Dozens of members of the Welington Phoenix fan group, Yellow Fever, have flown to Melbourne to support the team in the club's maiden A-League grand final.
The Phoenix women meet Melbourne at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Adam Cooper spoke to Yellow Fever member Ethan Fransen about making the trip over, and how the team plans to cheer the Phoenix to a first trophy in its history.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's the ill Sport Breakfast area. On Wellington's news Talks,
they'd been counting down to Tonight's A League Women's Grand Final,
Phoenix taking on Melbourne City and many would say the
Yellow Fever fan group have been pretty long suffering, but
finally tonight, after nearly two decades, they have the chance
to witness history with the Wellington Phoenix in a Grand final.
(00:20):
They were a key part of the win last week,
Ethan Franz and is a major part of the Yellow
Fevers current incarnation. He's with me now, Ethan, I know
you're over there for the game tonight. Firstly, where did
last week at Potty to a Park rank for you
in terms of the occasion and the scenes you witnessed
as the Phoenix pulled off that victory.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, I think it has to be number one all time, honestly.
The one before it was the men's semi final against
Melbourne victory. You know, hearing the caketin pact and that
atmosphere was electric. But the full time scenes at Pottydor
on Sunday were just incredible. You know, first final over
twenty four seasons as a club, you know, nineteen men's
(01:03):
now five is the woman is something pretty special. So
to be there with an absolutely sold out ground, I
think it's got to go as the top moment in
club history, barring what's going to happen this weekend.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
So now the Phoenix is a way leg. In the
semi final two weeks ago, there was a small group
that allows, but they were small in that semi final
against Brisbane and League One. How are the numbers looking
for Amy Park tonight in terms of the Yellow Fever members,
the chanting, the energy, showing the Phoenix that they've got
your support.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, the supporters are looking. It's going to be quite
a full bay there, so we're pretty happy with that.
There's a good number coming from Wellington heiring and around
the fifty range from Wellington, New Zealand direct, but honestly
there could well be more, but there's so many of
our Melbourne, Sydney, even Brisbane based fans are all making
(01:55):
the trip. So we're looking at we could have a
couple of hundred in the bay there from what it's
sounding right, which is going to be electric and hearing
that we might even outsell the home active of a
great site as well, and I'm.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Tending to a couple of people this week that we're
looking at flight tickets and they just said, you know,
just horrifically expensive. I understand a bit of quick thinking
from you and a few of the Yellow Fever crew
got onto that quite quickly and maybe had less of
a financial burden that it might have been if you
left it to the last minute.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, once we were locked into second in the league,
which was about five weeks ago with the international break
in the three rounds of finals, we knew that second
means we're either hosting the final, playing it away in Melbourne,
or we weren't in it. So you know, the older
fully refundable flights for a hundred thousand dollars and look,
it's not exactly what I call cheap, but definitely cheaper
(02:49):
than what it looks like if you tried to book
it on Monday or Tuesday. But yeah, that always helps,
and then you know, you learn your lesson after other
seasons where your panic at the booking two late. But
nice to I don't have to refund my flight, so
that's always the plus. It's great.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Everyone that was there last week knows you guys were
bloody loud and probably you know it can be credited
with helping that team get those two crucial goals that
saw them through last weekend. How does the volume have
to change when you and the crew are in a
group of fifty heading to a big away game and
what's going to be a big stadium.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, well, we've we've had that a bit at some
of the games at Sky. We've never you know, had
a packed out bay, but I guess the people who
were there, you know, it's similar numbers of chanting people,
because the fever bay was about one hundred and fifty
at podud Or. But I think with what we're looking at,
we could have somewhere in the one hundred hundred and
(03:43):
fifty chanting So and an empty stadium doesn't really matter.
The sound is still travel pretty well, so you'll be
able to hear it around the patch. So everyone's pretty
fired up, and I think the noise and volume will
be pretty pretty good. It might be the first time
in a long time we've had to aren't against another active,
but I have no doubt that we'll definitely be the
(04:05):
ladder active.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah great, what's your prediction? Give us, Give us a score,
Give us a goal scorer for the Phoenix because I mean,
I've got a good feeling they're definitely going to find
the back of the net.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Oh yeah, No one to necessarily put my money where
my mouth is on that one. But oh look, we
have to win it. It's I've got hope and optimism now,
So I'm thinking we're definitely going to score. I wouldn't
put it past City to score as well, So I'm
thinking a two to one or a three to two. Maybe, yeah,
(04:38):
one of None or Woods to get on the score sheet.
They've just been incredible this season, so you wouldn't count
either of them out.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
And just give us a sense of your excitement for this.
Have you slipped during the week? You know, how are
you managing to actually be patient and wait till Saturday
night for kickoff?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Oh look, I was having poor sleeps before the semi
final and now it's not exactly got any better this week. Yeah,
just I've not been sleeping well, but in a good way.
So it's nice to be in this position, you know, say,
at the moment, we don't have these often as a club,
so you're just going to enjoy the stress of it,
(05:16):
I guess absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
And just finally, obviously, the women's team. They have had
some challenges, you know, in their five years. The men's
team this season and the last couple of seasons have
had a fair few challenges as well. How nice has
this reward been too? I think it's fair to say
long suffering Phoenix fans that have stuck with them, like yourself.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah, well, you know, every club goes through it all,
and you know, it reminds us that sometimes we complain
too much about the little things that go on and
at the end of the day, you know, it's good
to come together as all the fans and rarely get
behind and celebrate the success. And especially seeing Wellington as
a whole coming together like we did for the men's
team a couple of seasons ago, seeing them get all
(05:59):
behind it the woman's team is also something really special too.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Bridy Nathan, Well got on you for all your energy
and enthusiasm you've put into sort of running the fever
of late. All the best with the trip this week
and make as much noise as possible on behalf of
all of us that can't make it over and here's
hoping for a good result.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Eh, absolutely will do. Thank you very much for more
from News Talks Ed b listen live on air or online,
and
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio
It's the ill Sport Breakfast area. On Wellington's news Talks,
they'd been counting down to Tonight's A League Women's Grand Final,
Phoenix taking on Melbourne City and many would say the
Yellow Fever fan group have been pretty long suffering, but
finally tonight, after nearly two decades, they have the chance
to witness history with the Wellington Phoenix in a Grand final.
(00:20):
They were a key part of the win last week,
Ethan Franz and is a major part of the Yellow
Fevers current incarnation. He's with me now, Ethan, I know
you're over there for the game tonight. Firstly, where did
last week at Potty to a Park rank for you
in terms of the occasion and the scenes you witnessed
as the Phoenix pulled off that victory.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, I think it has to be number one all time, honestly.
The one before it was the men's semi final against
Melbourne victory. You know, hearing the caketin pact and that
atmosphere was electric. But the full time scenes at Pottydor
on Sunday were just incredible. You know, first final over
twenty four seasons as a club, you know, nineteen men's
(01:03):
now five is the woman is something pretty special. So
to be there with an absolutely sold out ground, I
think it's got to go as the top moment in
club history, barring what's going to happen this weekend.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
So now the Phoenix is a way leg. In the
semi final two weeks ago, there was a small group
that allows, but they were small in that semi final
against Brisbane and League One. How are the numbers looking
for Amy Park tonight in terms of the Yellow Fever members,
the chanting, the energy, showing the Phoenix that they've got
your support.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Well, the supporters are looking. It's going to be quite
a full bay there, so we're pretty happy with that.
There's a good number coming from Wellington heiring and around
the fifty range from Wellington, New Zealand direct, but honestly
there could well be more, but there's so many of
our Melbourne, Sydney, even Brisbane based fans are all making
(01:55):
the trip. So we're looking at we could have a
couple of hundred in the bay there from what it's
sounding right, which is going to be electric and hearing
that we might even outsell the home active of a
great site as well, and I'm.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Tending to a couple of people this week that we're
looking at flight tickets and they just said, you know,
just horrifically expensive. I understand a bit of quick thinking
from you and a few of the Yellow Fever crew
got onto that quite quickly and maybe had less of
a financial burden that it might have been if you
left it to the last minute.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Yeah, once we were locked into second in the league,
which was about five weeks ago with the international break
in the three rounds of finals, we knew that second
means we're either hosting the final, playing it away in Melbourne,
or we weren't in it. So you know, the older
fully refundable flights for a hundred thousand dollars and look,
it's not exactly what I call cheap, but definitely cheaper
(02:49):
than what it looks like if you tried to book
it on Monday or Tuesday. But yeah, that always helps,
and then you know, you learn your lesson after other
seasons where your panic at the booking two late. But
nice to I don't have to refund my flight, so
that's always the plus. It's great.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Everyone that was there last week knows you guys were
bloody loud and probably you know it can be credited
with helping that team get those two crucial goals that
saw them through last weekend. How does the volume have
to change when you and the crew are in a
group of fifty heading to a big away game and
what's going to be a big stadium.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, well, we've we've had that a bit at some
of the games at Sky. We've never you know, had
a packed out bay, but I guess the people who
were there, you know, it's similar numbers of chanting people,
because the fever bay was about one hundred and fifty
at podud Or. But I think with what we're looking at,
we could have somewhere in the one hundred hundred and
(03:43):
fifty chanting So and an empty stadium doesn't really matter.
The sound is still travel pretty well, so you'll be
able to hear it around the patch. So everyone's pretty
fired up, and I think the noise and volume will
be pretty pretty good. It might be the first time
in a long time we've had to aren't against another active,
but I have no doubt that we'll definitely be the
(04:05):
ladder active.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah great, what's your prediction? Give us, Give us a score,
Give us a goal scorer for the Phoenix because I mean,
I've got a good feeling they're definitely going to find
the back of the net.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Oh yeah, No one to necessarily put my money where
my mouth is on that one. But oh look, we
have to win it. It's I've got hope and optimism now,
So I'm thinking we're definitely going to score. I wouldn't
put it past City to score as well, So I'm
thinking a two to one or a three to two. Maybe, yeah,
(04:38):
one of None or Woods to get on the score sheet.
They've just been incredible this season, so you wouldn't count
either of them out.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
And just give us a sense of your excitement for this.
Have you slipped during the week? You know, how are
you managing to actually be patient and wait till Saturday
night for kickoff?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Oh look, I was having poor sleeps before the semi
final and now it's not exactly got any better this week. Yeah,
just I've not been sleeping well, but in a good way.
So it's nice to be in this position, you know, say,
at the moment, we don't have these often as a club,
so you're just going to enjoy the stress of it,
(05:16):
I guess absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
And just finally, obviously, the women's team. They have had
some challenges, you know, in their five years. The men's
team this season and the last couple of seasons have
had a fair few challenges as well. How nice has
this reward been too? I think it's fair to say
long suffering Phoenix fans that have stuck with them, like yourself.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah, well, you know, every club goes through it all,
and you know, it reminds us that sometimes we complain
too much about the little things that go on and
at the end of the day, you know, it's good
to come together as all the fans and rarely get
behind and celebrate the success. And especially seeing Wellington as
a whole coming together like we did for the men's
team a couple of seasons ago, seeing them get all
(05:59):
behind it the woman's team is also something really special too.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Bridy Nathan, Well got on you for all your energy
and enthusiasm you've put into sort of running the fever
of late. All the best with the trip this week
and make as much noise as possible on behalf of
all of us that can't make it over and here's
hoping for a good result.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Eh, absolutely will do. Thank you very much for more
from News Talks Ed b listen live on air or online,
and
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio
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