Who Do You Go For?
- Zahli McFarlane
- Sep 16, 2025
- 2 min read
The McFarlanes are a bit footy-mad, like any other Melburnian family. The year I was born, Mum and Dad made a bet, the outcome would determine the team I would barrack for. In 2001, Round 12, the Western Bulldogs (Mum’s team) won 94 to 87 against the Geelong Cats (Dad’s Team) at Kardinia Park. This would make me, Zahli, a 5th generation bulldogs fan.
I was outnumbered 4 to 2 in my own family, always one of 5(ish) kids on school footy days and got so used to losing that it genuinely shocked me that the Bulldogs didn’t throw the game in 2016. My siblings and my Dad, however, are Geelong nutters.
My youngest brother, Cas, and Dad will watch every game like their lives depend on it. Dad adjusts his travel plans around the matches, and they both make it a weekly priority. Dad even watches it in the ice bath - sometimes it's not even Geelong playing. Xiara, my younger sister, and Boh, the third child in our family, are also pretty big fans, but they are a little bit more sensible about it.
Despite their dedication to watching every game and having a kick, I wasn’t very interested in the footy growing up. That changed in 2014 when Xiara joined the inaugural Mt Eliza Red Legs Girls team. Nicknamed “The Hoof”, Xiara kicked 7 goals in her first ever game. After watching my sister play, I played my own debut game in the next couple of weeks, despite a serious lack of understanding of the rules.
Since then I have played footy on and off over the next 10 years - which is crazy to say because my ability would say otherwise. Dad has coached Xiara and I twice, and coached Cas for over 5 years. Boh played footy for a bit, but he was more interested in playing in the mud than getting the ball. As much as we love the competition, it has always been more about spending time getting fit and having fun with likeminded people.
That’s why we love footy and the community around it.
This year, Recovery Lab Mornington has supported Mornington Football Netball Club and Mount Eliza Football Netball Club by providing the players group recovery sessions throughout the year. We believe that regular recovery not only improves athletic performance, but provides positive team experiences, promotes healthy habits and improves mental wellbeing. It is proven by the professionals time and time again, especially as AFL finals get closer, that mental and physical recovery is a game changer.
To celebrate the footy finals, we’ll be running a two-for-one deal until the AFL Grand Final. Book the compression boots and ice bath for $30 - usually $55. We will also be open Grand Final Eve and Grand Final Day for limited hours, with all the pre-game entertainment streaming on the tv.
See you in the studio,
Zahli
P.S. Go Cats!
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