THE VIEW FROM BASE CAMP - DEBT DEMOLISHED

[Demonland 71,131]

THE VIEW FROM BASE CAMP - DEBT DEMOLISHED by Whispering Jack

Mike Sheahan, who is surely the game's foremost journalist, described the Melbourne Football Club Debt Demolition Dinner as a "feelgood function" and, to the extent that it's possible for in excess of 350 people to part with their hard earned cash to help in the revival of the club that they love, this was almost the ultimate in feel good experiences.

We know of course, that the real "ultimate" in our national sport is still some time away for the Demons. Our president Jim Stynes and former captain Garry Lyon, who was compere for the evening, both went to great pains to emphasise that despite recent improved team performances and media speculation of a sweeping come-from-nowhere run into the finals, it was wrong for the players and the club faithful to get ahead of themselves. Coach Dean Bailey has also re-iterated that message. Stynes put it succinctly and clearly when he described the club's current position in relation to the task of conquering the premiership mountain as like being assembled at base camp which is precisely our location in the early days of the last month of the home and away part of season 2010.

On arriving at the club's "Foundation Heroes" function at AAMI Park on Wednesday night the first thing you noticed when entering the foyer was the number of real heroes in attendance - the heroes of the past and the present - the players. 

The current playing list was there from the rookies all the way up to the skipper James McDonald. Their attendance was a given but there was a large number of former players on hand, most of them prepared to dig in and support the club for which they gave their sweat and blood and, in some cases, who actually reached the premiership summit. Ron Barassi, Noel McMahon, Frank "Bluey" Adams, Geoff Case, Barry Bourke and apologies to those I might have left out. The oldest was a man who played on a wing in the 1941 premiership team. Ninety-year-old West Australian Stan "Pops" Heal was stationed in Victoria during World War 2 when he played his eight games (including the flag) for the club. His teammate, Sid Anderson, who played on the opposite wing on grand final day, was less fortunate than AFL Hall of Famer Heal. He gave his life for his country not long after tasting the glory against Richmond on a September day nearly seven decades in the past.

I met Stan Alves at the beginning of the evening. A great bloke and a great footballer who filled the void on a wing created by the departure of six time premiership player Bluey Adams at the end of 1964. Sadly, Stan had to leave the club to gain a taste of premiership glory with North Melbourne after a decade as a Demon in tough times for the club. Robbie Flower was another champion who missed out on the glory. He stayed on just long enough to get a taste of the finals in 1987. By that time, the likes of Stynes, Lyon and Todd Viney had arrived on the scene. Better times but still no premiership. These were among the heroes at the Debt Demolition Dinner.

We were taken by guides (in our case, Paul Johnson and Ricky Petterd) on a tour of the club's facilities at AAMI Park - the Bubble Dome in Swan Street across the railway tracks from the MCG. To get to the training area we filed straight past a glass trophy cabinet that houses a dozen trophies: the club's premiership cups starting from 1900 going all the way to the last one from 1964. Was it that long ago? 

The club has just made the move from the worst training set up in the competition to the best. I immediately thought of the Carlton skipper Chris Judd who knocked the Demons back when he changed clubs, allegedly because of the poor state of the Junction Oval (as if the money had nothing to do with it). I guess he simply didn't understand that a long journey of a thousand steps never starts without being pissed upon by a possum for good luck!

First stop was the players' locker room and there was not a single possum in sight. In fact, conditions were so pristine that you could even sleep on the floor. Aaron Davey's locker had pictures of his kids and a photo of Sam Allica, club runner to Norm Smith in the 60's who was still at the club until his recent passing. Another link to the premiership past.

David Neitz described the old locker rooms at the Junction and referred to places such as these as being perfect for developing team spirit. He told stories of the pranks that players like Paul Hopgood used to get up to - many of them devised in the locker room. One time, a young player Michael Polley cut off the top of a finger in a lawn mower accident. When he returned to training his locker was full of grass clippings. I guess you had to be there. Later in the evening we had the opportunity to bid in a silent auction for naming rights on these lockers and at one stage I was leading bidder for three players (none of who are currently in the senior team) but I made my run at the wrong time and was outbid. The auction was still going when I left at 11.30 pm.

Cameron Bruce took us through the gymnasium which the club shares with the other codes that are based at AAMI Park. He mentioned the good rapport with the boys from the Storm who lead the way and are pushing our players when it comes to the weights. The forlorn presence of the Rugby League's replica trophies was a sad reminder of the honest toil and effort required to earn the honour of being the premier club in any sort. 

Colin Sylvia and Jordie McKenzie sparred in the boxing ring, a few of the blokes were using the pool and the spas (both warm and freezing cold) and others were heaving weights. We moved on to the theatrette where James McDonald talked us through how invaluable this part of the facility is for the purpose of game analysis and discussion by the coaches with the various team groups based on the lines of play. We were shown a brief film of Dean Bailey addressing the players before the Swans game - the uncut version with expletives included. The tour continued around the main pitch which looked a brilliant green in readiness for the A League debut of the Melbourne Heart the following night. The team itself trains on an MCG sized oval immediately outside of the Bubbledome. 

There was a fleeting moment when we thought we were lost in the concrete bowels of AAMI Park but we finally made our way back to the function rooms for drinks and pass arounds. A film was shown of some of the tough physical clashes of past days. Garry Lyon started the ball rolling with Chris Connolly and continued the toughness angle by reminiscing of the day when Rod Grinter was relishing being given the job of moving onto Garry Ablett Senior after an unfortunate incident had seen a teammate being taken off the ground unconscious. Speaking of hard nuts, it was time for Todd Viney to be introduced and, while Todd spoke of knowing which of his teammates were prepared to commit by putting their heads over the ball, I couldn't help but see a flash of the future at the club in visions of Todd's 16 year old son Jack who they're raving about as a father/son prospect of the future but that's a matter for another time and another place.

We moved on to the main function room where the 350 gathered were going to get down to the business of eliminating the club's long standing debt problems. The speakers loudly blared out the Dylan song "Hurricane" and I wondered if someone thought of me (one of Bob's long time fans) as if this would persuade me to double my contribution. Lots of people gave on the night, some more than double what they expected to give and for that we can all thank the brilliant Jimmy Stynes and his hardworking lieutenant Don McLardy whose tireless efforts allowed all expectations to be well and truly exceeded. By the end of the night, the debt had been wiped out and the club had a bonus nest egg for future capital works. 

I took my seat at a table next to Scott West. Max Gawn was there and so was former player David Williams and the rest of us were mere mortals honored by the club with the title of "Foundation Heroes". Garry Lyon was in good form as MC. The coach and the leadership group briefly outlined their visions and told of what it takes to lift themselves in the pursuit of team success. 

There are no adequate superlatives to describe Jimmy. His two years as president have been inspirational and he was in his element among the Demon faithful on this night. Those who scoffed all those years ago at Melbourne's Irish experiment would be eating their words now and so would those who questioned his ability to drag the club out of the mire when he took the reins two years ago. When Jimmy spoke of the club's courage to do what it set out to achieve - to reduce debt, mend bridges, improve our facilities and lift the team from the bootstraps - he failed to mention the greatest act of courage and that was the way in which he has led us all by example in his circumstances. With courage comes with humility and it was Jimmy's acknowledgement of the club's previous board for their work and their vision at the beginning of the Olympic Park precinct that resonated with me along with his tribute to Peter Szental, the club Director who passed away after his own battle with cancer. I remembered with sadness a different Peter to the one who matched his hard work and enthusiasm for the club with the largest single contribution at the inaugural Debt Demolition Dinner in 2008. Back in our university days Peter was a leather jacketed bikie whose long curly hair bristled in the wind.

We were introduced to Rupert McCall who recited a magnificent poem about the Emblem which was unveiled by CEO Cameron Schwab who described the things it personified from the club's very roots, its heritage and hope and the players highlighting past and present. He introduced "Pop" Heal of the 40s, our one and only 300 gamer in Neita, Ron Barassi (we played like Demons), Jim Stynes (not only the greatest story the game has produced but who gave us our sense of place at the MCG), Robert Flower (grace, touch and something pure) to Liam Jurrah (from red dirt to green grass). 

They handed out sweets at the end of the function and I gathered some red and blue jellybeans for the grandchildren. The kids are just starting to appreciate their footy, there's no doubt about which club they love and they will enjoy this nice touch today and even more, the things that are promised for the future. I can't help but think how blessed they are to be present at the very same time that the team is poised to move out of base camp and upward to the skies.