All 18 AFL club captains send messages of thanks and support to their fans
What do AFL skippers miss the most about footy? The fans! In a Herald Sun special, all 18 captains have a message of support for the most important people in the game. See what your leader had to say.
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The superstars of the game miss footy. But there is one thing they miss even more – pulling on the jumper in front of their passionate fans.
In a Sunday Herald Sun special, all 18 club captains have a message for their supporters.
See what your skipper had to say.
RORY SLOANE (Adelaide)
To my beloved Crows fans,
We would love more than anything to run up the race into our stadium filled with 50,000 of you chanting and ready to go to battle with us.
We miss the high fives, the smell of beer and hot chips, and the crackle of fireworks, but most of all we miss the energy you bring and the joy on your faces.
The boys can’t bloody wait for an afternoon or evening at the footy with you all soon!
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DAYNE ZORKO (Brisbane Lions)
Big shoutout to “The Pride”, our Lions family.
The support we’ve received not only in this challenging time, but through all the challenging times, is what unites us as a club.
We hope you’re at home making the most of time with loved ones and trying not to send each other crazy.
We can’t wait to hear our members roaring back into the Gabba and look forward to picking up where we left off in 2019. Take care of each other.
PATRICK CRIPPS (Carlton)
There isn’t a better sound in football than the roar of the Bluebaggers during a game. The noise, the passion, the commitment our members and fans bring is incredible.
Our club has smashed membership records year after year despite success not being there, that proves how dedicated Carlton supporters are.
We know what the history of this club means to people and it’s why we feel such a responsibility to get us back to the levels of success that our fans are used to.
We exist because of our members, we play for our members and we want to do everything we can to enjoy success with them as a Carlton family.
SCOTT PENDLEBURY (Collingwood)
I came into the game in 2006, a football lifetime ago.
Very few things are now as they were then: the Sherrin, the Collingwood jumper, the Collingwood president and the deep and very public loyalty of the Magpie Army would be among the few constants.
Collingwood fans make noise. They are gold jacket boisterous and famous, or infamous, for the rowdy role they play in the theatre of our games.
They don’t just barrack, though. They belong. In a way that makes blood seem thin. You don’t meet casual Collingwood fans. There is an intensity to the experience of being a Collingwood person — player, member or fan — that isn’t easily understood by the uninitiated.
It is why, at Collingwood, the relationship between the coaches, players, staff, members and fans is clear — we depend on each other.
Long may we lean on one another.
DYSON HEPPELL (Essendon)
Bombers fans know what it’s like to stick fat. For nearly 150 years, there has been nothing quite like the power of the red and black family.
From the jacket waves, to the sounds of the roars as we run up the race. We’ve had many ups and downs. And our members have stuck by us through thick and thin. They are unwavering. They are loyal. They are passionate.
We have such a rich history and we are always striving to make our people proud. We may not be out there at the moment, but we can feel your unreal support from afar.
NAT FYFE (Fremantle)
As AFL players it’s often said we are nothing without our members and supporters.
Even though we were the away team playing at an empty Marvel Stadium in round one, we gained an even greater appreciation and understanding of how important our members and supporters are.
I genuinely struggled in that game against Essendon, without the fans barracking in the stands — for or against us!
The game really is so special because of the passionate support we get.
At Freo, we are longing for the moment when we can run out in front of a packed Perth Stadium, put on a show and, most importantly, thank our members and supporters for making the game as great as it is.
JOEL SELWOOD (Geelong)
I grew up a Geelong supporter, so I know what it’s like to be on the other side of the fence, in the blue and white, riding every bump.
Our members and supporters, and the whole Geelong community, stand beside us, cheer us on in the good times, and pick us up through the bad.
We would be nowhere without you and your support means everything to us.
JARROD WITTS (Gold Coast)
We are only in our 10th season and things haven’t always gone our way, but our fans are loyal. We have stuck together and will enjoy success together.
I can see that the passion for our team and sport is growing all the time on the Gold Coast.
Our fans are the best because of their intense loyalty towards a young club.
I hope everyone is looking after those they care about and are also taking care of themselves.
I know it can be boring and hard, but if we stick to isolation, and do everything we can to remain healthy, footy will be able start up again sooner and we can get back out there on the oval.
STEPHEN CONIGLIO (Greater Western Sydney)
The Orange Army is like nothing the AFL has seen before. We come from a range of backgrounds as diverse as the communities we represent.
Unlike some of our rivals who have over a century of tradition to lean on, we are young and forging our own way — writing our own history every single day.
The players who pull on the jumper know that we have the passionate Giants members right behind us as we build something special together. And as our song says, “we will never surrender”.
BEN STRATTON (Hawthorn)
The brown and gold army are always there for us; proud, loyal and dedicated to the club. We’ve experienced plenty of highs together in recent times, but the best bit about our fans is how they stick with us through the tough times, too.
Hawthorn people know what it’s like to nearly have lost their footy club and we are a stronger family because of that.
We don’t take success for granted and the support our members have shown over the past couple of weeks reiterates why we are the family club.
MAX GAWN (Melbourne)
I have always been taught that through challenging times you see the best and worst in people, and so far, I’ve only seen the best in our supporters. This makes me so confident in where our club will be when we come out the other side of this.
For the best part of six years at the start of my career, I sat in the stands with you. Whether I was injured or couldn’t get a game, I rode every bump with you. Sitting in the Olympic Stand, experiencing the highs and lows of being a Melbourne supporter taught me a lot. I understand how you are feeling.
It’s been tough, but as with any adversity, these times have brought us closer. If we stick together, we will come out of this stronger than ever before.
I am reliably informed that our members have supported us like no other club during the COVID-19 shutdown. You are sticking with us and many of you have bought memberships since games were postponed. I can’t express how proud that makes me and my teammates — you are sticking with us and I love you for that.
JACK ZIEBELL (North Melbourne)
North supporters have always shown unwavering loyalty and passion for our great club, for more than 150 years. Regardless of the situation or fight we’re in, they stick by us with great pride and resilience.
When we’re up, they cheer us loudly.
When we‘re down, they’re the first to lend a hand.
To all those Shinboners out there — whether you’re on the couch or at our games, we feel and appreciate your support. As players, when we pull on the royal blue and white stripes, we know we represent much more than the 22.
We are there to try to give back all that you have given us and continue to give us. If history is anything to go by, it’s time to dig in and fight, like only North Melbourne people can.
TOM JONAS (Port Adelaide)
Our members and supporters are the absolute foundation of our club.
We wouldn’t exist without them.
Our club was formed 150 years ago as a social club for the men and women in the local Port Adelaide district. Our community has always been in our DNA. They forever inspire.
Without our members and supporters we’d be nothing. They’ve driven us to succeed for 150 years. Our members and supporters are the Port Adelaide Football Club.
Our thoughts are with them during this challenging time and we thank them for their incredible support and loyalty. Together, we’ll get through this.
TRENT COTCHIN (Richmond)
We love the mighty Tiger Army. We love nothing more than running on to the MCG and hearing the roar from our fans around the stadium. We can’t wait to experience that again.
We’re grateful to have amazing and ongoing support from our members and supporters.
To them, and everyone else — stay safe and look after loved ones during this time, and we look forward to getting through this challenging period together.
JARRYN GEARY (St Kilda)
The passion and commitment of Saints fans is something special. The club doesn’t hide behind the fact we’ve only won one premiership in our long history and a lot of members have never tasted the ultimate success.
We got close 10 years ago and our fans, like we are, are desperate for that second flag.
We know right now there are more important things in the world than footy, but I also know how much it means to so many.
I honestly can’t wait until we’re running out again with Saints fans in full voice.
I won’t be the only player savouring the feeling at the top of the race.
DANE RAMPE (Sydney)
Sydney Swans members are our footy family. We share highs and lows, and we’re stronger together. This was clearer than ever when we played in an empty stadium in Round 1 — it just wasn’t the same without the fans.
We’re all going through an incredibly challenging time at the moment, not just footy but everyone in the community. What’s been really special is when you do get out for a walk or a run, seeing so many people wearing Swans caps and jumpers. I love the pride and the commitment that represents.
We’ll get through this together and come out stronger on the other side. I speak for everyone in the team in saying we can’t wait to get back out there and do our members proud.
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LUKE SHUEY (West Coast)
G’day West Coast fans, hope you’re all happy and healthy. We really miss you guys at the moment.
We love playing footy in front of you and not being able to do that at the moment is really hard, but we’re looking forward to getting through this as a community and fingers crossed we can see you guys soon and play some footy for you.
MARCUS BONTEMPELLI (Western Bulldogs)
Bulldogs fans know what it’s like to fight and scrap for the club they love.
They’re resilient, full of passion, fiercely protective and as loyal as they come.
When the club was nearly forced into a merger in 1989, it was our fans who refused to let it happen.
We’re facing a different challenge right now, but we’ve seen the same traits come through from the Bulldog clan, as we do our best to beat this virus.
We admire their commitment to our cause and the way they’ve stuck with us, even when things might not be going so well for themselves and their families.
That’s the true Bulldog spirit we know and love.
Originally published as All 18 AFL club captains send messages of thanks and support to their fans