To each their own, but this Is absolutely one of the keys reasons that nothing has changed for 20 years.
When they can count on people behaving like sheep and forking out the $$$ for memberships, merch and tickets to the game year after year after year despite the team being essentially the worst performed in the league over 2 decades, why would they ever consider doing anything differently?
The clubs leadership and I’m talking executives and board are complete and utter failures.
They’ve effectively spat in the face of members by manipulating board appointments so that members have less of a say than ever despite having ‘voting rights’.
So you can’t vote the failures out and you essentially can’t vote people that are actually suitable and who actually know what they’re doing, in.
The only thing your membership dollars support is complacency.
Ehh, not that much has changed. I still enjoy going to games, but don’t go that often because I don’t like the cold. I still enjoy watching Essendon play - I think as much as anything because it’s a couple of hours I set aside each week to just zone out.
I don’t think failure, nor success, will change that much either.
This thread is titled “Loving the club” and you’re asking when was the last time people loved the club… supporting a club is like marriage, it ain’t for the good times only. I’ll always love my club and if Essendon turns out to be a ■■■■ club for the next 50-70 years like Melbourne and Sydney, then oh well, that is the club I’ll always love and stick by, 'cause you just don’t change teams. You just don’t.
Like I said, if you lose interest or fall out of love because the club is not doing well, that is okay, like I can’t really blame you - just don’t call yourself a true supporter cos this is not what supporting is all about.
I know it sounds naff but I now know what former girlfriends used to mean by the the term “im guarding my heart” when I’d pester them for another shot.
“Loving the club” is a very limiting term. I support the club and that sometimes means being very critical, but I am still committed. I get greatly disappointed when things don’t go our way, maybe even a bit depressed, but I also remember the glory days and excitement. I pine for those days. Melbourne supporters went through a very depressing and long period, but now they are revelling in the transformation. That’s what I’m looking for in the rest of this year and next year, and our turn will come. So keep stirring the pot but never give up because the Bombers WILL fly high again!!!
The love has definitely died. But if the club gave me a sultry look across a clearing dance floor at 5am and said “come with me”, of course I’m going to get sucked in again.
I just want the team to play Essendon footy. It was energetic sometimes & angry. Back to back goals was a given. But they played smart. Changing the tempo of the game. Using chip passes to play keepy off so everyone could get a feel of the ball, then amaze everyone by kicking 2 kicks long towards our forwards for a mark. Usually it resulted in a goal. Didn’t matter if we won, you could see they were playing as a team & could have won. This style of play made me proud. https://www.essendonfc.com.au/video/181929/btv-fletcher-deadly-from-distance
I was Devo in 1990 GF. 1993 was a seriously good side. 2000 they all played for each other without giving an inch to the opposition, but I still believe that team was setup from 1998/1999 mob.
My Mom is a bombers fan but she doesn’t watch the game.
I dunno sometime after 2001 we lost our never give up attitude. Since then we lost titles of Wet Weather Specialists, Road Warriors & The Predators. And moreso known for this Kamikaze, Run & Gun bullshit as if Knights still coached us. After that The Bomber period was good, but oh well, now the rest sux.
Worst was the enthusiasm I had for Woosha to coach us I thought he would coach us how he use to play. That would have been GOLD. But he didn’t. Bigger disappointment than losing the GF.
I agree with this and will always love The Bombers. It would just be impossible for me to go for any other team. But my love for the game is decreasing every year. Sadly my 14 year old said whilst watching yesterdays game he can’t stand to go for this soft team anymore. I don’t blame him.
Started supporting in the early 70s when we weren’t winning and went through a dozen years before any success. So like with family and friends, support isn’t for me conditional on ‘success’. I’d like them to do some things differently and of course I am always hoping for finals, finals wins and a flag. For me the things that I can take out from watching are the little things - a player doing something amazing, a new player I haven’t seen. Even someone losing a contest but busting a gut trying - if I was on the field or sitting on the bench when they rotated off, I’d slap em on the back or offer a word of encouragement. That’s how I try and watch the game. I’ll voice some criticisms at times but I try to be pretty even.
I experienced a genuine sense of optimism when Hird took the reigns in 2011. Prior to the saga, it felt like the club was building something special. Since then, it’s been one disappointment after another with the odd bright spot in between.
