Richmond Tigers fan Dave Clark gives Grand Final ticket to his Crows supporter family

LOYALTIES are divided and the bonds of family will be stretched this week as the Clark household grapples with competing football dreams.

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LOYALTIES are divided and the bonds of family will be stretched this week as the Clark household grapples with competing football dreams.

In one corner is Adelaide Football Club supporters — mother Trish, 50 and youngest daughter Jacqui, 23.

On the other side are Richmond fans, Dave, 57 and eldest daughter Sarah, 27.

The Clark family is at odds — mum Trish and daughter Jacqui are Crows fans, but dad Dave and daughter Sarah are Tigers supporters. Picture: Calum Robertson

Football may be a religion in their household but relationships will be tested this week amid a “difficult dynamic” and a sea of red, blue, black and yellow flags, scarfs and guernseys through their Woodville West family home.

But as their two teams battle for the AFL’s ultimate prize, in a fairytale Grand Final, it is the Crows pair who will be at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after Mr Clark sacrificed his golden ticket.

As the Crows rolled on towards a minor premiership, Mrs Clark, an administrator, last month hedged her bets and bought two corporate tickets for $4300 through North Melbourne Football Club.

It includes attendance at their popular breakfast and two tickets to the game. They will travel on a Crows Supporters Group bus on Thursday night. So, is the cost worth it?

“I bloody hope so, otherwise Dave is not going to let me do anything again,” she joked.

She said she failed to convince her eldest daughter to jump on the Crows bandwagon after her husband “brainwashed” her into supporting his team. “It is very interesting in our house, that is for sure,” she said.

For her storeman husband, his decision to give away his ticket was bittersweet, having never been to a grand final and also having waited 35 years to watch his beloved Tigers fight for another premiership.

“I could have gone with my wife but I doubt either of us would have enjoyed it, to be honest, sitting next to each other,” he laughed.

“I would have loved the opportunity to go to a grand final but I would rather make my daughter happy than myself.

"It is a difficult dynamic, believe me. I have been a Richmond supporter all my life. They are everything to me but to my wife and daughter it is the Crows. It is going to be a tough week.” Jacqui, a school support officer, was “rapt” to be going.

“I am over the moon — my dad has alway been a hero but he is honestly the best. It is such a sacrifice for him,” she said.