The last game I went to was the Parramatta game in Round 9, I took my 8 y.o. mad Bulldogs supporting daughter. As we are both Country Members, we only get to sit in GA, but would have loved to sit with the Army. During this game, there was a group of young bulldog supporters underneath the big screen, not all that far away from us. Most of the game they were banging their drum, singing chants etc. generally being well behaved supporters. Midway through the second half, something changed in their demeanour and were getting a little more aggressive in their support (swearing, yelling etc). Security came and it escalated, so the police also came, and it escalated more. Some of the supporters were taken away, others did runners, some just stayed put. My daughter didn't understand why they were being "Naughty" in the first place.
Then came the train ride back to Lidcome. I'm glad we were wearing bulldogs gear. On the train there was a couple of parra fans and they were copping all types of abuse. I have no trouble with a good hearted ribbing at the expense of the losing team (and am happy to cop good hearted ribbing back when we lose too), but this was a little over the top. I was a really uncomfortable experience for me and my young daughter. It just takes one, and the rest of the mob seems to think it is ok to join in. It wasn't all bad though, there was a pair of young boys sitting across from us who we had a good talk with about the game and where we had travelled from. My daughter was happy that we had made "Friends" on the train, but upset by all the swearing by Bulldog supporters.
I would be reluctant to take her on the train again, but being from country NSW, don't know the area well enough to park at the ground. I'll have to do a little more preparation next time.
As far as the OP's poll goes, I don't know if "They" mean the Media, or the supporters themselves, so I haven't voted.
