One day in September

As we come to the "that " weekend in September, we asked staff to tell us of their childhood memories and teams.

We hope it inspires you to think and remember some AFL or VFL memories.

Hi, My name is Annie and when I grow up I want to be a Carlton Bluebird.

Let me explain.

When we arrived in Victoria, a kind neighbour used to take my sister and me to all the Carlton games. We used to see the Carlton Bluebirds do a routine for the crowds before each game. We would sit in the cheer squad area, behind the goals, reaching for the coloured paper squares and streamers that would fly through the air. We would try and make pom poms like the Bluebird girls and mimic their routines.

The noise of crowds, the banners and the whole feeling of fitting in with a group of people was so special to a young child. Even at the end of the game, leaving the grounds together and the train ride home was a huge buzz. People would share food, stories and catch up weekly. I felt like I had a big family, and they all missed you if you did not come to a game.

Bruce Doull was my player, and I thought he was amazing. The Carlton crowd would scream in one went he went for the footie.

Years later, when I met my now-husband and his family, they introduced me to the mighty Bombers. I am very proud to say my eldest son barracks for Carlton, but we all have a spot for Essendon.

I follow the St Kilda Football club passionately and go to games as often as I can. We sit in the same seats every game and I have made life-long friends along the way on the rollercoaster that is following this crazy team! 

As a little girl, I chose the Saints because my great-great-grandfather Harrie Hattam played for the club. He played in the back pocket and total played 84 games and kicked 2 goals. Harrie played alongside the great Roy Cazaly. 

My beloved Dad and I and have been going to games together since I was a little girl. I still wear the scarf he bought me at my first game at Waverly Park against Geelong in the late 1980s. Now my son comes with us too and my dad always said that his greatest achievement was taking a grandchild to the football and we have made some very special memories along the way together.

My favourite memory of all time is hugging my dad as he cried his eyes out when we beat the Bulldogs by 3 points to make it into the Grand Final in 2009. The following week, I got married on Friday 25th September and on Saturday 26th September my Dad, my Mum and I went to the Grand Final together. 

Regardless of the result, these memories are ones that I treasure.

Mrs L Hopkins

I barrack for the bombers because both my parents did. They both lived near Essendon growing up and hence why they barracked for them.

The photo is with me near the 2016 premiership cup!

Pity we didn’t win that one!

Ms Weekes

My favourite team, since I was born, is the bombers. I grew up supporting them as it was a family tradition. I loved football in the 80's and 90's in particular. Going to watch Essendon play at Windy Hill, the MCG or at Waverley was an almost weekly tradition.

The memories of going to the football were wonderful and I was a passionate supporter with many favourite players. However, the best memories that really last are of those great times spent with family. The smell of hot dogs that mum would bring in the thermos, listening to the radio with the scarf hanging out the window (if we won) as we waited hours to exit the carpark at Waverley and kicking the football on the ground with my brother.

My favourite player of all time is Gavin Wanganeen. He was often referred to as the 'rubber man' as he was so flexible and incredible in the way he contorted his body to save goals, take amazing marks and would bounce back up so bravely after being hit.

Life is all about building memories with those you love and for me, many of those early memories were formed at the football. 

Go bombers in 2022!

-Mr McClare

No favourite player or team growing up because I’d never heard of AFL until I came to Australia! But my favourite soccer team in England was Tottenham Hotspur and my favourite player was Gary Lineker. 

Mrs M Anderson

Growing up my bedroom walls were covered in navy blue. I can still recite the entire 1995 Premiership Team. I wore my Carlton jumper everywhere, proudly boasting the great Anthony Koutoufides' number 43 on my back!!

 Ms B Davies

Mrs Ross - Geelong 

Favourite Player growing up - Gary Ablett Snr

We moved around Australia and overseas when I was younger but we lived in Canberra for three years when I was in primary school. I remember a very young Ricky Stuart from the Canberra Raiders NRL team coming to our school as part of the Canberra Milk Raiders Lime promotion. He was the halfback in the dominant team of the season and was still very young. Now he is the head coach for the Canberra Raiders. The team was great, the milk was gross!

When we moved to Melbourne, as is tradition with new arrivals, I was told I had to choose a team. I picked the Tigers because they were my favourite animal. I’m sorry to say my heart was never fully into AFL but I do remember watching the Grand Final games and listening to the irreverent commentary from Roy and HG on the radio.

Mrs B Draffin

Matthew Richardson from the Richmond Football Club. Wore his heart on his sleeve and despite his inability to kick goals directly in front, I will never forget the sound of the MCG whenever he took a huge pack mark in front of the goal!

Mr L Anderson

When I was in Primary School, Andrew Jarman from the North Adelaide Roosters in the SANFL came to my school to run a footy clinic. So, I supported North Adelaide and Jarman was my favourite player. When the Adelaide Crows entered the AFL in 1991, they became my AFL team and Jarman was, of course, my favourite Crows player. In Adelaide’s first AFL game, in which they completely annihilated Hawthorn, Jarman was one of the best on the ground, collecting 29 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal and 3 Brownlow votes.

Mr P Todd

My favourite football player growing up was Nathan Buckley. I held a Buckley's Brigade membership as a kid, and as part of the membership, you would receive a birthday card from Nathan Buckley which of course was very exciting at the time. He was a great player, he used to get a lot of the ball, was an awesome midfielder, and a great leader of the side. 

Mrs Oakley

I absolutely love my Rugby League as I grew up in Sydney, and I’m a crazy Canterbury Bulldogs supporter. I was super lucky as a kid to meet a few of the Bulldogs players, even my favourite player Hazem El Masri. I still play Rugby League today and go to games every time the Bulldogs play in Melbourne.

Jared from Theircare

AFL

I barrack for Carlton. I choose to go for Carlton as both of my parents go for them. My family loves football and loves to watch the game and go to the games. I have been to 8 football games in my life. 

Childhood sport 

I played netball for 10 years for my Primary School club. I played for Templeton Primary School Netball club. I was a defender in the start but moved to mid court when I was older.  Katrina from Theircare.

My favourite footy team is Geelong and my favourite player was Gary Ablett Senior number 5. My Uncle Peter used to take me to Kardinia Park for all the footy games and that was before they had grandstands. I would stand on top of his esky and eat twisties!  I loved Geelong because I loved my Uncle Peter! 

Mrs B Steele