I couldn’t have named a single Socceroo before the weekend. But now, I’m their biggest fan

June 15, 2026 — 3:30pm

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

Jumped on a bandwagon lately? I have some advice.

There will always be some among us who will ride or die with a passion for life, but there is no shame in hopping onboard the latest show in town just to go along for the ride.

As the story goes, it was Zachary Taylor who started the trend in 1848 by jumping on board a circus clown’s wagon while campaigning for president of the United States. His manner of attracting attention took off, so much so that by the end of the 19th century, the phrase was being hurled as an insult or mocking jibe.

The wagons have long since left our streets and their horses been put out to pasture, but music, politics, sport and, frankly, anything anyone wants to push, still seek to pull the hordes on board. From advertisers and influencers to media outlets and MPs, many crave the attention a proverbial bandwagon provides.

And what’s a world cup if not a call-out for people to leap into an armchair, or stadium seat, and share in the........

© Brisbane Times