DEMONOLOGY/DEMONLAND/BIG FOOTY - 2007 PLAYER SPONSORSHIP by George on the Outer (from Demonology)

For Season 2007 the Demonology/Demonland Crew have again been offered the chance to sponsor Clint Bartram. As his sponsors last year we were offered "first dibs" and we have jumped at the chance.

Clint surprised all in our 2006 group when he played all 22 games in his rookie year after being recruited from Ocean Grove. An unfortunate and devastating ankle injury in the final round of the season in Adelaide saw the end of his glorious run, but we have every confidence that he will add to his game tally in 2007.

Clint is pictured below.

The sponsorship proposed by the Club is similar to last year:

# A get-together with Clint and the rest of the group. ( As we now suspect he will be playing senior footy on a regular basis, we will be aiming to do this prior to the season proper - which means you will need to sign up soon!)

# A player sponsor pin to be proudly worn in recognition of your support.

# Meetings with Craig Cameron, the recruiting Manager at the MFC. For those that haven't experienced one of these evenings, it is one of the highlights of the year. Come along and get the true inside information on the up and coming prospects, and following the draft get the run-down on our new recruits, along with video of their performances during the year.

And all of this for a mere $110!

So if you want to join up with a genuine group of Melbourne Footy fanatics get up close and personal with Clint get the inside running on the playing group and the recruits then join us for Season 2007.

Now as the sponsorship has already been paid by the organisers( to ensure that we secured Craig), please send cheques made to "cash", cash or money orders to:

Demonology/Demonland Player sponsorship

P.O. Box 394

Port Melbourne Vic 3207

Just to let you know that the 2006 version of the sponsorship was a great success with three functions during the season that really kept members of the sponsorship group informed about the way the club functions.

I personally couldn't make it to the last session in December with Craig Cameron but those who went said it was worth its weight in gold. Participants saw vision of all new recruits and Craig outlined what he expected from them in the future.

I highly recommend this sponsorship and I'm sure that others who were involved will post here on the subject.

Thanks to those that have signed up so far:

Rono re-equitates

Rollinson 65

George_on_the_outer

Brian and Shirley Booth

dees of 26

Tim Holland

undeeniable

Thanks to those that have signed up so far:

Rono re-equitates

Rollinson 65

George_on_the_outer

Brian and Shirley Booth

dees of 26

Tim Holland

undeeniable

Shirley Booth. She was one of my favourite actresses years ago. Good on yer Shirley!

Contributions received from Tim_ and Demon o Phile

thanks guys, welcome to the group

Thanks to John T and Bernie H who have signed up again, for the 2007 season.

Thanks to Judee who has signed on again for 2007

Welcome back to Raymondo, who has joined the group again in 2007

And welcome back for 2007 to Mary H. who has joined our group again.

Today at 12 noon at the Mountain View Hotel, 70 Bridge Rd Richmond 3121 with Clint Bartram.

We're in the planning stages for our second Demonland/Demonology fuction - some news about that soon...

In the meantime, one of the players we sponsored in 2003, Ezra Poyas plays game # 100 in the VFL with Sandringham in Tassie tonight. This tribute appears in the TRUenergy Victorian Football League Record:-

EZRA'S SECOND COMING

Key Zebra excels after almost giving game away.

When his season as a Melbourne rookie finished in 2003, Ezra Poyas was disenchanted with football and headed overseas.

Poyas, a standout junior who captained Vic Metro at the under-16 and 18 national championships, earning a second-round draft selection by Richmond, doubted he would ever play again.

During three tough seasons with the Tigers, Poyas managed nine AFL games. The Demons subsequently rookie-listed him, but he was never upgraded and in his mind, the curtain had fallen on his football career.

For 18 months Poyas travelled overseas and lived in Sydney. It was during his time in the Harbour City that he realised that he missed the game fiercely.

And while disappointed that his stay at Melbourne did not amount to anything, Poyas had enjoyed his time playing with VFL affiliate Sandringham and decided to return to the Trevor Barker Oval.

It's a choice that has given him no regrets and plenty of highlights.

Poyas tied with Carlton’s Luke Blackwell to win the 2001 J.J. Liston Trophy, the competition’s highest individual award, but it is the two premierships with Sandringham that stand like beacons as personal highlights.

Another honour is added to an impressive CV this weekend, when Poyas plays his 100th VFL match.

The milestone man noted that while players don’t go out to chalk up a particular number of matches, it is definitely something which he can reflect upon proudly.

Poyas doesn't deviate from the fact that he was disappointed with how his AFL career unfolded but said the positive from that was the opportunity to play at Sandringham.

"The one big thing to come out of the past two-and-a-half seasons is that I have made some great mates who hopefully will be friends forever," Poyas said.

"There are no big heads at Sandringham. Anyone who has a bad attitude either gets thrown out or changes pretty quickly."

Sandringham coach Mark Williams said it was no secret that Poyas was a key to the club's success, and that the 26-year-old was one of the few players in the competition who had the explosiveness to change the course of a match. The recent clash against Port Melbourne highlighted Poyas' value.

"He had an ordinary first quarter and we had to take him off for giving away a silly free kick," Williams said. "And then when he came back on he kicked five goals."

"He has the ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck and dominate opponents - when he gets on a roll, he is very hard to stop."

Ezra Poyas is already well pleased that he didn’t give up on football. And a third premiership in 2007 would be another great reminder.

EZRA POYAS

• Games: 99
• Goals: 126
• Clubs: Richmond, Coburg Tigers, Sandringham
• Highlights: J.J. Liston Trophy 2001; Sandringham premiership team 2005, 2006; VFL state representative 2007