A PROMISE TO KEEP

[Demonland 73,140]

A PROMISE TO KEEP by Whispering Jack

Before the Melbourne team ran out onto the MCG for yesterday's game against West Coast the players honoured their club chairman and legendary icon of the game Jim Stynes with a special and symbolic gesture.

With Stynes in hospital recovering from surgery as he begins his fight against cancer, the playing group gathered together in the change rooms and stood arm-in-arm in a circle around the No.37 guernsey Stynes first wore as a Melbourne player.

Stynes wore that jumper in the 1987 Preliminary Final when he famously ran across Gary Buckenara's mark and cost his team a chance to play in a grand final after 24 barren seasons for the club. But he persevered and overcame the disappointment of letting down his team and the long suffering Demon fraternity to forge a brilliant career in which he won a Brownlow Medal, four club best and fairest awards, made several finals appearances and an achieved an incredible AFL record of 244 consecutive games. It was the same guernsey Stynes held up at his emotional media conference on Thursday when he revealed he was battling cancer and would stand down for the time being as Melbourne chairman.

The players had a promise to keep to their club leader and although their battle that was to follow paled in imortance when compared to that which Jim Stynes has begun to fight, it was a promise of immense moment. The challenge had been laid down by their leader to show the courage he showed during his illustrious career and they went out with a steely determination to win.

The team achieved that and more. The Demons recorded their highest score for the season with their 17.10.112 to 13.14.92 victory over the Eagles surpassing their previous season high by three quarter time. Their determination to win was exemplified by their aggression and hardness at the football and a tackle count that far exceeded their season's average by half time. They were hard at it from before the opening bounce, had two players reported by quarter time, Aaron Davey (for striking) and Ricky Petterd (for abusive language to an umpire). Thankfully, supporters who abuse the umpire do not have to face a match review panel or tribunal because AFL headquarters would be crowded with defendants this week (with yours truly on about six counts!). Although the exhibition of over exuberance was costly, the Eagles, fresh from their exciting victory over the reigning premiers, were intimidated and they wilted under the fierce pressure.

Early in the game, Melbourne continued the now familiar trait of turning over the football, fumbling and poor decision-making but the kicking for goal was exemplary. The Demons held a seven-point lead at quarter time despite having three less scoring shots but the Eagles kicked the first two goals of the second term to take a lead of six points. Melbourne then gathered its composure and what followed was, without doubt, the club's most productive period for the season to date.

It was fitting that the inspiration for a game marking the club chairman's fight for life was a ruckman in the form of Mark Jamar. His season has been plagued by injury and many believed that his career was in jeopardy but he has announced his "arrival" as an AFL ruckman this year, and in this game in particular, after a long journey as understudy to Jeff White, who in turn, took over the club's number one ruck mantle from Stynes when he retired over a decade ago.

Jamar produced a career-best performance in the ruck against West Coast youngster Nick Naitanui and Quentin Lynch and gave the on ball brigade headed by Brock McLean, Brent Moloney, Nathan Jones and returning skipper James McDonald the vital first use of the football at the clearances. The Demons were well served by the experienced Cameron Bruce and Brad Green while Colin Sylvia stood out with his strong marking and long kicking.

But the star of the day was a youngster who had not previously had the experience of playing in a winning team at this level. Teenager Jack Grimes finished with 29 disposals and took 16 strong marks for the day in a true rising star performance. He had a purple patch at the start of the final term when he repelled the West Coast comeback with all the aplomb of a veteran. Fellow defenders James Frawley, Matthew Warnock and Jared Rivers were solid and the latter showed some signs of returning to his pre injury form of old. Jamie Bennell continues to show promise of future brilliance as a running defender.

Russell Robertson played his best game since returning from his Achilles tendon injury and kicked four goals off his golden boots. Matthew Bate, Green, Ricky Petterd and Liam Jurrah were all lively chipping in with a couple of goals each to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

The Demons won the first three quartes of the game and despite a brief scoring flurry by West Coast early in the final quarter, they were never going to lose this one although nobody should be under any illusions about the need for the team to continue to work on its improvement. The Eagles were, after all, missing their two main stars in Cox and Kerr and played one short after Jones was injured early in the game.

As the final siren sounded, the bulk of the 23,149 fans at the ground applauded their heroes off the ground with McDonald and Davey holding aloft the 37 jumper in homage to their club's leader to cap off an emotional week for the Melbourne Football Club. The coach and the players had kept their promise.

Melbourne 6.1.37 11.2.68 16.6.102 17.10.112

West Coast 4.6.30 7.8.50 11.12.78 13.14 92

Goals

Melbourne Robertson 4 Bate Green Jurrah Petterd 2 Davey Jamar Jones Martin Sylvia

West Coast Kennedy 4 Le Cras 3 A Selwood 2 Butler Masten Spangher Wirrpanda

Best

Melbourne Grimes Jamar Bruce McLean Green Moloney Sylvia

West Coast Masten Lynch Kennedy Fletcher Stenglein Rosa

Injuries

Melbourne Nil

West Coast Jones (hamstring)

Reports

Aaron Davey (Melbourne) reported by field umpire Donlon for striking Chris Masten (West Coast) in the first quarter

Ricky Petterd (Melbourne) by field umpire M Nicholls for alleged abusive language in the first quarter.

Changes

Melbourne Nil

West Coast Eric Mackenzie replaced by Adam Cockie

Umpires Donlon M Nicholls Mollison

Crowd 23,149 at the MCG

[olgreydingo 51]

I don't want to poor cold water on a fantastic win but only 23, 149, what a poor effort. A record 31,508 members, where were you? The weagles had a good support there.

[Demonland 73,140]

I don't want to poor cold water on a fantastic win but only 23, 149, what a poor effort. A record 31,508 members, where were you? The weagles had a good support there.

Agree with that. With a crowd of just in excess of 23k we've barely managed to avoid having to write out a cheque to the MCC. In all the circumstances of the day it was a poor crowd and shame on all those who stayed at home. In a few years' time when we're a power in the competition once again, how shameful will it be for some of these folk to jump on the bandwagon!

[Little Goffy 14,643]

I've pointed this out on another thread too.

23,000 is as much as 8,000 more than we would have been likely to get against this opponent, in this weather, after those last few weeks, and in this extraordinary round.

So let it go, huh?

[Goodvibes 3,596]

31,500 members. How many, like myself, are interstate? How many are overseas? How many buy memberships as presents for those who are either too young or too old to go regularly? How many play football themselves on Saturdays? How many, like our president, were too sick to attend? If there were 2 - 3 thousand Eagles fans and the majority of the rest were Melbourne members, I think we did alright.

[The Backyard Charizard 1,202]

I too live interstate and have signed my fiance and my 6 month old son up.......... I get pretty [censored] off when people whinge and whine about others not turning up to a game..... The day you get every member turn up to the one game will be the day that I cover my naked body in $50 notes and run through the streets of Collingwood screaming "Come 'n get it you filthy pricks!"

Just be happy that the turnout was good and that those of you that were lucky enough to be there, got to witness something special..... Not all of us Melbourne members get that opportunity each and every week....

We give to the club, we talk the club up in other parts of the country.... We (Or maybe it's just me) have many an argument with parochial one/two team town supporters....

Don't ruin what was a great game by bitching and moaning about the ones that DIDN'T get there...... Just be bloody thankful you DID....

Go you Dees!

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

I really liked the passage of play when Davey got on the wing gave it Bennell on the boundary who kicked it instinctively in an instant to Jurrah who took a fantastic leaping mark....unfortunately he didnt convert but it was a fantastic piece of play

[olgreydingo 51]

I too live interstate and have signed my fiance and my 6 month old son up.......... I get pretty [censored] off when people whinge and whine about others not turning up to a game..... The day you get every member turn up to the one game will be the day that I cover my naked body in $50 notes and run through the streets of Collingwood screaming "Come 'n get it you filthy pricks!"

Just be happy that the turnout was good and that those of you that were lucky enough to be there, got to witness something special..... Not all of us Melbourne members get that opportunity each and every week....

We give to the club, we talk the club up in other parts of the country.... We (Or maybe it's just me) have many an argument with parochial one/two team town supporters....

Don't ruin what was a great game by bitching and moaning about the ones that DIDN'T get there...... Just be bloody thankful you DID....

Go you Dees!

I admire and also sympathise to those members who can not attend living outside Melbourne. I would never attack those people who love the MFC and financially support the club, yet can not attend. But don't forget we are not far behind St Kilda in members, and they too would have members outside Melbourne too. I just wonder what the crowd would have been like if it was Saint v's Weagles at the "G"? I just hate the image of only Demon supporters go to the snow. I for one have only been once, and that was when i was a kid!

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Don't ruin what was a great game by bitching and moaning about the ones that DIDN'T get there...... Just be bloody thankful you DID....

Go you Dees!

Yep. I would have loved to have been there, and I am insanely jealous of those that were, but sometimes life gets in the way. Putting the boot into those that couldn't make it helps nobody.

[rpfc 28,779]

I admire and also sympathise to those members who can not attend living outside Melbourne. I would never attack those people who love the MFC and financially support the club, yet can not attend. But don't forget we are not far behind St Kilda in members, and they too would have members outside Melbourne too. I just wonder what the crowd would have been like if it was Saint v's Weagles at the "G"? I just hate the image of only Demon supporters go to the snow. I for one have only been once, and that was when i was a kid!

You'd hope it would be an eff load better.

They are going great guns, haven't lost a match, and have out-and-out stars like Riewoldt, Goddard, Dal Santo, and Hayes.

No comparison at all.

[olgreydingo 51]

You'd hope it would be an eff load better.

They are going great guns, haven't lost a match, and have out-and-out stars like Riewoldt, Goddard, Dal Santo, and Hayes.

No comparison at all.

No comparison at all? Why, if you love your team, and support not only the club but a president that gives you hope and has just announced he has cancer super star players or not, 23, 000 is a poor effort IMO.

[rpfc 28,779]

No comparison at all? Why, if you love your team, and support not only the club but a president that gives you hope and has just announced he has cancer super star players or not, 23, 000 is a poor effort IMO.

Welcome to the real world champ.

More people come to watch teams when they are winning.

[Einstein 1]

With the way we played last week coupled with the weather, I was expecting a crowd of about 16,000.

I think in the end, people who were maybe 50-50 about going did end up attending because of Jim. I reckon that could have been about 6 ot 7 thousand people.

It would have been great to see more, but to be honest, when I looked around the stadium at about 1:00pm, I had real worries about how many were actually going to show.

Historically the crowd was our seventh highest home and away figure against West Coast in Melbourne, with the six attendances bettering it, coming in seasons when we were in finals contention.

Even in 2000 when we played off in the Grand Final, we only pulled around 20,000 to the game.

2005 35,653

1990 32,269

1994 31,324

1988 28,045

1991 25,799

1995 24,874

2009 23,149

1993 22,032

2004 21,145

1987 21,048

2000 20,774

1997 19,655

2008 17,958

2003 17,534

2002 9,421 (Princes Park)

1996 8,747 (Princes Park)

[olgreydingo 51]

Welcome to the real world champ.

More people come to watch teams when they are winning.

if your happy with 23,000 champ, well good luck to you but to most, it's still poor.

[Demon Head 292]

if your happy with 23,000 champ, well good luck to you but to most, it's still poor.

More so because at 23,000 we make no money from the gate. Any less and the club has to write out a cheque for the privilege of playing on its own home ground.

[Blistering 541]

I really liked the passage of play when Davey got on the wing gave it Bennell on the boundary who kicked it instinctively in an instant to Jurrah who took a fantastic leaping mark....unfortunately he didnt convert but it was a fantastic piece of play

It won't be long before Jurrah kicks a bag!

[Freddy Fuschia 747]

A lovely report. Well done to all at Melbourne for this terrific response to Jim's illness. We all hope that he's back to full health as soon as possible and we're all behind you Jim!!!!

[titan_uranus 25,043]

I don't want to poor cold water on a fantastic win but only 23, 149, what a poor effort. A record 31,508 members, where were you? The weagles had a good support there.

Agree with that. With a crowd of just in excess of 23k we've barely managed to avoid having to write out a cheque to the MCC. In all the circumstances of the day it was a poor crowd and shame on all those who stayed at home. In a few years' time when we're a power in the competition once again, how shameful will it be for some of these folk to jump on the bandwagon!

Really? I though the crowd was good. It was cold, it was drizzly, it threatened to rain even more during the afternoon, and we were playing an interstate team who the previous week recorded their lowest home match attendance in 8 years. And we got about 5,000 more than I (and a lot of people on Demonland) expected.