bad just smug in their comments in the 1st half as it was all a matter of a fete accomple

Just after first goal in the 3rd Q one said loudly to his mates "oh this mob might just give us a run for our money" and got few disbelieving replies from the rest!
I chucked to myself but couldn't help turning around to the poonces on the siren and inquiring if they were happy with the run we gave them for their money because we were a bit short changed!!

[saint66au]

Well I actually think it is one of the great things about AFL that supporters can intermingle and exchange banter without things getting nasty.

As opposed to soccer where the supporters have to be separated because the game is so boring that supporters have nothing else to do except bait each other.

Have heard so many funny comments and retorts from footy fans over the years. None of that would happen if fans were segregated in separate pens like what happens in foreign cultures.

I have friends who barrack for other clubs and I frequently catch up with them at the footy. We can enthusiastically barrack for our teams during the play and then discuss the game or our families in the breaks.
That is a great feature of Australian culture, and the day we are prevented from doing it by zealots (and some posters above) will be a sad day.

I think you and others miss the point Enrico. Not sure saints66 was saying that everyone should be segregated as a rule of thumb at the footy. If the club make a rule though that ONLY the designated reserve seat holders sit in a certain area, and ppl buy those tix on the pretext that there will ONLY be saints supporters in their area, well how can you argue against that? It's like smoking in a non smoking area b/c you believe it's a free country and the rules are draconian. Smoke somewhere else. The act itself isn't outlawed. Just as I would say ' support your team somewhere else.'

No-one says you can't or shouldn't sit with a mate who barracks for the opposition - just don't do it in an area that's exclusively saints people.

Why the hell anyone would WANT to sit in the middle of a group of die hard opposition fans is beyond me. Unless you were a smartar$e $hit stirrer who enjoys getting a rise out of people.

I too (mainly) enjoy the verbal sparring that goes on b/w groups of fans. Being an AFL member I have no choice. I just can't understand why anyone would be so rude as to bring a vocal opposition supporting mate into an area which you know is supposed to be exclusive to saints fans.

hit.nail.head.

its not about personal choice..its about respecting those around you.

[benengel14]

If the club make a rule though that ONLY the designated reserve seat holders sit in a certain area, and ppl buy those tix on the pretext that there will ONLY be saints supporters in their area, well how can you argue against that?

Poor effort IMO..and if that had been an Etihad home game, Id have no hesitation in ringing the Club and dobbing you in. Youre lucky though, cos I dont think they'd be able to trace your booking back through the Ticketek sysetem

Any such area has never been declared to be a saints only area - if you hold a ticket to a specific seat you are prima facie allowed to sit there.

While many on this forum are quick to complain about opposition supporters sitting in areas where it is normally accessible to only st kilda "members" - there is no provision which allows staff to discriminate on the basis of who you support.

The only way which you can be denied you entitlement to your seat is on the basis of 'non-transferability' or abusive/threatening conduct.

However, the majority seem to fine with following situations...(especially in the circumstance of a sold out fully ticketed game)
1/ Membership is unused due to sick child, and given to younger sibling who normally does not attend football matches.
2/ Membership is used to bring a st kilda supporting/neutral friend who would otherwise have not attended the game.

Questions to those who want the club/ES to increasing policing and institute ID checks to ticketholders...
-Do you take issue with people using memberships in situation 1 & 2? Despite it being against strict T&Cs of membership?

-Or are do we only enforce the T&Cs when someone is morally outraged at the sight of another person supporting a different club in their vicinity?

- Do you want to put up a wire tap and trace 8 year old Jimmy's ticket who happened to wear a demons scarfe to the game next week?
or do we only ID check and run surveillance on Jimmy's dad?
- Or do we only do this if Jimmy's dad had a beer during a match? or cheered his team too loudly?


I agree though that if you are an opposition supporter who wants to support vociferously - then as a matter of courtesy you should not sit in a stkilda members only area.
BUT the enforcing of a "non-transferability" clause just comes at too great a cost.

[IcanKickit]

dobbing new australiens.

[rexy]

If the club make a rule though that ONLY the designated reserve seat holders sit in a certain area, and ppl buy those tix on the pretext that there will ONLY be saints supporters in their area, well how can you argue against that?

Poor effort IMO..and if that had been an Etihad home game, Id have no hesitation in ringing the Club and dobbing you in. Youre lucky though, cos I dont think they'd be able to trace your booking back through the Ticketek sysetem

Any such area has never been declared to be a saints only area - if you hold a ticket to a specific seat you are prima facie allowed to sit there.

While many on this forum are quick to complain about opposition supporters sitting in areas where it is normally accessible to only st kilda "members" - there is no provision which allows staff to discriminate on the basis of who you support.

The only way which you can be denied you entitlement to your seat is on the basis of 'non-transferability' or abusive/threatening conduct.

However, the majority seem to fine with following situations...(especially in the circumstance of a sold out fully ticketed game)
1/ Membership is unused due to sick child, and given to younger sibling who normally does not attend football matches.
2/ Membership is used to bring a st kilda supporting/neutral friend who would otherwise have not attended the game.

Questions to those who want the club/ES to increasing policing and institute ID checks to ticketholders...
-Do you take issue with people using memberships in situation 1 & 2? Despite it being against strict T&Cs of membership?

-Or are do we only enforce the T&Cs when someone is morally outraged at the sight of another person supporting a different club in their vicinity?

- Do you want to put up a wire tap and trace 8 year old Jimmy's ticket who happened to wear a demons scarfe to the game next week?
or do we only ID check and run surveillance on Jimmy's dad?
- Or do we only do this if Jimmy's dad had a beer during a match? or cheered his team too loudly?


I agree though that if you are an opposition supporter who wants to support vociferously - then as a matter of courtesy you should not sit in a stkilda members only area.
BUT the enforcing of a "non-transferability" clause just comes at too great a cost.

Bloody good post, much more eloquently put than I could have put it, well done.

And I agree with all. Spot on.