Cheer squad wears loyalty with pride

By Bridget Brady
SIMON Collins believes he has the key to St Kilda’s success this weekend – wearing his long-sleeve T-shirt under his footy jumper.
The avid Saints fan will be upholding a superstition that was born in round 20 when the Cranbourne resident could not find his long-sleeve shirt he wore under his jumper to every game.
It proved to be bad luck for his team, as they lost their first game for the season that round.
The illusive T-shirt was still missing in round 21 when St Kilda suffered their second loss.
Mr Collins, 26, found his top for the last round and the Saints came home with a victory and have not lost since.
So, Mr Collins said there would be no doubt that his long-sleeve T-shirt will be on his back this weekend when he attends the AFL Grand Final with his mother, Judith.
The mother and son duo are members of the St Kilda Football Club cheer squad and have not missed one of their team’s Victorian games this season.
They have both been St Kilda fans for as long as they can remember and are excited about the big game this weekend.
“We’ve been in the cheer squad together for about four years. It’s going to be thrilling,” Ms Collins said.
Her son said he wanted a “blow out”.
“I’m hoping for that but I think it might be a close one. Maybe two goals in it,” he said.
Mr Collins said he enjoyed the exciting atmosphere in the cheer squad that sometimes involved a lot of yelling and screaming.
Ms Collins was only a youngster when St Kilda won their first and only premiership in 1966.
She remembers a kick towards the end of the game to seal a one-point victory for the Saints, but that’s about it.
This weekend, she is hoping to witness and remember a little bit more of her team’s possible second flag.