This is a marvelous piece by the one and only Martin Flanagan who is a favourite around here.

'The invisible connect that binds': a football club reunion 40 years on

I've chosen it for its wonderful story about football and family and great values that it describes and it's also relevant for its connection with MND which former Melbourne Football Club coach is suffering and working to find a cure. It's also about the Springvale Football Club which is now virtually defunct having rebranded and moved to Casey Fields in 2006 and now no longer known as the Scorpions.

When Springvale won that premiership in 1977 it was in the old Federal League. The club joined the VFA in 1982. They are now known as the MFC-affiliated Casey Demons but very few vestiges of the past club remain. WJ remarked after their last win a fortnight ago the team sang "Its a Grand Old Flag", not the old Scorpions song.

When the veterans of that 1977 grand final are gone, there will be no one to celebrate the Springvale Football Club. 

Another great piece of writing from Flanagan. That closing sentence is a gem

Sadly the Springvale story is far from unique in the VFA. The likes of Oakleigh, Prahran, Caulfield, Camberwell and Yarraville to name a few, have all been consigned to history

My old man played for both Melbourne and the Springvale Football Club so I've always had a soft spot for Springy...

I played for Springvale under 12's and 14's with Bill Lonie, coach. the team song:Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrŕ.... Razza Razza Razza whiskers on ya tazza. who are who are who are we? we are the boys of the S.F.C. Springvale Springvale ra ra ra. S P R I N G V A L E!

9 hours ago, Beetle said:

My old man played for both Melbourne and the Springvale Football Club so I've always had a soft spot for Springy...

Doug Koop?

23 minutes ago, bush demon said:

Doug Koop?

No mate...well before his time.