Cats vs Pies

[deird1]

I feel like a traitor: for the first time in my life, I will not be barracking for my footy team.

It's the Grand Final today, and the two teams are:
Collingwood (my team)
and
Geelong (my family team)

Generally, I support Geelong unless they're playing Collingwood - in which case I'm a die-hard Pies supporter. Carn Pies!

Today, though, is different. You see, Collingwood won the Grand Final last year. And Geelong hasn't won it for a while. It is, strictly speaking, Geelong's turn.

Plus - if Collingwood wins, I'll be happy. If Geelong wins, I'll also be happy. But if Geelong wins, my grandmother and my nephew will both be thrilled.


So... go Cats! Woo!

Comments

[guy-who-reads.blogspot.com]

speaking of cultural confusion...

[deird1]

Heh. Good point. Any particular bit that requires further info?

[guy-who-reads.blogspot.com]

Ummm... So, I'm assuming that it's a reference to Australian Rules Football, yes? What is barracking? What is the significance of the nicknames?

[deird1]

Aussie Rules, yes.

Barracking means supporting your team ("rooting" would be obscene, down here).

Every team has a location ("Collingwood", "Geelong", "Melbourne", "West Coast") and a team name ("Cats", "Demons", "Swans", "Bombers", "Magpies").

The two Grand Final teams this year were the Geelong Cats, and the Collingwood Magpies.

[guy-who-reads.blogspot.com]

Everything is clear now. Thanks!

Except, why barracking? I get what it is, but what's the etemology?

[deird1]

Etymology unknown: most of my sources are either silent, or just say it's "of North-Irish origin" and leave it at that.

Interestingly, "barrack" in Britain and "barrack" in Australasia are almost exact opposites: here, it's friendly cheering on of someone you support; there, it's jeering and taunting someone you dislike.

[guy-who-reads.blogspot.com]

Language is infinitely fascinating, isn't it?