Just a game - a toast to my old man

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Pman, you take care, as you've got quite a journey in front of you.

May those memories you wrote about sustain you through this difficult time.

Condolences and be well.

[P-man 13,366]

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.

Best wishes LS.

[Akum 2,660]

Fantastic OP, fantastic thread. Thoughts and prayers go out to all those associated with MFC who are going through the same thing at this time.

[Vipercrunch 2,847]

The last game I went to with my dad was our round 1 draw with Sydney in 2011. He had been diagnosed with cancer about 5 months before and it was a massive effort for him to make it.

Melbourne FC was a huge part of our relationship so it was important to have one last trip to the 'G and a draw was a pretty good result given our terrible recent Round 1 form.

We loved the Dee's but were both mindful that it was just a game and consciously tried to keep the results from affecting our moods. Something I continue now.

My sig is something I read on another forum relating to completely another game, but I saw it's significance for me in relation to footy.

Thanks for sharing OP

[jnrmac 20,276]

Condolances.

However we still suck and need to start winning.

[dee-luded 2,959]

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.

Congratulations P_Man on your fine relationship with your Da, & on his great outlook & perspective of the mighty MFC...

Its great to hear your stories of how you shared the games & the bonding... treasure it mate & remember the game is the vehicle for the real thing.

Love & respect ! Both are a given thing.

My Da was a Blue bagger, & my Grandad a Demon. he was the one who shared, & I'm a demon.

I lost both my folks in 1995 - 97. its a tough time.

# I think 'Jimma', talking about keeping this club alive for his own son to watch, is just what you've also referred to... Our collective Heritages, all of us, one & all.

congratulations on a fine relationship between father & son...

[Pennant St Dee 13,406]

Congratulations P_Man on your fine relationship with your Da, & on his great outlook & perspective of the mighty MFC...

Its great to hear your stories of how you shared the games & the bonding... treasure it mate & remember the game is the vehicle for the real thing.

Love & respect ! Both are a given thing.

My Da was a Blue bagger, & my Grandad a Demon. he was the one who shared, & I'm a demon.

I lost both my folks in 1995 - 97. its a tough time.

# I think 'Jimma', talking about keeping this club alive for his own son to watch, is just what you've also referred to... Our collective Heritages, all of us, one & all.

congratulations on a fine relationship between father & son...

I have two kids one has jumped ship to the Pies whilst the other remains loyal to the Dees, totally agree with you in the bolded part and if I don't see the 13th I hope my children and grand children get to see it and many others

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Kicking myself for taking so long to open this thread. Condolences Pman, Cards and the others. Would love some players to read stuff like this and see what this club means to a hell of a lot of people.

[Whispering_Jack 31,183]

You've been lucky P_Man. You and your dad had a special relationship - a bond involving your footy team. I didn't have that. My father was a soccer fan but felt that sport was mainly rubbish. I couldn't even play in my early teens but I managed to sneak away one season under the guise of taking guitar lessons (he could never figure out why I was such a shyzen guitarist after all that). I now go with both sons and two grandsons. We're all dedicated fans even after Sunday's game which matched the standard of my guitar playing.

Condolences - I salute your dad and all fellow Demons.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Theres more to life, far more than footy, but it is certainly a past time that brings many together with many fond memories as a result.

Condolences and cheers

[P-man 13,366]

Thanks again for the responses. I decided to forward this onto the club on the back of them. I've always said this is a real community and I think that's evident in this thread.

Our stories are important. What footy represents and what it can achieve, regardless of the result, transcends the game itself.

Let's hope the boys have a dig this week.

[Demon Dynasty 17,135]

Condolences. Lets hope we have a nice win for your dad mate and all the best during what must have been a tough week for you and family. Cheers

[Sir Why You Little 37,322]

It's time the MFC realized and i mean really realized how much people care about this 155 year old institution every day.

[Macca 17,118]

Condolences P_Man, Cards, Chook and others. Heartfelt words and it must be a difficult time for those in similar circumstances.

Thanks to all for sharing their memories and a great post, P_Man. Hope our team gets a win for you especially.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,101]

Easily the best thread on Demonland. Condolences to all who suffer grief, and thanks for sharing the stories of loved ones, which are always an uplifting read.

It is many years since my father passed away, but I often think of him when I take my own son to games, just as he took me when I was a kid. In the past, I have been asked why I barrack for the Demons. My reply has always been 'Because my father took me to Melbourne games as a kid'.

[dpositive 1,819]

Fantastic expressions from everyone. Thanks for sharing.

it makes me humble and proud to join in on Dland.

The things that make us different make us the same, we all have deep emotions and passion.

[Philthy 284]

Thanks again for the responses. I decided to forward this onto the club on the back of them. I've always said this is a real community and I think that's evident in this thread.

Our stories are important. What footy represents and what it can achieve, regardless of the result, transcends the game itself.

Let's hope the boys have a dig this week.

Touching story mate. Being a Ballarat man myself it is great to see we had such a passionate supporter like your old man around town. RIP

[Cards13 9,117]

Thanks again for the responses. I decided to forward this onto the club on the back of them. I've always said this is a real community and I think that's evident in this thread.

Our stories are important. What footy represents and what it can achieve, regardless of the result, transcends the game itself.

Let's hope the boys have a dig this week.

Condolences and thanks again P, I'd forgotten the joy I used to have going to the footy, reading your story really brought back some great memories and brought home why I loved (can I love again ) footy and my awesome dad.

Go Dees!!!