Finals fever: Mum Cheryl, son Joseph, 14, and dad Michael Jandesu will be a family divided on Saturday.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The AFL grand final will be a nervous watch for many, but for one Zeerust family loyalties are divided.
The Jandesus will be a family divided come Saturday when Sydney takes on Geelong in the AFL Grand Final at the MCG.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Michael is a Geelong fan, while his wife, Cheryl, and son Joseph, 14, are long-time Sydney supporters.
Outnumbered: Cheryl and son Joseph will be cheering on the Swans while Michael will be supporting the Cats.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
For Mr Jandesu, seeing someone with a Fijian background, in Esava Ratugolea, playing for the Cats persuaded him to barrack for them.
“I just saw Esava, yeah, and the way he played. I mean, they gave him a good go and that but (he has) had injuries and that, but that's the reason I go for them,” Mr Jandesu said.
“Instead of the rugby, the football is more creative, and very, you have to be, you know, fit and balanced and be able to do everything, not just be a battering ram, so it's good to watch.”
Mrs Jandesu is originally from the southern NSW town of Deniliquin and barracked for St Kilda, but once she moved to Sydney for university, she changed alliances to the Swans.
Excited: The family will gather around the TV to watch the game, with a big party planned.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“I'm from Deni, so I was always a St Kilda supporter, and when I moved to Sydney for uni, I thought if I live in NSW, I'd better go for NSW,” Mrs Jandesu said.
She said she and her mum had been members for almost a decade and tried to go to Melbourne to watch as many games as possible.
“So my mum and I became Swans members and have been members for nearly 10 years, so my mum, who's 80, and I, we go to every game in Melbourne — we toddle off, and we'll go to as many games as we can,” she said.
“Leo Barry is from Deni, so we're big supporters there.”
Mrs Jandesu convinced Joseph to barrack for the Swans, and he is also excited for the biggest game of the year.
Mrs Jandesu's extended family are Essendon fans, but that doesn’t faze either her or her husband.
“My Dad passed this year,” Mrs Jandesu said.
“We all made our ceremonial pilgrimage to Melbourne to see Sydney and Essendon play for my dad. So that was pretty cool, but I love the Swans,” she said.
On the day, they will have a family gathering in Zeerust to celebrate the occasion, with the mood to remain upbeat no matter which team prevails.
“We've got seven kids, and most of them will come to our grand final party every year regardless of who's playing,” Mrs Jandesu said.
She said she would be pleased if the Swans and star forward Buddy Franklin raised the premiership cup, but wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t.
“So I yeah, I'd like them to,” she said.
“I think it'd be lovely for Buddy to finish his career just in a respectful way ... I think it'd be good for the sport and Buddy.
Great expectations: Cheryl is hopeful of seeing Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin lift the cup on Saturday. (AAP Image/Linda Higginson)
Photo by
LINDA HIGGINSON
“But if Geelong do, then I think it'd be perfect for Joel (Selwood) and Paddy (Dangerfield) and some of the older players to finish their careers with a premiership too.”
