Ash Bourke will cheer on the Saints at this weekend’s grand final and mad Collingwood fan Chloe Hicks, 2, is set to back the Pies, with Ash’s sisters Lauren and Maddy and their dogs Milly and Bambi also getting into the football spirit. 53718 Picture: Kim Cartmell
By Kelly Yates
BERWICK’S Ash Bourke believes she is the biggest Saints fan in the country.
The 21-year-old is gearing up for this weekend’s grand final clash between St Kilda and Collingwood.
Tension and competitive rivalry is running high in the Bourke household this week, with Ash, her mother Linda and youngest sister Maddy all backing the mighty Saints while her father Stephen and eldest sister Lauren are hoping the Pies will get across the line.
“We can’t even talk about it,” Ash said.
“We haven’t decorated our house this year as I refuse to live in a place with Collingwood colours.”
Football fever runs in the family, with Ash’s two-year-old cousin Chloe already singing and clapping to the Collingwood chants.
Ash, who has been barracking for St Kilda since she was born, said she was still coming to terms with the Saints loss at last year’s grand final.
She described it as the best and worst times in her life.
“It’s taken me a year to get over it,” she said.
“This time last year, in the week of the grand final, it was the best week of my life. Then when they lost the grand final it turned into the worst week of my life.”
Ash is all about superstition when it comes to her beloved AFL team.
“I’m not wearing anything I wore to last year’s grand final,” she said.
“I got a new jumper for this year’s season. I wore it to last week’s game and will wear exactly the same clothes again this weekend.”
Ash doesn’t have a favourite St Kilda player, saying she loves them all.
“I know everything about them. They are my religion,” she said.
