The final Saturday in September saw Greek Australian Saints and Magpies fans succumbed to footy fever.
I’ll be having withdrawal symptoms with no footy. If we win I’ll watch the match all summer long.
While we’ll have to wait another week for a winner, we spoke to four football fanatics in the lead up to Saturday’s historic drawn Grand Final.
Die-hard Collingwood fan, Rita Krouskos, of Melbourne, was ecstatic when we spoke to her on Thursday, about nabbing tickets for the drawn match.
“I just got tickets, I’m so excited, this will be the first grand final I’ve been to,” the 26 year old said.
Tipping the Pies to take out the premiership, Ms Krouskos said if her team wins she’ll be watching the replays all summer.
“I’ll be having withdrawal symptoms with no footy. If we win I’ll watch the match all summer long,” she said.
Ms Krouskos, who always hangs her Collingwood scarf in the same place at home, said she’s not as superstitious as her younger sister, who carries an old football jumper from traded Collingwood player Chris Tarrant in her bag when she goes to matches.
Collingwood winning would mean “everything” to Ms Krouskos.
“It’s so exciting, I feel like the town is going to party so hard if we win,” she said.
Sports fanatic James Belias has been a Collingwood fan since birth.
“You’re born into Collingwood, you don’t choose,” he said.
Mr Belias was quietly confident about Saturday’s game, but said he is keeping the lid on tight.
“If we won it would be a relief after many, many years of frustration, a few near misses and an incredible amount of bashing from rival fans,” Mr Belias said.
Saints supporter, Tania Wilson, who has been barracking for the Saints since she was 15 years old, was quietly confident about Saturday’s match.
“I always feel you can’t speak too soon. I think the weather’s going to be okay and I’m quietly confident for the Saints,” she said.
Ms Wilson, who hosted a Grand Final day party at her home in Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs on Saturday, said she’s found the Saints always win when she attends the games.
“That worries me because I’m not going this year,” she joked.
“I was one year old when St Kilda won their last premiership…I think it’s about time we won again, without a doubt,” she said, adding that if the Saints take out the premiership there’s sure to be parties on the street, especially in Melbourne’s East.
Fellow St Kilda supporter, Tom Kyritsis, of Melbourne, will be attending today’s match at the MCG and tensions are running high.
“We’re still feeling the disappointment from losing 12 months ago. This will provide us with enough hunger and motivation to get over the line this year,” Mr Kyritsis said, adding that he’s hopeful and confident the Saints could be this year’s premiers.
