Demons recognised by the Amateurs

Posted July 5, 200817 yr

The following article appeared today in the Amateur Footballer -

DEES CONTINUE STRONG AMATEUR LINK

The Melbourne Football Club has always had a strong link with the VAFA and that continues today with four players from their heart stopping win against Brisbane last weekend having represented a VAFA club at senior level.

Stefan Martin made his debut after playing 5 senior and 9 U19 games for Old Haileybury in 2006, winning the VAFA U19 (Blue) Best and Fairest.

Shane Valenti, playing his 3rd AFL game, played one senior game for Old Haileybury in 2005 and Simon Buckley played one senior game for Ormond also in 2005.

Cameron Bruce played for MHSOB in the late 1990's before being drafted, playing 18 senior games for the Unicorns.

James McDonald, who didn't play on the weekend, played for Old Xavs in 1996 and was part of that memorable premiership side, having been 1-8 at the half way mark of the season. Amazingly, James missed out on selection for the first match of that season and ran the water that day – how quickly things can turn around in one year.

Congratulations to Stef Martin on making his debut in only his third season of football. Stef was a highly promising basketballer who decided to give football a go for a year and play with some of his mates in the Old Haileybury U19's. After only 8 games (which he received 3 votes from the umpires in all 8), he was selected for the seniors. He missed out on being part of Old Haileybury’s first ever A Section flag due to a broken thumb but was invited down to Sandringham last season where he became an integral part of their senior side.

It was also great to see these players maintaining strong links with their former VAFA clubs. Both James and Simon were guest speakers at the Old Xavs and Ormond lunches respectively and all are regular attendees at VAFA matches.

Quote

July 5, 200817 yr

[Congratulations to Stef Martin on making his debut in only his third season of football. Stef was a highly promising basketballer who decided to give football a go for a year and play with some of his mates in the Old Haileybury U19's. After only 8 games (which he received 3 votes from the umpires in all 8), he was selected for the seniors. He missed out on being part of Old Haileybury’s first ever A Section flag due to a broken thumb but was invited down to Sandringham last season where he became an integral part of their senior side.

That's pretty incredible. I think we have plenty to look forward to with Stef Martin.

Quote

July 6, 200817 yr

Stefan Martin.

High level baskeballer, switches to footy, never misses BOG for the local amateurs team. Get's drafted in the PSD, puts the work in and makes an honest and promising debut at AFL level later that season, and picked up a 97.5 TER somewhere along the way.

Nice.

Quote

July 6, 200817 yr

Yeah, incredible effort.

Looks a promising prospect. Does anyone think he will get dropped against Footscray?

Quote

July 6, 200817 yr

Yeah, incredible effort.
Looks a promising prospect. Does anyone think he will get dropped against Footscray?

nup. for him to come in one of rivers, frawley or carrol need to force their way in.

our talls down back are garland and warnock, neither are very tall or very strong. martin has height and weight on his side, making him an option for taller (read ruckmen) forwards, and even an option if one of the others is struggling physically.

he also offers an option up forward if we decide to swing him that way, but it looks like we're keen to keep him down back atm.

Quote

July 6, 200817 yr

Well, what an effort by Stefan Martin.

He will a very good player

Quote

July 7, 200817 yr

They failed to mention Andrew Leonchelli who played at Old Xavs after being struck off Carltons list. He was picked up by the Dees from Old Xavs.

Andrew and Junior were guest at the Old Xavs lunch before the game V De La the Saturday before last. Both were excellent speakers.

James was quite humourous in his very down to earth country way, taking the [censored] out of his brothers. When asked who was the better player of the 3, he stated that it was clearly himself given the fact that he has played more games them both of them combined.

Quote

July 7, 200817 yr

Nice.

Yeah - sounds like a guy who knows how to achieve his goals. Bodes well.

Quote

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

AFLW REPORT: Port Adelaide
AFLW REPORT: Port Adelaide

Well, that was a shock. The Demons 4-game unbeaten run came to a grinding halt in a tense, scrappy affair at the sunny, windy Alberton Oval, with the Power holding on for a 2-point win. The Dees had their chances—plenty of them—but couldn't convert when it mattered most. Port’s tackling pressure rattled the Dees, triggering a fumble frenzy and surprising lack of composure from seasoned players.
- 0 replies
Demonland

Monday at 01:293 days
Welcome to Demonland: Steven King
Welcome to Demonland: Steven King

The Melbourne Football Club has selected a new coach for the 2026 season appointing Geelong Football Club assistant coach Steven King to the head role.
- 960 replies
Demonland

September 12Sep 12
AFLW PREVIEW: Port Adelaide
AFLW PREVIEW: Port Adelaide

The undefeated Demons venture across the continent to the spiritual home of the Port Adelaide Football Club on Saturday afternoon for the inaugural match for premiership points between these long-historied clubs. Alberton Oval will however, be a ground familiar to our players following a practice match there last year. We lost both the game and Liv Purcell, who missed 7 home and away matches after suffering facial fractures in the dying moments of the game.
- 1 reply
Demonland

September 12Sep 12
AFLW REPORT: Richmond
AFLW REPORT: Richmond

A glorious sunny afternoon with a typically strong Casey Fields breeze favouring the city end greeted this round four clash of the undefeated Narrm against the winless Tigers. Pre-match, the teams entered the ground through the Deearmy’s inclusive banner—"Narrm Football Weaving Communities Together and then Warumungu/Yawuru woman and Fox Boundary Rider, Megan Waters, gave the official acknowledgement of country. Any concerns that Collingwood’s strategy of last week to discombobulate the Dees would be replicated by Ryan Ferguson and his Tigers evaporated in the second quarter when Richmond failed to use the wind advantage and Narrm scored three unanswered goals.
- 4 replies
Demonland

September 7Sep 7
CASEY: Frankston
CASEY: Frankston

The late-season run of Casey wins was broken in their first semifinal against Frankston in a heartbreaking end at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday night that in many respects reflected their entire season. When they were bad, they committed all of the football transgressions, including poor disposal, indiscipline, an inability to exert pressure, and some terrible decision-making, as exemplified by the period in the game when they conceded nine unanswered goals from early in the second quarter until halfway through the third term. You rarely win when you do this.
- 0 replies
Demonland

September 7Sep 7
AFLW PREVIEW: Richmond
AFLW PREVIEW: Richmond

Round four kicks off early Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields, as the mighty Narrm host the winless Richmond Tigers in the second week of Indigenous Round celebrations. With ideal footy conditions forecast—20 degrees, overcast skies, and a gentle breeze — expect a fast-paced contest. Narrm enters with momentum and a dangerous forward line, while Richmond is still searching for its first win. With key injuries on both sides and pride on the line, this clash promises plenty.
- 3 replies
Demonland

September 4Sep 4