What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

[Ghost Dog]

The day Zaharakis kicked his famous clutch goal on ANZAC day 2009, I watched the events unfold at Flinders street, without watching the footy at all. My train was delayed and a huge stampede of sour faced Essendon supporters were fleeing the station. "Nup, we're done" was one grim reply to my question about the score to a passing fan. The game wasn't finished but they were leaving in droves.
When I got home I watched the Zaharakis goal and laughed at the irony of it. People with so much passion,robbed themselves of their chance to witness a great moment because of that same boiling over passion.

I used to leave games early, but one Sunday, as Kennedy kicked 7 on Lukas Markovic ( can't remember the year, remind me? ) I took inspiration from one of the posters on here ( BAD I think it was ) and forced myself to sit and finish out the game. To my surprise I actually enjoyed it. I was the only Bulldog fan in the section by then, but it made me sit up and notice who dropped their head and who didn't. I wrote to the club trying to encourage Lukas and to my surprise I got a reply. I felt I really got the full experience.

On Radio I can't stand to listen out a full game when we are losing badly. I only really watch full replays if we win. Can't keep my finger off the 'skip' button.Sometimes I have the stomach to watch out a loss, and other times not. I never watch replays of losing prelims obviously. What kind of watcher are you? Do you prefer to watch by yourself? ( I do, even at games ). Sound off TV, Sound up Radio? Broken anything?
Was there one torture game you watched to the end and what was your memory of it?

[I'm Not Bitter Anymore!]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

I can't stand watching games on tv would much rather be there whatever the result. Don't put the radio on or watch if I can help it

[SonofScray]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

Being at the game live tempers my behaviour.

When I watch at home I throw stuff around, swear more, yell louder for longer and celebrate harder. Victory laps in the lounge rom, jumping of chairs etc. Apparently they can't hear me, but I give it a good shake.

[Eastdog]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

I can't stand watching games on tv would much rather be there whatever the result. Don't put the radio on or watch if I can help it

I don't mind both but I much prefer being at the match watching it. More atmosphere being there even if the crowds aren't big.

[AndrewP6]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

I love going to the game, screaming and carrying on for a couple of hours. At home I'll do it too, but it's not the same. If we lose my mood gets very grim. I have never left early, I refuse to turn my back because the team is not doing well - though the McCartney years tested that resolve on many an occasion.

[comrade]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

Being at the game live tempers my behaviour.

When I watch at home I throw stuff around, swear more, yell louder for longer and celebrate harder. Victory laps in the lounge rom, jumping of chairs etc. Apparently they can't hear me, but I give it a good shake.

I'm shocking, regardless of the location. At the game, at home, I unleash my inner savage.

[Eastdog]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

I usually get into a bit at home and at the game not crazily over the top

[Twodogs]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

Prefer to stand. I can be a bit of a pacer and I like to consult several people for opinions during the game.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

At home I get pretty emotionally invested- I scream at the TV, abuse players, cheer on players, turn the tv off when we get flogged, switch it back on because I hate myself and have no self control. Close brown low and final losses I haven't made it to, I've cried.

But at the game I have to bite my tongue because other people don't seem to find my comments quite as hilarious as I do. And if it's the opposition home game and a horrid atmosphere (cough Norf scum) I have to leave. I cannot stand being surrounded by dumb, psychotic opposition supporters. I can't do it.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

Laughed at that one Sophie.
Yes, well Norf supporters are generally ok I find but when they start saying 'Go Boom Boom' I want to puke.
I like sitting around older folk at the footy. Generally they are more respectful, unless they are of the sort that spend most of the time abusing their own players.

[Daughter of the West]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

At home, I can't sit still and watch. As I think I described the Adelaide game, I alternate between watching and hiding, declaring that I can't watch it and am going to bed, then coming back downstairs after straining to hear my husband's every reaction. I yell, cheer, swear, sulk, make rude gestures and abuse the opposition.

At the game, I just cheer when we do good things and sit pretty quietly when we stuff up. I'm always conscious of little people at the football and not ruining for them or their parents, but I am also very aware of how little I truly understand the mechanics of the game and don't want to sound like a drop kick in public (the privacy of my own home is another matter)! And I find being flogged is far easier to watch than a close game involving the Bulldogs.

[Bornadog]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

I hate watching on TV and I am pretty nervous, and I write some things on the game day thread (in jest ) but some take it literally and abuse me, but hey who cares. At the game I have changed since my youth, I am restrained these days, whereas in my younger days I was very animated.

The one thing I can't stand is people I don't know, commenting on what I say - I am passionate but I don't need strangers to express their opinion on what I say.

[Ozza]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

I go to the footy with my old man. We are mostly fairly evenly tempered at the game (less so when watching interstate games on tv) pretty loudly support - but try to be fairly objective with umpiring etc.

We never leave early - we've just always had that rule. I remember in 1996 (I was 13) we were down by 90 points at half time and Dad said "I know we never leave early - but if you want to go early today, we can" - and I replied that "No, we never leave early - we'll see something good in the second half"....we ended up getting done by 131 points....but Chris Grant did kick a great goal late - so I was right! We did see something good.

Recently I get pretty frustrated with our supporters. Maybe its the years of no success - but I find our supporters (at least those in my area) incredibly negative. The area we are in for home games is pretty old on average - so the hysteria when we switch the play, go backwards, or handball more than 2 or 3 times in a row is out of control. Just folks who refuse to stumble across the modern game. "JUST KICK IT!"

[Sedat]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

We never leave early - we've just always had that rule. I remember in 1996 (I was 13) we were down by 90 points at half time and Dad said "I know we never leave early - but if you want to go early today, we can" - and I replied that "No, we never leave early - we'll see something good in the second half"....we ended up getting done by 131 points....but Chris Grant did kick a great goal late - so I was right! We did see something good.

That was Round 2 against Norf at the MCG. I remember it well.....I left early

[Ghost Dog]

Re: What kind of Bulldog watcher are you?

I hate watching on TV and I am pretty nervous, and I write some things on the game day thread (in jest ) but some take it literally and abuse me, but hey who cares. At the game I have changed since my youth, I am restrained these days, whereas in my younger days I was very animated.

The one thing I can't stand is people I don't know, commenting on what I say - I am passionate but I don't need strangers to express their opinion on what I say.

I hope you don't mean me, in the OP. I remember reading a post of yours years ago, when you said you always watched until the bitter end. I thought after reading it ' What kind of supporter am I if I leave early?' so I gave it a go. That's what I meant - good work.