For many members, club colours run deep.

Central Victorian Demons co-president James Everist's family connection with Melbourne could be charted back to the days before the Victorian Football League began.

"My family were members of the MCC, probably in the 1870s and 1880s," he said.

"So basically there was no choice in my family. You are a Melbourne supporter."

The Bendigo and District Collingwood Supporters Club president John Hewitt followed the same team his father barracked for.

"I know everyone who is not a supporter hates them (Collingwood), of course. That probably makes you a more passionate supporter," he said.

Mr Hewitt's group planned to gather and drive down to Melbourne for Friday's opening match against Geelong. The bus was fully booked.

His group regularly travelled down to Melbourne for home games.

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For a few years members of the group even travelled to Sydney for away matches. Mr Hewitt still wished they did.

"Every year we went, we won. Some of those times we were far from favourites," he said.

Meanwhile, the CV Demons planned to travel down only a few times, though it encouraged members to attend home games whenever possible.

"We are not as big as other clubs, which might organise a trip to every home game," Mr Everist said.

He group planned to gather throughout the season at the Foundry Hotel Complex to cheer on their beloved Demons, particularly in weeks when the team travelled interstate or its games were aired on Foxtel.

The CV Demons was about more than watching games, Mr Everist said. It also raised funds for the club through auctions and helped sponsor players.

Members sometimes went to Melbourne to host people from overseas, and others who were not familiar with Australian rules football.

"We had a few Indian students last year who we hosted. That's something the Melbourne footy club has been doing to try to build its supporter base," Mr Everist said.

He encouraged any central Victorian supporters who had not heard of the group to get in touch through their website.

Mr Hewitt said there was nothing that defined a keen footy fan, though perhaps if there was it could be the willingness to be there for the downs, as well as the ups.

"It's frustrating at times, of course, when you lose and people have a crack at you. You've got to be able to turn the cheek and laugh about it," he said.

"I don't worry about it too much. Whether the more passionate fans are like that, I don't know.

"I think everyone is the same. They might have a soft spot for other teams - but not Collingwood!"

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