THE AFL grand final is set to take place tomorrow with plenty of local stories behind the support of either Collingwood or Brisbane with keen interest ramping up ahead of the 2.30pm bounce at the MCG.
Two local sporting families will have their eyes firmly glued on the game with Winda Mara Chief Executive Officer Tamika Holt and her family backing Collingwood while Glenn Kane and his family will have their support behind Brisbane.
The Pies
Holt is married to Portland Football Netball Club’s senior football coach from 2023, Jarrod Holt, with kids Archie and Poppy also fully supporting the Magpies.
Holt said her love for the black and white team was driven by her dad, David (Glyn) Amos, who was a Collingwood supporter through and through.
“I grew up in a Collingwood dominant family, dad is one-eyed Collingwood and the kids have inherited that passion,” she said.
“Dad’s uncle used to play for Collingwood back in the day, so he followed on from that.
“I don’t think I had a choice; I always had a Collingwood jumper or tracksuit on, and it was just passed on.”
The tradition has continued with Holt’s children Poppy and Archie, who are both keen Magpies supporters, with Archie backing his team and favourite player for tomorrow.
“My favourite player is Bobby Hill, I like him because he’s fast, and celebrates lots,” Archie said.
“They keep coming back from like 20 points down, so they fight back and that’s how they’re in the grand final.”
As for Poppy’s favourite – she’s a fan of the big man from the United States.
“Poppy’s favourite is the man with the goggles, Mason Cox,” Tamika added.
“We’ll probably go to a friends house and watch it, but it’ll be pretty low key – my sister is also one-eyed Collingwood, and my Auntie also goes for Collingwood.”
On the other side of the fence is long-time Brisbane Lions supporter, Glenn Kane, who developed his love for the club through Fitzroy Lions before they merged with the Brisbane Bears.
The Lions
Kane will be firmly in the Brisbane corner when he attends the game tomorrow at the MCG with a long history of support from the 60-year-old.
“My mum and dad grew up in Fitzroy and I’m pretty sure they met at Brunswick St oval and that’s where they had their first date I think,” he said.
“From that they barracked for Fitzroy and the whole family jumped on board.
“Going to the Fitzroy games was sometimes more like going to country footy than suburban footy was. We used to sit in the Kevin Murray stand at Junction Oval the same spot mum and I.
“I was not very happy when Fitzroy became Brisbane, mum went to Fitzroy’s last premiership in 1944 so I took her to their last Victorian game, we were absolutely shafted by the AFL.
“But when Kevin Murray jumped on board and some of the older players I watched as a kid supported it, I jumped on board too – it helped that they started to win a few games.
“It’s also good because now they have Fitzroy’s jumpers and theme song so there’s a real effort that they’re the same – even on Saturday we’re going back to Brunswick St after the grand final.”
With some success already tasted for Brisbane in the early 2000s with a three-peat, Kane said it’s nice to see the side back on the rise after a lull.
“Like every footy club it’s had its ups and downs but the last for years has been great, they’ve banded together and seem well run – it’s exciting to watch, the forward line has all different dimensions too it and this year they’re more reliable than they have been,” he said.
“I think it’ll be a close game, but then again, I have no idea.
“We’re going to the game, we’ve got two tickets, it is the benefit of being a Lions supporter there isn’t necessarily a lot of us so it’s easier to get tickets.
“I’ve been to grand finals but never one where I’ve had a team to barrack for, the last one we went to was a Collingwood one in 1990.
“In 2001 I had a mate who got me a ticket on my own, but it was the same weekend as Tyrendarra’s first senior premiership for years, so I tossed the coin on that one, so its nice to finally go to one.”
