In this corporate age of AFL, the process is endearingly old-school. The 15-metre-by-8-metre banner is still made of sticky tape, crepe paper and foil, and is assembled on a basketball court.
Cheer squad members, including the couple’s son, Naythan,Janelle’s sister, Alison Trafford, and great-nephew Liam are working up to 10 hours a day for four days.
Catching up with the fam: (Back) Ian and Janelle Lynch, Janelle’s sister Alison Trafford, and front, Janelle’s son Naythan, left, and Alison’s grandson, Liam working on the banner.Credit: Jason South
While the club’s marketing team write the wording, cheer squad members make the banner’s background, and cut out the paper illustrations, logos and letters and stick them on both sides.
“It’s not really difficult, it’s just time-consuming,” Janelle says.
Sometimes they work until 11pm, ordering take-away food. “There’s no strict production line,” Janelle says. “We just sort of all do what has to be done. Some people might be cutting out words while others are sticking squares of crepe paper down. It just works.”
Some things, like the weather, are out of their control.
Tragedy: Collingwood’s 2018 grand final banner was blown apart by the wind before the players ran through. West Coast won that flag.Credit: Justin McManus
Famously, before the 2018 AFL grand final, a wind gust destroyed Collingwood’s banner at the MCG. “That’s your worst nightmare on any day, let alone on grand final day,” Janelle says.
Once, in the 1980s, the crepe paper on a Lions banner disintegrated in the rain, leaving two poles holding up sticky tape.
Janelle says these days squad members are vigilant about good spelling on their banners.
On Saturday, not for the first time, Janelle will hold one of the ropes holding up the banner on the hallowed MCG.
It’s exciting,” says Janelle, “but it’s nerve-racking, too”.
Ian says making the banner was, and is, a time for “catching up with friends. The little group that you have here is close-knit. You all have a laugh.”
Lions Victorian manager Sam Lord said the cheer squad has “put in countless unpaid hours to make sure our players, and fans, have something to be proud of on game day.
“It is truly a labour of love for them, and we are so grateful for them.”
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