Withdrawing Membership

[Sockeye Salmon]

An Australian, patriotic idiot.

I know you're making a point FDOTM, but hear me out.

Most nations celebrate a victory as their national military rememberance day. We celebrate ANZAC day, the day our forces took the the shore up sheer cliff faces against dug in Turkish positions, beginning a long an ultimately unsuccessful campaign. No, this was not a mistaken landing like some believe, as our previosuly planned landing points were so well fortified we would never had established a proper beachhead. We were given a difficult, barely possible task. On a belly full of biscuits, coffee & rum (now the "gunfire breakfast", we attacked it.

This was a few days after AE2 managed to penetrate the Dardenelles, an incredible feat of Naval operation.. At a time when our forces were "expendable", when our Olympic heroes still had the choice of representing the old country; barely a decade and a half after WA voted against federation.

Why do we celebrate this event? Because it forged us as a people. Courage, Mateship (mateship technically being a pre-federation homosexual paring, but nevermind, you what what it means these days), sacrifice, dignity, all these things that typify what we like to believe about ourselves.

What does this have to do with the Bulldogs? Everything. Traditionally, we have been the strugglers, outcasts, the poor club who takes the leftovers from others, brave to a point yet proud just to survive. They tried to kill us off, only we didnt let them. We have suffered massive disappointment (85, 97), yet we still follow.

Come 2008, we will again attack our cliff-face, and we will do so in ever increasing numbers, with a sense of hope that the disappointment of past years has been unable to erase. Supporting a club that, slowly, is building towards becoming the force we have been willing for years it to become.

A club that, in recent times, is no longer last on the membership ladder. Is leading the AFL community in community involvement. Is building top class facilities that will be a hub for a community growing in stature & status. Is shaking off the shackles of a survival mentality, changing ascpects of the club operation & is making a concerted effort to become what we had threatened to become in the 1950s - a powerhouse of the Western Suburbs, respected & feared by all, yet involved enough in the community around us to avoid becoming aloof.

Idiocy? Perhaps. But it is a red, white & blue idiocy I wouldn't trade anything to avoid.

Of course Gallipoli was doomed to failure...

[hargs37]

Sorry underdogs, of the topic. But I think that should read NL central chumps. Maybe back at wrigley they might get going. Get on the nation!

[bornadog]

What I can't stand is when people tell me they barrack for the bulldogs and when I ask if they have a membership and they don't I get really annoyed and refuse to talk footy with them. GVGjr, told me once when those type of so called supporters come up to him on a Monday to talk about a great win, he stops them in their tracks and says " Have you bought your membership", if the answer is no, he says don't talk to me about footy.

(GVGjr, hope you don't mind me mentioning that because it makes me laugh)

[The Underdog]

Sorry underdogs, of the topic. But I think that should read NL central chumps. Maybe back at wrigley they might get going. Get on the nation!

Looking good to get swept, even if they win 2 more they'll never get past Webb in game 5.
Nice work Piniella, pulling Zambrano after 6 innings to save him for game 4, which may never happen. Although the bullpen which had been killing has been destroyed in the playoffs
Maybe they can win it in 08 on the 100 year anniversary of their last series win. Bring on A-Rod I say, I hope the rumours are true.

[GVGjr]

What I can't stand is when people tell me they barrack for the bulldogs and when I ask if they have a membership and they don't I get really annoyed and refuse to talk footy with them. GVGjr, told me once when those type of so called supporters come up to him on a Monday to talk about a great win, he stops them in their tracks and says " Have you bought your membership", if the answer is no, he says don't talk to me about footy.

(GVGjr, hope you don't mind me mentioning that because it makes me laugh)

No problems because it is 100% true. The only caveat though is if it's not in their financial capacity to take out a membership because I can fully respect that.

In this case though, I have less regard for those who threaten to cancel their membership because the team hasn't performed to their expectation. I understand footy is an emotional game and it can bring out the best and worst in people but it's a very childish response imo and not one I would want to hear too often from some people.

We all know the club has struggled for years with finances and just how important memberships are so this type of blackmail is something I particularly despise.

[The Underdog]

At the heart of it all, the club owes us nothing. It doesn't owe us wins or premierships. We choose to be a part of it because we love it, as FDOTM said it's unconditional. We can be disappointed, dissatisfied, whatever, but there's no automatic entitlement to being part of a football club. If we get to experience a premiership well that'd be awesome but don't think it's owed to you just cos you put in some money each year. (sorry that should be on bf)

[Dogs 24/7]

At the heart of it all, the club owes us nothing. It doesn't owe us wins or premierships. We choose to be a part of it because we love it, as FDOTM said it's unconditional. We can be disappointed, dissatisfied, whatever, but there's no automatic entitlement to being part of a football club. If we get to experience a premiership well that'd be awesome but don't think it's owed to you just cos you put in some money each year. (sorry that should be on bf)

Same here.I can understand why so many people get upset when we are playing so badly but I wouldnt be looking to cut my ties with the club under any circumstances.

[bornadog]

No problems because it is 100% true. The only caveat though is if it's not in their financial capacity to take out a membership because I can fully respect that. .

Agree, financial capacity obviously has to be considered.

During the 1990's, I worked in Asia for seven years, yes bad timing as we had lots of finals appearances, but I still kept up my membership. I remember having lots of arguements with some so called bulldogs supporters working overseas about membership etc. They couldn't even fork out $100 bucks or so to help the club, yet they were on huge incomes, it made my blood boil.

In some ways I envy Collingwood supporters who stick with the club through thick and thin, which in my opinion, helps cultivate a winning culture.

At the end of the day 11 home games memebership is the cheapest entertainment in town, and lets face it these days all you have to give up is one beer per week. Talk of tearing up a membership or not renewing, always worries me. We reached 28,000 members this year, and a bad season and people don't renew.

[BulldogBelle]

I would rarely respond to anything written by someone who places emotive conditions on their membership.

Same here, why bother responding they obviously want to gauge a reaction from somewhere and if you respond you are falling into their trap!

[katemeehan]

This year killed me and made me leave a game early for the 1st time ever (WC) as I had brought my wife along for her first AFL game and we got treated to that performance.

sorry its kind of late and off-topic...but i just have to say that game was horrific. I was front row bottom level, west coast end, next to the cheer squad. Was hard to stay but I kept cheering to the end...didnt have a voice for 3 days afterwards. there were doggies supporters nearby, but they left.
copped a whole lot of slag from the eagles supporters, so hard.
and then when we kicked our last goal i went beserk, and all the eagles ppl behind me started clapping me...weirdest ever.
well thats my tale. sorry for randomness haha

[Max469]

I used to work with a Collingwood supporter - who was not happy when they were not winning. He ripped up his membership and sent it back to the club and asked for his money back.

Don't know if he got the money though.

What a 'dork' - I am like you guys - I love my doggies through thick and thin.

In my younger days - I am hesitant to admit - I used to give the players a serve when we lost.

But years have passed and I have grown up - but the passion for "my" boys has never waivered.

Give up my membership - no way.

Love my boys until the day I die - hell yeah

[southerncross]

Well said Max. I don't understand why people have to resort to those type of tactics. My guess is that it's mostly bluff.