Neutral fans’ guide: Who to barrack for — and against — in the 2018 Grand Final

COLLINGWOOD and West Coast aren’t easy to like. But on Saturday, fans of 16 other clubs have to make a choice. Here’s our guide on who you should dislike least in the big dance.

THERE is no beloved underdog this year.

Two years ago it was easy for footy fans without a team in the Grand Final to pick a side to barrack for as the Bulldogs ended a 62-year flag drought. Last year fans without a dog in the fight were swept up in the momentum of Richmond’s premiership charge, at least for a couple of weeks.

This year we face a dilemma.

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It’s easy to forget given the drama of recent seasons but it’s only eight years since Collingwood last won a premiership. The Eagles’ “drought” is slightly longer, at 12 seasons. Hard to muster the same sympathy we do for our farmers.

There are no shortage of feel-good stories on the field but let’s be honest, hyper-parochial Eagles and Magpies fans don’t make this easier. What’s worse — that “Coll-ing-woooood” chant or the Eagles fan’s booing?

Imagine what a Collingwood premiership would unleash. Picture: Alex Coppel

While we have to respect what West Coast and Collingwood have done this year — both teams were widely tipped to miss the finals and have made it this far despite huge setbacks — it doesn’t mean we like them.

Magpies legend Tony Shaw said yesterday: “You either love us or hate us, but do you hate us more than you hate West Coast? We can turn anybody around to like us, don’t worry about that! We’ll even have Essendon and Carlton fans buying memberships for us.”

Tony, please.

The Grand Final is a lot more fun to watch if you have a dog in the fight. If you don’t have a brother or auntie or friend who you’d like to see enjoy a flag, read on for our suggestions for supporters of the other 16 clubs on who to go for — or against.

Disclaimer: This wasn’t easy. We realise some of these are a bit of a stretch.

ADELAIDE

Best we could find is Crow Mitch McGovern’s brother plays for West Coast, but he’s leaving. Adelaide might have shut down for September anyway.

BRISBANE LIONS

Have you forgiven Nathan Buckley for defecting after one season at the Bears in search of premiership success? Factor in Eddie McGuire’s war against salary cap concessions and how fun it was to beat the Pies in the 2001 and 2002 Grand Finals and this is an easy call. All aboard the Elliot Yeo train.

CARLTON

We’re talking about Collingwood here. Wear blue and yellow all week.

ESSENDON

This is tough. Anzac Day enemy or the team that inspired Kevin Sheedy’s jacket wave and his infamous throat-slitting gesture to Mitchell White in 2000? The master coach held White responsible for felling Mark Johnson behind play, although he later claimed a seagull had flown into Johnson’s eye. The Bombers and the Eagles don’t get along but there is just too much history against the team that embarrassed Essendon on Grand Final day in 1990. Do you really want to see Tony Shaw with another premiership cup?

Coach Kevin Sheedy gets himself into hot water against the Eagles in 2000.

FREMANTLE

The Eagles are the Dockers’ public enemy No.1. James Clement and Brodie Holland used to be Dockers. Go Pies.

GEELONG

There isn’t a lot of love between the Cats and Pies but this one comes down to Grand Final history. The Cats defeated Collingwood to claim their first flag in 1925 and repeated the dose in 2011. But they still owe West Coast for those painful GF losses in 1992 and 94. Do it for Couchy, Pendles.

John Barnes and his Geelong teammates have bad memories of Eagles Grand Finals.

GWS GIANTS

The Pies knocked GWS out of the finals but you can barrack for ex-Giants Taylor Adams and Adam Treloar. Stephen Coniglio told Adams after the semi-final to “go all the way and win this thing”, so let’s back him in.

GOLD COAST

Collingwood tried to get Tom Lynch and is now circling Steven May. Get lost. Go for Matt Rosa’s old side.

HAWTHORN

West Coast’s is Hawthorn’s Grand Final bunny, on the losing end of Hawks premierships in 1991 and 2015. Let them have one.

MELBOURNE

The scars of last weekend’s prelim final — and Eagle fans booing the defeated Demons — will take a while to heal. Hard to support a traditional rival but the Pies have got behind Freeze MND on Queen’s Birthday. And you wouldn’t have to bump into too many Magpie supporters at Mt Buller.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Adam Simpson is a Kangaroos legend (forget about chicken gate). Carn the Eagles.

Adam Simpson played 306 games for North Melbourne before coaching the Eagles.

PORT ADELAIDE

Jeremy McGovern isn’t too popular around Alberton but there’s no way Port fans can support a team that stole their black and white colours. Carn the Coasters.

RICHMOND

Hard for Tiger fans to get behind the team that ended their back-to-back dream, and is now trying to out-do them for support levels in GF week (good luck). Go for the side that gave you Stevan Jackson, Todd Breman and Ashley Blurton.

ST KILDA

Collingwood broke Saints’ fans hearts in 2010. The Pies have enough flags. Barrack for Jamie Cripps.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire and former Sydney chairman Richard Colless are long-time sparring partners..

SYDNEY

Eddie McGuire, COLA, Anthony Rocca, Jesse White. Carn the Eagles.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Still dirty on West Coast for poaching Mick Malthouse in 1989. Tyson Lane started his career at the Dogs. Go Pies.