On Monday morning I arrived from Brisbane wearing a Sea Eagles jersey. From the city I had to transfer to the Manly ferry to get home. Being the morning peak and Manly getting into their first grand final in ten years I thought I would have seen a number of people get off the vessel in either apparel or at least wearing a scarf or colours mixed with their business attire such as ribbons for chicks or badges, ties etc.

As the Freshwater came into Wharf 3 I was looking forward to seeing a few people celebrating the win. Not one person who got off the ferry showed any kind of support in their clothing.

As is typical of Sydney Ferries the service back to the beaches was cancelled so we had to get the Jetcat on Wharf 2. When the Sea Eagle (nice omen) arrived again I wondered if I'd see colours. Once more there wasn't anyone showing any kind of support.

It was only when I got to Manly did I see a person wearing Manly colours; a bus driver wearing a home jersey whilst behind the wheel who I exchanged thumbs up with.

Now seriously could anyone ever imagine a train pulling up to Southern Cross around 8.30am from Geelong on the Monday after a preliminary final which the Pivitonians have won with no one onboard showing support for the Cats? I thought not.

That my learned Austadium friends is the difference between both cities.

Yep, apathy reigns. It's just not cool in Sydney to really support a team. There's something suspicious about people who wear their heart on their sleeve. Something just not right, like it's a minor contagion. And the contagion metaphor can also be extended into an expectation that if you do catch the footy disease you should get over it in about a week or so.

Sydney footy bandwagons = the flu

I had a heart attack at people saying they do not wear their Sydney FC shirts unless they are going to a game on the SFCU forum.

What Les is describing is exactly the same in Perth, I would presume Adelaide although I saw very little merchandise and I suspect Brisbane.

60% of the clothing I wear is of the sporting teams I support, while I am a sports freak, you are guaranteed to see sporting clothing everywhere. Was shocked today when someone had a Brisbane Broncos Shopping bag that was bought in WA

If you walk around in a football jersey in most cities of the world and you are not going to a match you would be considered a bogan (or the local equivalent).

Sounds like Auckland.

Now, where the f**k can i get a Phoenix jersey.

I saw 2 Manly shirts in Petersham yesterday.

dogma i know where your coming from and i agree however i don't think the northern beaches is exactly rugby league heartland.

in saying that I distinctly remember however the build up to the Grand Finals that manly played in the mid 90's being much bigger - every second car was decked out in maroon and white streamers, lots of people wearing pepsi manly jerseys, shops done up etc

had the eels got through to the GF I'd imagine it would be a different story walking down church street in Parramatta. If the knights were playing this weekend it would probably rival the build up of that in geelong or melbourne

but i agree, AFL is bigger in Melbourne than rugby league is in Sydney

Yep - probably not so much in Sydney, but thats totally right for Melbourne. I posted this somewhere else once, but basically unless your'e a complete bogan, the rules are that you can only where a footy guernsey on match day going to and from the ground (stopping by in the pub is allowed). The big exception is Grand Final eve (Friday), when the big street parade is on, and many offices and shops also have footy themed parties.

But footy permeates Melbourne culture in all levels far far more than Sydney. This was highlighted to me last night when my girlfriend took me to the ballet - 'The Nutcracker Suite' at the State Theatre. I had a front row seat - the group next to me turned out to be Collingwood supporters who were also at the game on Friday, and at the half time interval, us and the people behind us who joinee in (about 10 of us in all) discussed the weekends results, the Brownlow Medal and Geelong's chances in the GF.

Could you imagine that sort of discussion about either rugby code amongst strangers in the front row seats at the ballet or opera in Sydney?

So Melbourne is so cultured you discuss the footy at cultural events. ..take that Tchaikovsky and Hoffman

Forgive me for pointing out the obvious...but you usually go to the ballet / concerts / art gallery to discuss other issues like your appreciacion for what your experiencing.....or even...how Sydney is so much better than Melbourne, cause they are just too obsessed with sport down there, for example these people sat next to me and discussed sport at the ballet!

Did you all get up and wave your cummerbunds (in club colours of course,) over your heads Sheady style after the event to show your appreciation.

In my 6months in Melbourne i discovered there is such a thing as taking things too far...i.e. Babies in all Collingwood getup.....cars with baby blue on board, not only on the sticker on front and rear bumpers but on the sun shades and fluffy toy on the rear parcel shelf. I'm not saying you don't see things taken to that extent in Sydney..it just occurs less, and their bogans as Bazza so elequently puts it or the english on a cricket tour:lol:

You see jerseys around Sydney, but it does work on a sliding scale from east (least amount) to west (formal wear).....But surprisingly the western example occurs at an alarming rate the further north and south you get out of the greater Sydney metro area.

sh*t if I could were my Wallabies / Souths / Australian Cricket get up all day every day i reckon i would...so im moving to Melbourne...what the F**K am i wasting my time in Sydney for.

Good comeback, The Crow. Yes, any profound comments on Tchaikovsky's wonderful score and the merits of the performance had to wait until after the show. That's allowed here in Grand Final week!

That's just starting them off with a good early education!
OK, fair enough - baby blue is just plain wrong.


Forgot to add a 'well done' to HD for the Pivotonians reference.

Hmmmmmmmmmm I wish the kids at Glory games followed this rule.

Brisbane is exactly the same as Sydney in this way. Sport is generally only discussed in pub like situations. I tend to think that its the AFL culture that its meant to take over everything you do, whereas Rugby League/ Union culture seems to be its only a part of your life.

What we realy care about Sandy.....is was it worth sitting through it...have you been neglecting the girlfriend spending time on austadiums......and thats pennance for it........and was it worth it in the end ...after all, a big night out's, worth a big night in Ohh yeah

I'm pleased to report the Manly Ferry Queenscliff tonight was decked out both upper and lower levels with maroon and white balloons and streamers.

Tomorrow on the peninsula is Manly mufti day. I wonder how many will take part.

Ah don't validate his smugness. He's just name-dropping