Just a game - a toast to my old man

[P-man 13,367]

Fellow Demon faithful,

This week we lost one of our own. My old man passed away at the age of 87.

At 33 years of age myself, a quick sum in your head will tell you that there was a unique age gap between dad and me. Indeed it’s fair to say that as interests and hobbies go, we didn’t share alot of common ground. One thing we did share however was our mutual love of Australian rules football. It took until my teens for the love affair with the game and the club to truly begin, and it was at this stage that dad and I found that extra bit of common ground we always searched for.

As a boy from Ballarat, dad had followed Melbourne ever since he was a lad. He would tell me about his trips to the G and the many suburban grounds, reeling off names like Mueller, Cordner and Barrassi when speaking of some of his favourite memories. Needless to say, I was impressed.

Some of my fondest memories of him will be the simple pleasure of a Sunday afternoon, beers in hand, screaming at the tv in unison, be it in anger or jubilation. In the latter years as dad’s mind started to fail him, his interest waned. Some would consider him fortunate considering the plight of the club. But even during this time, he would sometimes turn to me and ask a question like...

“Simon, whose that player with the long “Oooooo” name?”

“Yze?”

“That’s the one. Oooozey”, he’d say with a grin. The smile on his face would tell me that passion still flickered inside.

As the man ultimately responsible for me being a Melbourne Demons supporter, the guy has ALOT to answer for. But I wouldn’t change it for the world, and I’m going to miss the old bloke enormously.

Many of us have vented our pure disdain for the state of the club as it stands. I’ve been a prime offender. But as I watch us take on the Bombers this Saturday, for the first time in a long time, I won’t be focussing on every misdirected pass or every poor tackle, of which there could be plenty. I will be thinking about my old man, and the times I enjoyed with him just watching the footy.

I don’t write this post to draw attention to anything other than to remember, this weekend and beyond, that whilst this sport and this club can form a big part of your life, it is not the be all and end all. At the end of the day, it’s a game. Cliched, but true. It will bring highs and low, maybe more lows than highs for all of us, but let’s not lose sight of that.

As for Johnny, looking down, his Demon spirit will always live on through me.

Cheers guys and girls. Go Dees.

[bing181 9,436]

Sorry to hear of your loss, but appreciate that you could share it on here.

I lost my dad not that long ago as well, and the last evening we spent together was passed watching his beloved Carlton take on Richmond. The last time I heard him laugh out loud - though you had to pay attention, he could hardly make a sound by that stage - was when Brock McClean wobbled through that kick to win the game in the dying moments.

Football. Only a game, but so much more than a game as well.

Go Dees.

[Sir Why You Little 37,342]

Forever Demons Simon.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Nice read; I'm sorry for your loss.

[ThreeOneSix 954]

Sorry to hear your loss mate.

He would've loved young Viney, he's a ripper.

[Chook 15,026]

My grandpa died a few months ago too. He was the one who got me into footy when I came down to Melbourne from Brisbane, so it's his fault I'm stuck supporting the Dees.

He didn't get to see another flag since our 1964 one, and it's a shame we'll never be able to go to a Grand Final together and both appreciate it equally (since I was only young when the 2000 Grand Final happened). That's not to say that our last Grand Final had much going for it other than the build-up.

There must be thousands of Australians in the same boat, and it's about damn time for Melbourne to start rewarding some of their dedicated supporters with some success again.

[Sir Why You Little 37,342]

My grandpa died a few months ago too. He was the one who got me into footy when I came down to Melbourne from Brisbane, so it's his fault I'm stuck supporting the Dees.

He didn't get to see another flag since our 1964 one, and it's a shame we'll never be able to go to a Grand Final together and both appreciate it equally (since I was only young when the 2000 Grand Final happened). That's not to say that our last Grand Final had much going for it other than the build-up.

There must be thousands of Australians in the same boat, and it's about damn time for Melbourne to start rewarding some of their dedicated supporters with some success again.

F Oath it is.

The one positive from last sunday was the Demon faithful made it crystal clear that accepting bullshite spin is not going to work.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,087]

I've been on Demonland for about 4 years or so. The opening post is the best post, bar none, in all my time here. And my condolences to P_Man.

[Armitage Shanks 87 0]

Great post.

I think most on Demonland can relate to this.

Just a game. A game that has the power to bring families together.

[Cards13 9,117]

Thanks for sharing P Man. Brings back memories for a few of us and the reasons we follow the Dees and the joy it once brought us all.

My old man passed away in Jan 2001, he got to see the 2000 grand final, all be it he couldn't see much by then as the cancer had taken his sight. He loved being there none the less, the noise, the anticpation of a Dees Premiership... Dad loved the Dees, and I miss talking footy and going to the footy with him.

My grandad took me to a lot of footy at Waverly as a young kid cos the old man was working the farm or on the rigs in Bass Straight. The first footy memory I have with Dad he took me to the famous '87 season as a ten yr old I vividly remember sitting high up on the fence at Footscray as we won and the other result went our way for us to get into the finals. While I don't recall the next 2 weeks I remember the utter devastation of the Prelim loss. We went with a Hawks mate of his and not a word was spoken the entire drive back to Geelong. Dad loved the Dees.

I embarrassed to say I used to be embarrassed by going to the footy with him in my teens, Dad was a big, broad ex farmer moved to the big smoke with a massive laugh but even louder boooooming voice when not happy. When he yell "Wiiizzz" as the Wizz did something special it reverberated around the whole bay we sat in. When yelled "Nnnoooo Trappa blloodddyy heeelll!!" it was even louder. My mates now don't like going to the footy with me cos I do the same and am almost as loud, I miss doing that with him.

He was a man of conviction who would not bend his beliefs even in the face of large odds. He/we almost got thrown over the edge of the 2nd tier in the AFL members one day as he called out to 5-6 Pies supporters who were racially abusing the Wizz and every dark person on the ground. They were big, angry a holes but the old man never wavered in his beliefs, he loved the Wizz, he loved the Dees. They backed down.

He used to wear Dees red and blue form head to toe (Dees trackies top and bottoms, Dees rain coat, Dees hat or beanie and Dees scarf), I used to walk behind him so I wasn't seen next to this old guy looking what I thought was silly. I miss those walks to and from the G back to Fitzroy now, I miss going to the footy with Dad to see his beloved Dees.

Can't wait for Sat night to see the Dees vs the Bombers (the last two teams he saw play) and salute him with a beer.

[Muvver Jones 64]

My condolences. My mum is also 87 and I worry for her a lot. He would have been 38 at the time of our last flag. In the prime of his lfe and known nothing but success for our club then. I guess he would never had imagined then that would be all to it for the rest of his life. Yes its only a game but its one of those little things in the big picture that makes life worth living.

[Weedster 174]

Well done - Great Post, and I'm sure great memories

[45HG 1,559]

Thanks for sharing P_Man and Cards - brings a tear to my eye.

Will be thinking of them, as well as my beloved Grandfather on Saturday. Go Dees!

[Allen Jakovich 516]

Great post.

I hope your dad takes a break from holing putts and sinking frothies on the big golf course in the sky to look down and see the night the Demons redemption began. 06/04/13.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,339]

Fellow Demon faithful,

This week we lost one of our own. My old man passed away at the age of 87.

Possibly my favourite post in 8 years on Demonland.

[rpfc 28,966]

These stories are the proof of what I say about this club.

It will endure long after we have passed because of the meaning it takes in our minds and in our lives and we will continue to support it and fight for it so that these stories don't become myth.

It will be a fable constantly rewritten.

[Range Rover 1,935]

That passion that flickered within your Dad until his final days, P_Man. They call that the 'warrior spirit'.

It's why this club won't die.

[Pennant St Dee 13,415]

Great post P-Man pain fades but memories last forever, here's hoping there is an omen in the number 87 when we also started terribly but came home to make finals for the first time in my life. My greatest Dees memory shared with my father (not a Dees man) was the Footscray game in the last round when he cheered loudly when we made it.

Hope you enjoy Saturday night P-Man and may your father RIP

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

It's posts like P-Man's that bring me back to this forum. Well said mate and I share your sentiments. While obviously I did not know him, I will raise a glass on Saturday night and toast your dad.

Cheers mate.

[P-man 13,367]

Humbled by these replies fellas. Much appreciated.

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

Muvver, why don't you just accept the spirit in which P-Man's post was written. Yours is mean spirited.

[DemonOX 8,837]

My condolences P Man.

I too had a big age difference between myself and my old man but you were lucky enough to share the same passion for the Dees.

Long live the memories.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

Condolences P-Man. Thank you for sharing those memories.

[Pirlo 813]

RIP.

[Longsufferingnomore 1,672]

PMan, my Dad is now in Palliative care but still does not miss a game on the TV and still loves to talk about the current players. He is the reason that I love this Club so much. I remember growing up that if he only had a few rides (he was a jockey) he would dash back to the MCG to watch the last half or a quarter. He still gets me to bring back the Footy Record for him to read. To win on Saturday night would be great for him, for me, for all of us and for the Club. I don't know how many more matches he will be here to watch.