Footy fans hit Twitter for the best view from any seat

The excitement of the #AFLFinals and #NRLFinals is here again. With footy fans hungry to get close to their clubs as they strive for the biggest prizes, Twitter is the place to be so they don’t miss a thing.

To see how these fans use Twitter to support their club, we talked to a selection of die-hards from the ranks of @AFL and @NRL supporters. Here’s what they told us:

Gareth: @NRL_Bulldogs fan

Twitter really has reignited my love for NRL. I really feel like I am now more connected to the Bulldogs and their fans because of Twitter. I have been invited to go behind the scenes at three Bulldogs home games, I’ve met players and staff and have attended a members forum fronted by the (now ex) Bulldogs CEO, all because of Twitter. It has even turned me from a fan to a three year (and counting) member.

I follow a lot of NRL fans, as well as official NRL accounts and some non official NRL accounts. There would be too many to list individually but I guess the main big ones would be @NRL_Bulldogs, @NRL and the Triple MMM accounts.

I follow other fans to get their insights into what is happening. It is easy to miss things especially when you are at the game. I enjoy reading other fans’ assessments on how players perform.

As for official accounts, I like following them particularly when I cannot watch a game so I can get some updates on scores.

During games I generally put stuff out there quickly and go back to watching, unless something huge happens, then I may throw a few replies in to other fans or official accounts.

The best thing about using Twitter during games is you feel more connected to the game and the other fans. It lets you get your thoughts and opinions out there in a way that was not previously possible.

I Tweet a lot more when I am watching on TV than when I am at a game because you feel a bit disconnected sitting in your lounge room. Tweeting makes you feel like you are at the game surrounded by your fellow fans.

Twitter really has reignited my love for NRL. I really feel like I am now more connected to the Bulldogs and their fans because of Twitter. — Gareth

Luke: @HawthornFC fan

On Twitter I follow Hawthorn, AFL, player accounts, other Hawks supporters and the Herald Sun.

If I can’t watch the game then Twitter is great for giving me updates and hearing what other people are saying about the games. It’s a good way to keep up with other fans’ opinions and what they are talking about. Others opinions of the games is also good to hear and discuss.

During most games I’ll mostly chat to other Hawks supporters about the game on Twitter because it’s the quickest way to start a quick conversation about the game.

The great thing about Twitter and footy is that it lets you go behind the scenes to get to know the players better and learn more about the game from other families. And if it’s a boring game, you can find things to make the game more exciting on Twitter!

The great thing about Twitter and footy is that it lets you go behind the scenes to get to know the players better and learn more about the game. — Luke 

Josh: @Wests_Tigers fan

I attend most @West_Tigers games and I use Twitter to not only voice my opinion, but to also get updates on things like statistics, injury updates and Tweets about other games that may be happening at the same time. I’ll pretty much talk to any @West_Tigers fan, but I mostly chat to @NothingbutWT and @AzSportZa during a game.

You just get more out of the game with Twitter. Whether you’re watching it on TV or you’re at the game, you want to know what’s happening and is being said with everything to do with the game.

It’s also a great way to entertain yourself during the ads! But I just like to see if other fans share similar opinions to me. The Tigers might appear to me to have been given a bad call by the ref, so I’d like to know if others agree!

Twitter has changed the way I watch games. I always have my iPhone in my hand during the games on TV. I try and keep it in my pocket when I’m at the game though as it sometimes can be a distraction getting Tweets from mates who support other teams giving me stick!

You just get more out of the game with Twitter. — Josh

Michael: @GeelongCats fan

I follow loads of accounts during games, like the official accounts of the Cats and @AFL, media and journalists, my favourite players, Super Coach and of course my friends and a number of Twitter people who have an interest in football.

While Twitter is good during games, for me it’s really great for following football all through the week. I get loads of info from Twitter, like news, opinion, the state of the game, insider insight, and for laughs as well. And it gives me something to do at quarter time!

During games I mostly talk to friends on Twitter, as well as people who’ve replied to something I’ve Tweeted with a hashtag, and sometimes the journos of the official accounts.

The best thing during games is the immediate feedback with other Twitter users, like marvelling at a great goal, or ranting about a poor umpiring decision; predicting where the game is going, or why it’s being won or lost.

I’m lucky that my wife is very interested in footy, but for people who are alone, or travelling, are the only one interested or unable to get to games, it’s fantastic. It connects them to the rest of the footy community even if they can’t get to the ground. It isn’t just commentators broadcasting it to them in one direction. But they can be heard, and involved.

The best thing during games is the immediate feedback with other Twitter users, like marvelling at a great goal, or ranting about a poor umpiring decision. — Michael

When I’m at a game, Twitter is really handy for immediately plugging in to what’s happened on ground that wasn’t visible, like how badly injured is that guy, is it who I think it was, or do others think that bump was as dodgy as it looked to me.