We got Dan Gorringe (aka @dandoesfooty) to dish about his fave footy rivalries

Rivalry is a crucial — perhaps the most crucial — part of any sport. It fuels your passion, makes the wins sweeter and the losses more painful, it's what galvanises any game with emotion. AFL is no different, and it's never more obvious than sitting among the tens of thousands of footy fans in Australia's biggest stadium.

Jameson Irish Whiskey have partnered with Collingwood this year to really hone in on why rivalry is so important for this great game, and what better way to prove that than inviting Dan Gorringe (aka @dandoesfooty and Carlton diehard) to watch the Pies play the Melbourne Demons on enemy territory. Let's face it — rivalry sets ourselves apart from those who back the other side, but it all boils down to that same fire that fuels our love of the game. And no-one knows that better than Dan — one look at his comment section will tell you that.

We were on ground with Dan at the Jameson Black Barrel suite for the Pies vs. Demons game (82 - 76, sorry Dan) with some of the best seats in the house. And what better time and place to grill the man himself on why he loves a friendly rivalry, why he always has to appreciate the opposition and his take on some of Australia's most hotly-debated rivalries.

Growing up in Adelaide, the fierce cross-town battle of the Showdown between the Crows and Port Adelaide was a defining part of Dan's love for the game. "The city gets split in half then they come together to go head to head, it’s massive," he says. That same passion has transcended state borders since moving to Melbourne a decade ago and becoming a staunch Carlton supporter, with he animosity with Collingwood has become just as significant. As he puts it, "they don't like us and we don't like them."

But, even if he's watching the game with mates who don't back Carlton, he wouldn't want to watch the footy with anything else.

"Nothing beats going to the pub before a game with mates then rolling into the ground together," he says. "Everything about those four hours is my heaven."

That competition is key to Dan's love of the game overall. Gorringe reckons these rivalries transcend the field, extending into the daily banter with friends and his huge online fanbase.

"If Carlton lose to anyone," Dan says, "I don’t just see a result, I see my phone lighting up of people reminding me that I support a bad football club, and then me going back at them trying to make up some wild excuse about why we lost."

Luckily for him, it works both ways — "You’ve got people from every corner of the internet chirping up, and you cop it when your team stinks. But you give it back when they win. It keeps people invested."

To put it simply, rivalry in AFL is "everything" to Dan. Without it? "Footy's just blokes chasing a ball.

"With it, it’s personal. It’s stories, sledging each other, bragging rights, and that’s what actually makes you fall more in love with the game."

In case being spotted on Pies territory wasn't enough fire for Dan, we also got him to weigh on some Australia-wide rivalries and firmly choose his side (don't yell at us — we're just the messenger!)

Parma vs. Parmi

"It’s Parmi, it rolls off the tongue better. Quick and simple."

Sauce in fridge vs. Sauce in cupboard

"Cupboard. Sauce in the fridge is criminal."

Sydney vs. Melbourne

"Melbourne by the length of the Flemington straight."

Whiskey on the rocks vs. Whiskey and Cola

"On the rocks. Jameson Black Barrel on the rocks is an out-of-body experience every time."

Pizza with pineapple vs. Pizza without pineapple

"Without. There’s no need ever to add pineapple to a pizza."

Guy vs. Shannon

"Guy. 'Angels Brought Me here' made my cry in high school."