I thought this deserved its own thread (apologies, WJ as you have had a fantastic 50 Years Ago thread running during the year.

In 1964, 16 yo Donna Steele was an absolute demon fanatic. Inspired by her Demon-loving father, Don Steele, Donna kept a scrapbook of her beloved team throughout this special year. Now I have custody of this book and would like to share it with you all out there. I am posting a couple of pictures to get the ball rolling. The book covers the fortunes of the team, round by round and is a magical read. Few of the pictures would have been seen by modern-day footy fans. All in all, it is a treasured tome. Over the next few days I will put it all together into a slideshow. For now, I just want to get the text clear enough to read.

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2nd Tranche:

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3rd instalment:

"... in which the '64 Demons go about their paces in a series of practise matches, and serious injury overcomes

one of their new recruits."

4th Instalment. Includes coverage of thrilling season-opener v Geelong. Melbourne went down in a close match, but served notice that it will be a contender in 1964.

5th Instalment These selections review Melbourne's defeat of Carlton. Note commentary on Frosty Miller, later to become a star in the red and blue for Dandenong.

Nice one Bush Dee.

Think Donna may have fancied Barass?

There is no other player in her scrapbook which is why I was lead to this conclusion.

Should be called a Barass book.

There are well over a hundred pages. This is just a first instalmenent under her title, "Personalities". It goes round by round...

  On 01/10/2014 at 07:45, bush demon said:

There are well over a hundred pages. This is just a first instalmenent under her title, "Personalities". It goes round by round...

Obviously alphabetical then.

Bluey Adams?

Wow - great stuff Bush Demon ... I wonder how much of the club's history is appreciated by Demon fans now that there's a gap of half a century since our last premiership?

You just get a sense, reading through these pages that Melbourne were the main game in those days. Wait till you guys see the rest of this collection. I have skipped 'personalities' (another 20 or so pages) and am currently uploading 'practise matches'.... it's a bit slow because i want the images to be good. Donna's father went to training one night, mid-season, and nearly all players have signed their names in the scrapbook.

I was there in 64 at the Grannie. As a tacker I kept an autograph book and had most of the players sign it. Now lost, so great to see this!

Love it Bush Demon, great score.

There was some great footage of RDB coaching which I'd never seen before during that show "The Chosen Few" about coaches which ch.7 screened the night before the GF.

"I want you to do it my way. And my way is handball. Handball handball handball handball. If it doesn't come off, then you can blame me, but right now it's your fault."

Wow that is Brilliant Bush D...Thankyou for sharing...Every page is Golden History.

Thanks Bush D. Brought back great memories for me. My dad also took me to the '64 GF, but I was too busy picking up those old steel beer cans to stand on in the Grey-Smith stand, not realising the enormity of the situation which was about to unfold. My father was not one to utter expletives, at least I rarely heard him do so. But deep in to the last quarter he let go the F bomb. Gabbo had just kicked a goal after his stuttering run up the members wing, to put the Pies in front. A few minutes later, I found myself flat on my back. My father jumped in the air and as he came down, knocked me A over T. Neil Froggy Crompton had just won the grannie for our beloved red and blue and I had never seen my dad more ecstatic.

Great memories again Bush D. Thank you.

Thanks for the all the great comments guys, it is an absolute pleasure to share this collection. It certainly takes me back in time. We had a charismatic club back in those days. Only hope the good times will one day return. Will upload rest as I am able.

6th Instalment, Donna's 1964 Scrapbook, featuring Melbourne's fourth round defeat by St Kilda.

  On 01/10/2014 at 08:13, bush demon said:

You just get a sense, reading through these pages that Melbourne were the main game in those days. Wait till you guys see the rest of this collection. I have skipped 'personalities' (another 20 or so pages) and am currently uploading 'practise matches'.... it's a bit slow because i want the images to be good. Donna's father went to training one night, mid-season, and nearly all players have signed their names in the scrapbook.

This, is what we've been missing for half our clubs life... this sort of contact & passion & engagement, that gives so much to us all... this is what a club is all about. not what we've become.

Lets open the clubs Heart again to those who want to follow it.

Just caught up with this thread Bush - the memories. Thanks again Bush.

This was Round 5, and Melbourne desperately needed to show their credentials against a top side, and bounce back after Skilda had easily run over them the previous week. The tipsters were favouring Essendon, but in the end, Melbourne dominated, overtaking Essendon on the ladder, and showing themselves to be serious contenders in 1964.

  On 01/10/2014 at 07:54, Whispering_Jack said:

Wow - great stuff Bush Demon ... I wonder how much of the club's history is appreciated by Demon fans now that there's a gap of half a century since our last premiership?

A mixed blessing. Experiencing these highs as a supporter makes it all the worse, having to put up with the long years since.