Not sure if this warrants being in the TalkingCarlton page, or TalkingAFL (mods, feel free to move if need be...) but I have been wondering lately about supporters / barrackers / general public that happen to leave a game early.

Is it considered a sin or bad show of support when you leave early? Does it show that your support and passion for the team is not equal to that of other people that follow the same team? Or is it merely convenient that you can get out of the ground before the final siren and avoid the rush of everyone else trying to exit the ground?

Personally, I hate to see anyone leaving a game early - I even see it from supporters of the winning team if they are a few goals in front with minutes to go. The Hawthorn v Carlton game at the MCG recently is an example, the Hawks got up by 25 points late in the last quarter and I could see people leaving to get the early train home or try and get out of the car park...

The only game I have left early from is the 1993 Grand Final v Essendon* - the rest of the family could not stand to be hanging around until the final siren... I still remember walking through the parklands outside the MCG heading towards Richmond station and hearing the final siren followed by the roar of the crowd. My hatred for Essendon* was further ingrained when there was a "go bombers" note on our front door when we arrived home!

I would be interested to know the views of other Carlton supporters here in regards to leaving a game early... I will never leave another game early as I've paid for my admission and I may end up seeing a goal or mark of the year contender, or like the game against Hawthorn, almost snatch victory when all hope seemed lost...

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37°47'1.59"S - 144°57'43.30"E - Home

I sat through our 124 point loss to the Roos a few years ago and would personally never leave before the final siren.
I have switched off the TV in disgust while watching at home though.

I don't know how people can trudge past gloating, heckling opposition supporters while the game is still going on behind them, surely it's better to slink off after the siren while the other mob are jumping up and down jubilantly.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

I certainly didn't understand it at the Hawthorn game - our guys often finish games off very well...so that was a mystery. I think if you do it - you should be heckled on the way out by the opposition...but each to their own these days - especially with Connex running the trains - I heard they ran a 'footy special' for a busy line Monday night that left Southern Cross Station 15 minutes before the siren!

i wouldn't.. but it depends, some might argue that some players failed to even turn up.

Sat through some awful displays of 'football' involving Carlton (especially at Subi).

You have to sit through the pain to really experience the glory.

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!@#$ off Essendon**** Just !@#$ right off. SCUM.

Yep totally agree - and it's worse sitting through bad losses at interstate grounds when you are by far in the minority of supporters. Makes me angry, makes me want to smash smug grinning WCE supporters and Freo supporters faces..where are my pills.........

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I'm shocked to be sitting here

oh yeah

subi - oh the horrors

thats why last year round 7 was so bloody good

never ever leave a game early

never !

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

I remember leaving early twice in recent memory.

Once was at the G when it was 10 mins into the last and we had 2 goals on the board courtesy of McKernan. v Collingwood. Ugh.

St Kilda a couple of years ago in what was I *think* Jordan Russell's first game. He had little to do with it but it was shit.

I didn't watch the last minute of the freo game last week. So angry.

I don't think it's a huge sin if your team has put in a performance lacking in heart and effort. In the last few years I've rarely had that impression, just that we weren't up to it. I think staying to the end is about support, sure, but support is a two way street.

I respected our shit sides of the past 5 years because often they were on a hiding to nothing yet still went out there and regardless of what some more emotive posters may think, they wore our jumper with pride in our darkest hours. That was worthy of support. But I do remember on those 2 occasions feeling that effort and heart went out the window completely and rather than jump out of a window myself I went to the station.

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Congratulations CK95

I've been known to leave the odd game early. Thanks Wojee for ascribing courage to my actions

I'm not proud of pissing off early, but sometimes the disappointment gets the better of me.

I left the dome at half time with a mate in the shameful North game, watched the rest in the comfort of the Colonial hotel and had a rueful laugh with a few full-strength pints. Don't regret leaving that one early.

I think the first game I left early was in 98ish when the Dogs smashed us at Optus. I felt guilty for a bit, but then thought "flower it - it's my weekend".

Glen Bowyer killed it that day.

Had 23 possies to half time if i remember correctly.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

Bowyer was a favorite of mine for a few weeks there

OK indulgence time.....

Others to have big games for Carlton - Teague, Mccormick, Plunkett, Cranage. Beasy took a couple of great marks in a game against St Kilda. Steve Kenna showed promise for 2 seconds, as did Brett Backwell. Blake Campbell looked a classy little player. I saw Lindsay Smith go nuts in a VFL game one day

I hatehatehatehatehatehhatehate the idea of leaving a game early. It's like ripping your heart out.

I often parked in the 2 hour car spots around Princes Park in our dark years.

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I support Carlton, Fulham and I'm an accountant - my mate calls me a 3 time loser.

It is definately a sin. Win or lose you stay. If losing, show some strength of character and stay.

Depends if the ground is as flowered as the S.C.G. and you want to avoid getting stuck in one of the many bottle necks trying to get out of the prick of a joint...

My god how true.

New stand has fixed some of that??

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Congratulations CK95

Thanks Wojee for reminding me of that 124 pt disaster against North, boodly mods, know how to wreck a day. Had a overseas visitor at that game and do you think they agreed to follow Carlton. Not a chance. North all the way.

Have only left by choice once, against Richmond when it was clear the team didn't give a stuff but I have sat through some almighty beltings over the past few years and hated every second of it.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

I spent my entire childhood watching Carlton getting pumelled.


Leaving a game early was normal football routine.

Amen brother.

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Nup... no problem with leaving early... particularly for shelackings. The only times i didn't do it was when I used to catch public transport to VFL park, becuase the buses/trains never left early anyway.

If I drive in (as I do now) and we are being flogged, might as well get home early and spend time with the kids.

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In the fullness of time
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