Sports is supposed to be about friendly social based competition and good cheer afterwards,
regardless of who won, or who 'came second'.
Well, it was pretty much so, even in the big smoke, once..
AFAICT it's become a looney fanaticism,
barracking and supporting suspected (and caught) drug cheats
playing perhaps/maybe rigged games, depending on how the betting sits amongst the big punters and bookies, via numerous rumors
Supporting interstate teams against ones local teams should be classed as 'Sporting Treason'
and if caught and sentenced, offenders serve their time as weekend house detention
and fwiw, if there are extreme "foam at the mouth" about Oscilloscopes!" members here
I'd rather follow their play, and catch something I can use with my oscilloscope/s
The problem with AFL & NRL are that they are both extended State competitions.
The old VFL, for instance, had a lot of "cross town" rivals, who were very passionate about their little patch of Melbourne, & let's face it, Melbourne was seriously boring back in the day, so it gave them something to be passionate about.
When the AFL was formed, all the old suburban clubs were "grandfathered" into it, with all their followers.
The WAFL didn't get to do that, & new clubs especially for the AFL were formed.
The sorta got Port Adelaide into the comp, but the connection between the original club & the AFL is tenuous.
In WA, the crosstown rivalry between the Dockers & Eagles is intense, & the Umpires are abused by both sides in a Derby, but supporters of both teams travel by train to & from the game, mix at the stadium, all quite amiably.
The same thing happens with supporters of the Perth Glory & the Interstate teams they play.
I wonder if this is because they don't have a century or so of history, but I never noticed any "aggro" with the WAFL, either.
Re "sporting traitors".Before the advent of the AFL, the VFL games were shown on TV in WA, & many people picked a team to follow.
This continued, & you still have Hawthorn, Essendon, & so on, followed by some in this State.
People don't live forever in one State, so someone from Sydney, now in Melbourne, may have worked in WA, been introduced to both the AFL & the "A League" in that city, & so follows the Eagles & the Perth Glory, whilst in the NRL still staying loyal to the "Rabbitohs".
Even people who have never left Melbourne may follow interstate clubs.
What do you do if you were a Fitzroy supporter?
Change allegiance to one of the other teams you have opposed for years, or stay with the Lions, even if they've moved across the country?
Re Vomit. & disgusting toiletsPlenty of spilt drinks, dropped pies & other crud, but vomit was notable for its absence.
I have been to many games at the venerable Subiaco Oval, & yes, the "Dunnies" were old, & crowded, but
"disgusting"?
I have been around the traps for a long time, & have seen disgusting toilets, but these were not them!
I honestly can't see the harm in sports fans, & if they only give you the opportunity to feel superior, they have surely achieved something!