Troubles in the Terrace

Embarrassing.

That’s all Saturday night’s incidents within the North End of Aami Park can be described as. The abandonment by leadership of the North Terrace Collective, or at the least certain factions of it, has been well documented and can be read about from their official statement here. The club initiated the process of implementing new leaders to run active support in the North End and on Saturday, megaphones and drums reappeared in an attempt to recreate the league-famous atmosphere of many years past.

It didn’t take long to get ugly however. A minority of the terrace, consisting of some former terrace leaders and those against any new regime in the North End active area who were mostly seated in the back rows of the middle bay, began booing down at the remainder of the active fans from rows in front. Chants such as “Sit down, shut up” and “Sellouts, Sellouts” along with chorus’ of booing were clearly audible throughout the stadium upon the commencement of any Victory song.

Of course, this kind of toxicity is going to sap any kind of buzz the terrace could muster. A mixture of frustration and confusion was visible on mostly everyone’s faces from those attempting to get behind the team, a frustration which eventually boiled over in the second half as some decided to respond back to the self-proclaimed ‘back row hooligans’.

It’s an ugly look that will turn people away from the North End, turn people away from Melbourne Victory and turn people away from the A-League and football altogether. The code and sport already has to deal with a negative social stigma, over-policing and agenda-driven drivel disguised as news from a lot of mainstream media; this is the last thing Melbourne football needs. It is night and day the difference in the active support between the 14/15 title winning season euphoria and harmony between fans and the now infighting and sabotage of any support for the team, and honestly, it’s a bloody disgrace.

The support of the 11 on the pitch should always be the priority of active support, but instead selfish values and the need for attention from a minority took the shine off what should have been a welcome return to a loud and vibrant North End, to match a terrific on field performance by the boys in blue.

The ‘booing’ crowd are opposed to North End leadership being chosen by and run with support from the club. They expect an independent group to carry on the traditions of leadership past and hold true the previous values. This is however an idealistic way at looking at the situation; self indulgent in nature to expect things to forever be run in a particular way. Though some small factions of the NTC (North Terrace Collective) may still exist, the North Terrace statement posted to social media linked above clearly states that all previous leadership of the North Terrace would cease to exist, stating simply “it’s over”.

This saddened many, including those now putting their hand up to organise support in a re-vamped North End. Everyone appreciated the hard work and years of dedication put in by those who have recently decided to part ways with active support, and with very good reason, however from making this decision they are in no place to have demands as to how things go in the future. If I quit my job, am I able to demand that the person hired to replace me does things in a certain way?

I understand that these people are disgruntled that leadership may have been appointed by the club, or created in association with the backing of the Victory, but the alternative at the moment is nothing, no active support, no atmosphere. These are people who just want to get with their mates and sing for a team that they love and have put themselves into an unfamiliar position, to only get abused and booed from fellow ‘fans’.

It is okay to have a difference of opinion. It is okay to disagree with a certain way things are being done. It is perfectly okay to choose to walk away from active support due fears of security and harassment by authorities. To actively boo and tell fans of your own team to “shut up” and call them “sellouts” however is flat out disgusting, self-indulgent and born out of a superiority complex to constantly have attention. The ring to sing songs and use chants from the terrace belongs to everyone who has been a part of active support in Melbourne over the last decade and change, it is not intellectual property of a handful who have decided that enough is enough for them, and so must be enough for everyone else. No one should take away the ability to support your football side for 90 minutes every week, it is what makes our game special and separates it from the norm.

Friday night’s round-opener at Aami Park against Perth will prove as another test in the North Terrace’s story of struggles, usually against the FFA or the authorities but now in the latest chapter, seemingly, against itself and confusion between the past and the future. I hope that many will use common sense and realise that, while it is okay to disagree with the new direction of the active support or specifics of how it is being lead, shouting down your own side’s fans is criminally unacceptable. As a lifetime fan of the club, I hope to never have to battle supporters of my own team to get behind the boys in blue on the park.

Image via www.melbournevictory.net

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