Local superheroes Brumbies Man and Brumbies Boy have called on Canberrans to rally behind their rugby team as they prepare for a grand-final rematch with the Waikato Chiefs this weekend.
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The father-and-son team, who have become a regular feature at home games for three seasons, proved to be a good luck charm for the Brumbies clash with the Western Force when they sat on the bench and in the press box.
“Expect this weekend's match to be revenge for last year’s final as the boys are playing the Chiefs, so all those people who couldn’t get over to New Zealand should come and watch it,” said Brumbies Man.
“It’s going to be sunny and 12 degrees and sunny on Saturday so you can’t get a better day to get out and watch some cracking football,” he said.
Brumbies Man, otherwise known as Trevor Hancock from Holder, has supported the Brumbies since the team formed back in 1996 but first lent his supernatural powers of enthusiasm to the Wallabies.
“I used to dress up in costume for the Wallabies' games and won 'fan of the year' back in 2005,” he said.
"I eventually decided to dress up for the Brumbies' games and in 2011 Brumbies Man made his first appearance in the suit."
Brumbies Man said sitting on the bench with the players was one of the greatest experiences of his life.
“You wouldn’t believe how loud the sound is when the players' bodies hit each other,” he said. “The best bit was when the players came off and I got to feel a part of their enjoyment," he said.
Brumbies man said the experience made him realise just how important it was for the players to have a good support base during home games.
“I was getting goose bumps and chills down my spine when the boys were on the attack as you could just feel the enthusiasm of the crowd,” he said.
"Brumbies Boy really loved being in the press box and I don't think I've ever seen him tweet as much as he did that night while engaging and sharing information in the box," he said.
Brumbies Man said his costume, which he designed and tailored himself, wasn’t easy to make or duplicate, especially for smaller-bodied superheroes.
“Yeah, it cost me a little bit to be honest,” he said.
The caped-crusader started off with a full-body lycra suit, added some shoulder pads, hand-painted a ‘super Brumbies’ logo on the front, and then attached his own cape and horse-head hat.
“My son [Josh] said he wanted to be Brumbies Boy and one of his friends said that he also wanted to be a Super Brumby, so I had to make two new suits at the start of the year,” he said.
It’s little surprise the Hancock family have dedicated their superpowers to the Brumbies given their considerable affection for the club.
“I love the Brumbies because they make me and my family feel part of their family,” Brumbies Man said.
“The players have no egos and always ask me how I’m going and how my family are going.”
