Living in SA makes it difficult, especially as it's hard to convince your son to barrack for a side that we only get to see a few times a year.
What made it worse was this year our 2 games were "that" Port game, and we all flew over for the infamous Nth game.
Not sure how it all happened like this, but at this stage I couldn't see him changing. He's currently 8.
Whilst I spent most of the last quarter Saturday night scrolling through threads on my phone, I failed to notice that he was sitting there in the final minutes with tears streaming down his face.
You forget that whilst personally you arent that disappointed that you wont be making up the numbers in September, for him it was extending the season for at least one more week, and that and the McIness injury was for the me the most heart breaking part of the night.
We talk about supporting your side regardless. He has a Richmond/Port/Nth supporter mate (divorced parents!), and a "former Port but suddenly through half way last year Collingwood suporter"! mate who give him a bit of grief now and then, but he takes it well.
He jokes about how lucky he is that he only really starting supporting in 2008, and I give him heaps that he didn't have to endure the '02-'07 nightmare. First game was the Port game of '08 when the boys had kicked just 3 goals up until 3/4 time only for Kreuzer to light up the last helping us comeback from 30 points down.
First Melbourne game was the Essendon* final last year, and it's the first time he has ever not said a word during the footy for 2 hours. Just completely in awe.
I think part of the secret, was pushing him towards the Blues without forcing it down his throat before he reached the age to understand what it really meant. Kids from a young age can try to be very independent, and like to think that they are making their own decision. Subtle persuasion was the key.
To start with he supported St Kilda for a week, and when I asked him why he explained that because "I was a Carlton supporter -an Uncle "Essendon*", Grandad "Port", another uncle "Adelaide" etc etc that there was no-one else to pick. The poor bugger thought that the all the other clubs were taken!
It's now too ingrained to change. He knows the list, the rookie list, checks Northern Blues updates, IAmCarlton APP, keeps a goalkicking spreadsheet, even reads TC when I'm not on it. Might start blaming him for any rubbish posts I fire off.
You prepare yourself for the day it changes, but it's the father/son thing that he knows would never be the same if he did. Memberships, merchandise, etc is a great way to get them in (ie bribery) to start with.
If the first problem is getting them interested in football to start with I suggest buying a magnetic Premiership ladder, as well as collecting football cards, and of course the always reliable backyard kick to kick.
As they get older family tipping comps, and Supercoach/Dreamteam will suck them in. Dont expect them to sit down and watch entire games with you from start to finish from the age of 2.
I think that's the most parenting advice I've ever given!
....oh, have a daughter as well. She has a Juddy badge, and takes photos at games to keep herself amused. Like having a wife that "only likes 20-20 cricket, but thinks tests are boring", you just take what you can.....!
