MP squawks in Eagles’ nest

Albany MP Peter Watson’s blood is black and white, with the Collingwood fan saying the West Coast Eagles hype ahead of this weekend’s AFL grand final only strengthens his resolve.

Mr Watson, originally from Melbourne, said despite coming from an avid Carlton family, he had been brought into the Magpie nest at an early age.

“The man who used to deliver the wood and ice across the road was a Collingwood supporter,” he said.

“He used to come in when I was in a high chair, pinch me on the cheek and say, ‘Don’t you vote for Carlton like the rest of your family’.

“He bought me a Collingwood guernsey and I’ve been a supporter ever since.”

Mr Watson, who has been alive for four of Collingwood’s 15 VFL/AFL premierships, said supporting a Victorian team while being a WA MP did not make his life much harder — and he enjoyed the banter.

“When Collingwood came down and played the Eagles in one of the pre-season games, I wore all my Collingwood gear around the ground,” he said.

“A couple of times people booed and cheered but it’s good.”

Mr Watson said he did not expect the heckling to stop regardless of which team won the grand final.

“When Collingwood gets beaten everybody lets me know,” he said.

“When they win, no one says anything. You are who you are and I’ve always been a Collingwood supporter.

“I laugh at people who say they used to be Collingwood supporters. If you used to be, you never were.”

Mr Watson tipped the Magpies to win by 17 points and has agreed to publicly endorse the West Coast Eagles should the visitors prevail on Saturday afternoon.