To Demonlanders,

I have been a long time and now a first time. I always thought I'd never be a member to write to the club but after the events of today I felt compelled to. I have attached below my email to the Dees today. I awat a response. I apologise for the long windedness of this letter for those who are reading it.I also apologise for it not being half as entertaining as some of the comments and threads on this site.

To whom it may concern,

I know you have probably been inundated with emails and most likely a lot of complaints regarding the teams position at this current stage. I too am a mad demon supporter, member and was one of the 13,000 people there on Sunday watching the Dees play. I agree with the calls that it was unacceptable but that’s not why I am emailing. Today, we had a visit from 3 Richmond players (Cotchin, Conca and Elton) who came to our school (I'm a year 6 teacher at Greythorn Primary School in North Balwyn) to give a talk on leadership and answer a few questions. A great school visit and something I too was impressed by. I will admit that I too was a little star struck as well. It didn't matter what team the kids followed there was a buzz about AFL players visiting the school. When it came to question time, the players answered really well, giving their perspective on what its like on to be an AFL player, Leadership and the positives and negatives of being a AFL footballer. They were then asked "Who is the easiest team to play?" The response........ Melbourne. Now I copped my right whack from the kids who really enjoyed hearing that response and then they were ribbing me about it. It was probably pay back, as at the start of the year I was quite bullish about the Dees and everyone knows I follow the Dees. I'm also well aware it is always great fun to give a teacher some lip and I accept that, I can cop it. What was really noticeable and what upset me was how the kids who follow the Dees felt and responded. They were genuinely upset. For an area that was traditionally a Melbourne heartland for Melbourne supporters, it was disappointing to see the whole year 5 and 6 group laugh pretty nastily at those young Dee supporters sitting there. You really could see the hurt. A student even came up and said to me "How can they say Melbourne are the easiest". He was bewildered.

Now I wouldn't ordinarily email or write in but I felt compelled to. I know there are so many other issues going on at the moment and this may not necessarily be a priority with all the accusations flying around around the Dees and the coaching staff and also the work that is being done, but the Club needs to look at its junior fans as I am really worried that the club runs the risk of losing a couple of generations of fans. My 22 month year old daughter is a member but is at an age where she doesn't have a choice, but many kids I have talked to are losing real interest in "our" club. I know many players were calling junior members which is fantastic but there are a lot of kids out there who aren't members and are feeling very low. Winning games is obviously the answer and I will be there this week willing us on, ironically against the team who were represented today. I don't have any answers regarding what you can do but I felt compelled to let you know that there are some really upset students (and one teacher) who left school today knowing that at least one other team in the AFL sees us as the easy beats of the competition.

As a fellow teacher I can empathize.

I drape the team flag above a team poster in my office window for all the students and parents to see.

I cop flack but its all part of it and everyone loves giving me some banter about the Dees.

Well written letter mate, and truly a concern for the club that only has one solution:

Win, and make winning and competiveness a bloody habit.

I've been teaching for about 10 years and dees supporters are always thin on the ground, if I mention I barrack for the dees kids just screw up their face, doesn't bother me, I'm not the one out there losing. Have actually met a couple of adults who have changed teams over the journey.

If you were a true supporter you would know we play them this week and none of those tigers would have left your school in any way other than a ambulance.

I'm joking............ Sort of...............

Darbsy, i got laughed at for following the Demons in the 70's....Nothing has improved....YET

Kids won't wait another 12 months to watch the team get mauled every week. They'll simply jump off, and do. Junior fans are more important now than ever.

When I played against Greythorn Primary some years ago their best players were West Coast supporters and their coach was a meanie!

Copping stick is fine. Its the pity that gets me....

To Demonlanders,

I have been a long time and now a first time. I always thought I'd never be a member to write to the club but after the events of today I felt compelled to. I have attached below my email to the Dees today. I awat a response. I apologise for the long windedness of this letter for those who are reading it.I also apologise for it not being half as entertaining as some of the comments and threads on this site.

To whom it may concern,

I know you have probably been inundated with emails and most likely a lot of complaints regarding the teams position at this current stage. I too am a mad demon supporter, member and was one of the 13,000 people there on Sunday watching the Dees play. I agree with the calls that it was unacceptable but that’s not why I am emailing. Today, we had a visit from 3 Richmond players (Cotchin, Conca and Elton) who came to our school (I'm a year 6 teacher at Greythorn Primary School in North Balwyn) to give a talk on leadership and answer a few questions. A great school visit and something I too was impressed by. I will admit that I too was a little star struck as well. It didn't matter what team the kids followed there was a buzz about AFL players visiting the school. When it came to question time, the players answered really well, giving their perspective on what its like on to be an AFL player, Leadership and the positives and negatives of being a AFL footballer. They were then asked "Who is the easiest team to play?" The response........ Melbourne. Now I copped my right whack from the kids who really enjoyed hearing that response and then they were ribbing me about it. It was probably pay back, as at the start of the year I was quite bullish about the Dees and everyone knows I follow the Dees. I'm also well aware it is always great fun to give a teacher some lip and I accept that, I can cop it. What was really noticeable and what upset me was how the kids who follow the Dees felt and responded. They were genuinely upset. For an area that was traditionally a Melbourne heartland for Melbourne supporters, it was disappointing to see the whole year 5 and 6 group laugh pretty nastily at those young Dee supporters sitting there. You really could see the hurt. A student even came up and said to me "How can they say Melbourne are the easiest". He was bewildered.

Now I wouldn't ordinarily email or write in but I felt compelled to. I know there are so many other issues going on at the moment and this may not necessarily be a priority with all the accusations flying around around the Dees and the coaching staff and also the work that is being done, but the Club needs to look at its junior fans as I am really worried that the club runs the risk of losing a couple of generations of fans. My 22 month year old daughter is a member but is at an age where she doesn't have a choice, but many kids I have talked to are losing real interest in "our" club. I know many players were calling junior members which is fantastic but there are a lot of kids out there who aren't members and are feeling very low. Winning games is obviously the answer and I will be there this week willing us on, ironically against the team who were represented today. I don't have any answers regarding what you can do but I felt compelled to let you know that there are some really upset students (and one teacher) who left school today knowing that at least one other team in the AFL sees us as the easy beats of the competition.

He who laughs last Darbsy... they haven't won a flag in some time, & they aren't there Yet.

I can go one step further and say why Melbourne are the easiest to beat as explaned to me by a current assstant coach of a rival club.

It is simply because they know we will break under pressure eventually.

Even on the days when we seem to have some fight at the start of a match, they know more often than not it wont last 4 quarters.

So basically we are the team that cracks under pressure the easiest. The team with the least fight if you will.

I definately feel the pain. Your are right about losing a generation of supporters.

Ive been around long enough to see some good times, in the late 80's and 2000's

but for my nephew whom i brainwashed when young, he is now 11.

He only knows the melbourne team we have now.

His interest in Melbourne is dying and his neighbours whom are bombers are always chearing

and bragging. I think its only time before he just gives up.

Hes not suprised when we are losing, but surprised when we are in front. (when was that again)

Then I have my kids whom are 6 + 4. Ive always looked forward to the days ahead of taking them

to the footy. But in our current state I worry that in 5yrs time, they wont care either.

I can go one step further and say why Melbourne are the easiest to beat as explaned to me by a current assstant coach of a rival club.

It is simply because they know we will break under pressure eventually.

Even on the days when we seem to have some fight at the start of a match, they know more often than not it wont last 4 quarters.

So basically we are the team that cracks under pressure the easiest. The team with the least fight if you will.

Except on Sunday we cracked when the ball was bounced at the start of the game...

Great email Darbsy and good on you for writing it. It actually made me feel a little sad as my 3 kids are all little Demons and go to school.

I hope your email gets pinned up on the locker room wall during the week for all the players to have a read. Probably wont make the slightest difference but I think the players need to be fed this type of information, If not to hear of the heart break our junior supporters (and MFC teachers) are going through, then to highlight what those Richmond Ferals are thinking of us come Saturday.

Edited May 14, 201312 yr by TheVoice

Perhaps they were taking the [censored] because they knew you followed the Dees?

Good natured fun...nothing empirical here.

I still go to the footy, but am not taking the kids. If it is no fun for a hard nut supporter like me, I won't subject my kids to it. Losing is not the issue, it is the way they play. When they are competitive, I will take the kids again. Until then, the boys can enjoy their weekends. It is the only way I can think of to ensure they aren't driven away from the club.

I almost feel sorry for my two week old son reading that, Darbsy.

And then it occurs to me. No, I don't - any kid can choose a Collingwood or a Carlton, whereas no kid gets to choose the Dees these days - it's generally a privilege, it's a family thing, it's inherited.

Accordingly it's more meaningful IMO. And it shows more character if they can stick with the club in the long term.

The kid may get bagged a lot more along the way - but if ultimate success ever comes the way of the MFC, no one will begrudge a long term Demons supporter their time in the sun. No one - with the potential exception of a few Pies supporters of course.

The Demon supporting kids in your classroom are the ones getting the real education now - one day they'll thank you for that.

Edited May 14, 201312 yr by Ron Burgundy

I think the AFL are just as concerned about whats happening to MFC and they would certainly be thinking along the lines of the damage this period will cause the club. I pay the extra for the heartland kids, though they probably go to the game and come away supporting the other club LOL

Copping stick is fine. Its the pity that gets me....

Yeah my Carlton mate didn't even text me when they beat us the other week because he felt sorry for me. It makes you feel like your just watching the season go by from a distance

Copping stick is fine. Its the pity that gets me....

Definitely, feels a hundred times worse

I almost feel sorry for my two week old son reading that, Darbsy.

And then it occurs to me. No, I don't - any kid can choose a Collingwood or a Carlton, whereas no kid gets to choose the Dees these days - it's generally a privilege, it's a family thing, it's inherited.

Accordingly it's more meaningful IMO. And it shows more character if they can stick with the club in the long term.

The kid may get bagged a lot more along the way - but if ultimate success ever comes the way of the MFC, no one will begrudge a long term Demons supporter their time in the sun. No one - with the potential exception of a few Pies supporters of course.

The Demon supporting kids in your classroom are the ones getting the real education now - one day they'll thank you for that.

Great post.

Let's hope however that they don't have to continually repeat the lesson like the rest of us modern day Demons.

The kid may get bagged a lot more along the way - but if ultimate success ever comes the way of the MFC, no one will begrudge a long term Demons supporter their time in the sun. No one - with the potential exception of a few Pies supporters of course.

You can also bet your last dollar on opposition fans pulling out the tanking card, the moment we see anything resembling success.

You would think the fact it's done us nothing but harm would put that one to bed, but it will still rear its head, especially if we see a premiership with Trengove or any of the $cully compo boys.

You can also bet your last dollar on opposition fans pulling out the tanking card, the moment we see anything resembling success.

You would think the fact it's done us nothing but harm would put that one to bed, but it will still rear its head, especially if we see a premiership with Trengove or any of the $cully compo boys.

And my response will be to stick my middle finger in their face and say - tank on that.

You can also bet your last dollar on opposition fans pulling out the tanking card, the moment we see anything resembling success.

You would think the fact it's done us nothing but harm would put that one to bed, but it will still rear its head, especially if we see a premiership with Trengove or any of the $cully compo boys.

that along with "youve had so many draft picks you should have won 3"

Kids won't wait another 12 months to watch the team get mauled every week. They'll simply jump off, and do. Junior fans are more important now than ever.

Not if you as a parent u make them stick with them which is cruel (just ask my kids) but it teaches them to stick it out through the bad and good times.

It's a good lesson if not a hard one.

Darby's, you need to ensure that those students who mock the Dees receive automatic fails. Conversely, those who follow the Dees can wag, smoke and fornicate on the school grounds and receive nothing less than a B+. That's step one.