1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: This is gem Nation with Jones this weekend. Unless you've 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: been under a rock, you'll know it's a Battle of 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: the West too. Of Sydney's biggest teams are going head 4 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: to head now. The Paramatter Eels are chasing their first 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: premiership in thirty six years. And I think we may 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,799 Speaker 1: have tracked down Paramata's biggest fan. His name is Paul Galvin. 7 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: He's sitting in front of us in an eel suit, 8 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: blue and yellow eel shoes. Even Paul, Hello, have you 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: got eels undies on? 10 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: Not yet? 11 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 3: Few the friends do, but I'll pull you up. Don't 12 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 3: say blue and yellow in front of the fans. They'll 13 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 3: get a little bit upset. Blue and gold, blue and gold. 14 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 3: I do apologize right, very specific. 15 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 2: She's a rooster, so you've got to understand that. 16 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: How did your fandom come about? Where did it all start. 17 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 3: Being a fan of Yeah, I just I was just 18 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 3: a young, a young little kid, and I just love football. 19 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 3: Mum brought at the photos the other day when I 20 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 3: was four and stuff, and never one of the toys 21 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 3: or anything. Just the football, the cricket bat and Paramata. 22 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 3: We're kind of amy successful with the When I was 23 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 3: around it in the late seventies. 24 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: Were they your local team? 25 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 3: No. I was born up on the Central Coast, wouln't seeny, 26 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 3: but raised on the Central Coast and didn't move a 27 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 3: Sydney until I was in year eight. But I just 28 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 3: everyone had a team. I've said, for a case, everyone 29 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 3: kind of went for a Balmain or a Cannabury or Paramatta. 30 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 3: They were the three teams that everyone went for, and 31 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 3: a little rivalry into the old school yard and the 32 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 3: old footy cards and yeah flicks and things like that. 33 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 3: So it became like that. So but I was one 34 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 3: of the only ones that seemed to watch it every week, 35 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 3: sit down and actually watch it as a young child 36 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 3: and grew from there. 37 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 2: I could so relate with you when that picture of 38 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 2: you going viral just breaking down when the guys ended 39 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 2: up going into the Grand Final. That realization that happened 40 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 2: for me with the Sharks, and I remember when they 41 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 2: that that time when they went into the and my 42 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: daughter said to me, you're crying, and I said, the 43 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 2: Sharks are in the Grand Final. It's gonna happen. And 44 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 2: it didn't even matter if at that point if they 45 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: were going to win the Grand Final or not. Just 46 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 2: that emotion, So I totally get what you were about. 47 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 3: It was it's been a while, win a few days 48 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 3: like it all built up. So I've got a lot 49 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 3: of roosters. Most of my friends are Roosters fans, and 50 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 3: they always say to me, Paul, we win prelims like 51 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 3: you change underwear. They just they do it for they 52 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 3: do it for a living. But you know, for us, 53 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 3: it's a lot many years. And it's in thirteen years 54 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 3: since our last prelim win, and you think, oh, it's 55 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 3: gonna happen again, no worries, and then you think, oh, no, 56 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 3: next thing. They I've had three wooden spoons and it's 57 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:25,679 Speaker 3: getting worse and worse, and think, how are we going to? 58 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 3: Am I going to get out of here? I just 59 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 3: want to get on with the I just want to 60 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 3: win it and then get on with the rest of 61 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 3: my life. But that the other night, it just got 62 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 3: to me. It built and because I've said a few people, 63 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 3: the game was in Townsville, which was it's unfortunate for 64 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 3: parafans because they didn't you know, they put up the flights, 65 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 3: there was no accommodation. A week before Parade even made 66 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 3: the game, and I just happened to go through the 67 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 3: drawer and do all the sums in that a few 68 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 3: weeks earlier and try and do all that. I bet it. 69 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 3: I said to my wife, I've got I've got a 70 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 3: book this it's just in case we go to Townsville. 71 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 3: I don't want to miss it and just take the 72 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: risk in it. It ends up that way, and the 73 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 3: emotion built up because my wife and my friends they 74 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 3: come to me with every game, and you know, the 75 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 3: wife wasn't by my side, and we made it and 76 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 3: it was one of the biggest wins, and I just 77 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 3: lost it. 78 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's no you don't have to justify it. That's 79 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 2: I totally get that. 80 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:14,119 Speaker 3: I so get. 81 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: And in the darkest days where there were wooden spoons 82 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: year after year, do you still hung on? There's no 83 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: question of not hanging on. 84 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,239 Speaker 3: That's where people look at you the most and say, 85 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 3: what are you doing. I'm sitting in a hotel room 86 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 3: after a forty point loss in say Brisbane, waiting for 87 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 3: a flight that's been delayed to come home, but I 88 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 3: I just can't miss it. Yeah, I just I just 89 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 3: need I need to be there, and I think I 90 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 3: think I'm I can't control the result, but I feel 91 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 3: like I'm part of the result if I'm there. 92 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course, yeah, exactly that. But that's what being 93 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 2: a fan is all about, and you're doing it. 94 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: What's the most extreme thing you've done as a paramounta fan? 95 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: What's the thing where people will go, wow, you went 96 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: to great lengths or you or something bizarre or or expensive. 97 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 2: Say flying to Townsville just to go to Townsville, which 98 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 2: is a reputed. 99 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: Shithole the people of Townsville. Have you been there? Y? 100 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 2: I spent a week there one afternoon, so the fact 101 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 2: that you flew there dressed in blue and gold speaks 102 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 2: volumes to me. 103 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 3: Oh yeah. We walked in a couple of local pubs 104 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 3: up there, just my friend and friend Tim, and it 105 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 3: was just locals, all decked out and cowboys, and oh 106 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 3: I was a little bit worried that yeous. There were 107 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 3: some altercations, but they're freely bunch and they're nice and relaxed, 108 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 3: and they made us feel pretty welcome. They didn't give 109 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 3: us a chance like most of the people in the world, 110 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 3: but there was two little guys up there in blue 111 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 3: and gold who thought, hey, we could really rock this down. 112 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 2: So mate, your prediction for this weekend. 113 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:47,039 Speaker 1: I wonder who are you going for? 114 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 2: Do you think it's going to be hard for Paramatta? 115 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 2: But Paramatta need to win this and that's something that 116 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 2: the Sharks too. Well, the Sharks when they took on 117 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: the Storm. When you look at that game that was 118 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 2: fourteen twelve, that's that's nuts. Again, it's the storm, you know, 119 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 2: and there was there was another minute in that game 120 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 2: they wouldn't have won that. So that's what wins the 121 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: Grand Final. So I believe Paramata can do this. Do 122 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 2: you you would feel that. 123 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, when the Sharks won and I knew I 124 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 3: was the longest drout. Again, it's going to come down 125 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 3: to some moments. It'll just be some moments. Hopefully it's 126 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 3: you know, moments that we just think of it twenty 127 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 3: years later. And I just as I've said to a 128 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 3: lot of people this week, I never thought that a 129 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,799 Speaker 3: score and a scoreboard could change my life going forward. 130 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 3: I'd probably just be a completely different person, just just 131 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 3: to get that relief out of the way. But I 132 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 3: I just saw the players after the other night. They 133 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 3: just didn't get no fan fair just walked off. Thought 134 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 3: job's not done. I've seen that in the past. But 135 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 3: I've got to be excited, and I really think I 136 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 3: thin't care if it's a one point win, twenty point win, 137 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 3: thirty point win. I just want that clock to count 138 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:52,160 Speaker 3: down the ten seconds and then it'll be more relief 139 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 3: than excitement. 140 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, you can get on with your life, Paul, that's 141 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 2: what happens. 142 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 3: My life is praying. 143 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: Please, we're all bleeding blue and gold here, Paul Galvin, 144 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 2: thank you for joining us, and good luck. 145 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 3: It's a pleasure meeting you both, and go your wheels.