By Lynda Carroll
If you go by the last two seasons, Melbourne doesn’t win when playing at the MCG at night with no crowd. They also don’t win when I’m not there, or when my uncle chooses them in his tips. They do tend to win when my father wears his red and blue soled socks.
I can also tell you that superstitions don’t last for more than about three seasons, when they have to be reviewed. I’ve tried them all. Of course, one of the most recent was the bucket of chips at quarter time during 2018. It was a delight to indulge during the latter part of that season, and I just knew that Perth would be a tough hunting ground for the Preliminary Final when I couldn’t be there with my bucket of chips. Distance has a negative impact on the effectiveness of superstitions.
Mock not, doubters. I had history on my side. During 2006, I watched one home and away game while eating Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Melbourne won, and won well. So, for the rest of the season, I stocked up. That superstition lasted and proved a certain winner until the Second Semi Final loss against Fremantle in the west. With some relief, I cast aside my temporary connection to Peanut Butter Cups.
Supporter superstitions have a grand old heritage in our family, as I am sure they do in many others. Way back when, I used to attend the footy with my younger sister nearly every week. We’re talking when people could still smoke inside the MCG, and I nearly had my ear burned off. Not that that was the superstition. No, back then, we tended to win if my sister and I swapped hairclips every so often during the game. Ridiculous? Take a look at how Melbourne went in 1998, rising twelve places to play in finals after finishing last in 1997, then cast aspersions if you dare.
Travelling as a trio for quite a few seasons, my brother, sister and I would typically drive to the MCG. Coming off the freeway, we’d duck our heads and check – was ‘the clock on the silo’ at 11 degrees? If so, a Melbourne win was almost guaranteed. If not, we had to retreat to other superstitions – was Dad’s favourite No. 13 to be seen on the ground (thank you, Adem Yze, for playing 226 consecutive games)? Good sign! Did ‘we’ win the Little League at half-time? Yes? In that case, certain victory awaited!
As time passed, our arrangements evolved. My superstitions changed, faded and became more subtle. If I managed to send a text message to a certain number of friends before the game – positive sign. If the car park was muddy – bad sign. If Angelo – he of the infamous red and blue mohawk around in M52 – was having a ‘bad hair day’, we were in trouble.
Now, there’s a new generation, as my nieces learn the intricacies of supporting and superstition. Their father is North Melbourne, their mother – my sister – is determinedly Melbourne, as noted above. Aged five and seven, the nieces know the colours, know the importance of singing the song, and complete their tips every week. But do they know that wearing their beanies for an entire game almost completely guarantees a win? They will learn. They know to shout ‘GO DEES!’, and I’ve even had a sympathy phone call from one of them after a Melbourne loss. But they are not yet fully inducted into the tribe.
Sophie (left) is five, Alisha is seven. They are great characters; Leongatha kids who think it's a huge adventure to visit 'where Auntie Lynda works!' (not for the last little while, however....).
As for me, I am very ready to return to the MCG. While there’s little of this season left for superstitions to take effect, I know for a fact that Melbourne always wins when I wear a top with little stars on it, as well as the same pair of black shoes every week, and if I take a walk inside the stadium before the game, it definitely increases the winning margin. I can’t wait to get back there, and may add a bucket of chips to the equation, just to be safe.
Season 2021, I’m doing the best I can.
