Eels Fans - the Emotional Investment - Eels Blogs

The last 36 hours have been something of a rarity for me. I've actually found it difficult to put my thoughts into words. Sure, I've vented through text messages to a few mates. The family has had to listen to my yelling and my moaning. What sort of fan wouldn't be venting in some way after that loss? But I always make a concerted effort to be logical in my blogs, and to be honest logic has been an elusive thought process to find.Then in a text exchange with a mate yesterday, the lightbulb suddenly went off in my head. He highlighted his emotional investment in our club over the last 30 years. His comment then put the sentiments of others into context. "Gutted" was a common word that I read or heard being used by friends. It aptly described the tearing out of a great feeling inside you to leave a sensation of emptiness, of finding it hard to explain what went wrong.This turned my thinking around. I'm going to allow myself to feel this loss the way that I am. I'm a dedicated fan of the Parramatta Eels and that loss hurt. I invest my time in watching these blokes train and play, and that loss hurt. I wear my team colours and that loss hurt. I write blogs in my support of the Eels and that loss hurt. I have emotionally invested in this club since I was a small child. They have been a central part of my life for 50years and that loss hurt.As true fans of the club, we are all hurting. We express it in our own way.Yet as surely as I experience the gut wrenching emotions of this last loss, I'll be throwing my support behind the team again this week.I guess that's the role that we play as fans. We get to vent. To ride with our emotions. We are the constant in that ever changing world of a rugby league club.As fans, we don't find the solutions, although we are entitled to our opinions. The players and coaches are charged with finding the solution to the losses. After 30 years, turning our fortunes around will not be an easy task. If I tossed and turned all night on Monday, I can only imagine how they felt!My faith, my logic tells me that we are on the right path. I do believe in the people in charge. Though, for the time being, my heart has taken a bit of a beating.Footnote: the younger brother DK Eel wrote a great blog that examined the loss in a logical manner. I really couldn't write better than that.

"i follow Tony Priddle on Linked in, he has some very good articles on taking ownership.
im looking forward to seeing how our playing group rebound over next couple of weeks."

"We need to own our poor performance, and bounce back.
But I wouldn't let officiating off the hook — they are also accountable for their performance.
"

Replies

the daniel June 10, 2015 at 11:04am

I have done my best to avoid any reminiscing about the game, being in a heavy exam period helps with that. We have potential and that keeps me going. In years gone by we would have not even shown what we did in the first 50, we shouldn't have thrown it away. But keep the heads up, and take it out on the storm.
- sixtiesboy > the daniel June 10, 2015 at 11:14am
  
  I'm with you to an extent. Writing this has helped somewhat.
slip June 10, 2015 at 11:13am

I was great reliving such an emotional event *sarcasm*
- FME > slip June 10, 2015 at 12:20pm
  
  Salt into the wound with this pic slip. Ouch!!!
- The Offside Eel > slip June 10, 2015 at 1:56pm
  
  Don't now some people will be on suicide watch
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 June 10, 2015 at 11:52am

I won't be throwing my support behind Chris Sandow. For mine he gave up on too many plays on Monday night. One in particular - late in the second half, he made a tackle on Taumou and jogged into marker and made absolutely no attempt to tackle the dummy half ( Morgan) who sprinted 40 meters and the Cowboys scored on the next play.

Sandow can go now as far as I'm concerned. At least Kelly will give 100%.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 June 10, 2015 at 12:27pm
  
  Your a good man miatch. ;-)
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 June 10, 2015 at 4:48pm
  
  I I like Sandow and wish him all the best.
FME June 10, 2015 at 11:54am

Yep. Gotta just dust ourselves off and go again this weekend. What else can we do?
- Richard Jackson > FME June 10, 2015 at 12:59pm
  
  Do what I do FME, go to ground, by-pass any media, and lose yourself in any other interests until Thursday.
  
  Then a little less bruised and gaining strength hourly, look for the positives, any positives what so ever and
  
  regain that Parra spirit that we all gain before the next game.
  
  And there are some. We may be losing regularly, but by the smallest of margins, and showing for long periods
  
  we are a improving side and that provides me with enough to kick high and follow thru.
  
  As well, the knowledge that we'll finally turn the corner and return to our winning way sustains me and then
  
  we can hand out a large quantity of payback to a few people.
  
  Go the Eels, I feel stronger already.

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