A PROMISE TO KEEP

[Demonland 73,140]

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