United in green and black

Aiden, John and Phillip Coumans will be barracking for Western United in the grand final. (Ivan Kemp) 282517_02

Greater Geelong based Western United supporters have been dreaming of green and black this week.

Western United will meet Melbourne City in the A-League grand final at AAMI Park on Saturday night after beating Melbourne Victory 4-2 over two legs in the semi-finals.

It is only United’s third season in the competition.

Western United has played home games at GMHBA Stadium in its three seasons while its Tarneit home base is being built.

St Albans Park youngster John Coumans, 11, was supposed to be on school camp this week, but decided to stay home, fearing he would catch COVID and miss out on attending the game.

“He was supposed to go on camp but there’s been a lot of COVID at school and he was worried about getting it and having to be in isolation and not being able to attend the grand final,” mum Rachael said.

“He made the decision to lay low this week. He was disappointed but we’ve followed Western since the beginning.”

Rachael’s three boys, John, Phillip and Aiden love the atmosphere that The Western Service Crew creates and know all the songs and chants and are more than happy to sit right in the middle of the active supporters group.

“They are absolutely stoked,” she said.

“We were shocked that we won on Saturday but the result was magnificent. We all agreed it was the best game we have been to.”

The boys all play football at Breakwater Eagles and have been welcomed into the green and black family.

“We went to Tassie for the two games they had down there,” Rachael said.

“The players have just been so lovely. In fact the whole club has been amazing.”

Self-confessed “extremely hardcore” supporter Tony Gilson from Corio and his 15-year-old daughter Tash are pumped for the game.

“It’s my daughter’s and my number one passion,” he said.

“I’m very confident that if we play with the same pride and passion we showed against Victory, we will win.

“I’ve been a supporter right from the very start.”