I posted this else where but thought it deserved it’s own topic 

Well boys, we knew this day was coming a long time ago and we've come to terms with it. Truth is Dec was a bit over football anyway, to be putting in all that blood, sweat and tears to not be playing regular senior footy isn't easy.

That being said, the family and I will be forever grateful to the Melbourne Football Club for giving Dec the chance to live out his life long dream, and he got that chance on a sunny afternoon at the MCG. Not only that, but they won a close game, and himself having an impact on that result (his centre clearance for those who remember) He and us will never forget it.

To everyone at Demonland, since I first started posting here 5 years ago when Dec started playing some decent footy at Casey, thank you for all your kind words. I have had a great time being able to share this experience with super passionate supporters which are sometimes hard to find. I have sincerely enjoyed the conversations and experiences I've had over the years and I'll be sure to pop back in ever now and again as I now and will always bleed Red and Blue.

Dec's career wasn't the most glamorous by any stretch but only a very small percentage of people who ever play our beloved game get to say they played in the AFL.

Cheers everyone, and have a drink on me!

6 minutes ago, Drunkn167 said:

I posted this else where but thought it deserved it’s own topic 

Well boys, we knew this day was coming a long time ago and we've come to terms with it. Truth is Dec was a bit over football anyway, to be putting in all that blood, sweat and tears to not be playing regular senior footy isn't easy.

That being said, the family and I will be forever grateful to the Melbourne Football Club for giving Dec the chance to live out his life long dream, and he got that chance on a sunny afternoon at the MCG. Not only that, but they won a close game, and himself having an impact on that result (his centre clearance for those who remember) He and us will never forget it.

To everyone at Demonland, since I first started posting here 5 years ago when Dec started playing some decent footy at Casey, thank you for all your kind words. I have had a great time being able to share this experience with super passionate supporters which are sometimes hard to find. I have sincerely enjoyed the conversations and experiences I've had over the years and I'll be sure to pop back in ever now and again as I now and will always bleed Red and Blue.

Dec's career wasn't the most glamorous by any stretch but only a very small percentage of people who ever play our beloved game get to say they played in the AFL.

Cheers everyone, and have a drink on me!

Great words mate.  

Good luck to Dec. 

Ah @Drunkn167 I was going to see how you were going when I saw Dec had been delisted. Thank you for all of the great insights and feedback from you and how Dec is going.

It was brilliant to see the build up to Dec getting his big day on the G! What an experience he and you and the family are so lucky to have been a part of it. 

Kudos to Dec for all of his efforts to get to the big stage and I hope he (and you guys) feels a part of the Dees forever moving forward.

100% win ratio. Never forget!

In hindsight, he should of played 21 more games.

Cheers mate!

Thanks Drunkn all the best to Dec he is a ripping bloke who even posed for  pic with my daughter and her dog at family day. Polite, easy to talk to and a gentleman. I wish him all the best in his football future.

Nicely put Drunkn, I feel like I have been a fly on the wall of an AFL career through your excellent input.

All the very best for the future and I hope Dec can re-kindle his love for the game at some point.

All the best drunkn to Dec and all the family.

Cheers for the insight over the years and whilst it may not have been the glamorous career he'd hoped for it was longer than ours

Good luck gents.

Thanks for being part of this roller coaster  ride we all call "The Dees"

Go well in your next journeys. 

and...thank you.

All the best drunkn, to you and your family.?

 

Thanks @Drunkn167 - you’ve been a great poster, mostly positive and a great supporter of Declan who I, and a few others, thought should have been given one final opportunity late in the season when so many of our talls were out injured.

You’re right about the fact that he did get to play at the highest level which is more that can be said of most of us mere mortals who can only dream about such an achievement.

Not only that, but it’s not necessarily over and I hope that there’s another club out there willing to take a punt on him as a delisted free agent and if not that, then there’s plenty of good football competitions around where he can find his niche and enjoy the game that he’s been very good at playing.

Cheers ?

 

He played exactly two more games than me and he got to be drenched inside the circle.

I should be green with envy but the spirit of the red and blue makes me delighted for Dec.

Best wishes.

 

Have really enjoyed your posts drunkn and the glimpses  into the human side of it all. 

Was hoping dec would make it...he gave it his all. 

All the best to both of you. Hope to see you posting here again! 

Well done to Dec. He managed to do what many only dream of. Thanks for bringing us all such a personal insight.

All the best to yourself and dec for the future

What a classy post. All the best!

Thanks for the post Drunkn.
All the best to Dec in the future.

Any parting insider dirt?
Like WTF is really going on down there?
Do they think the game plan is crap, is there a player split etc... etc?
 

Edited August 27, 20196 yr by Fork 'em

Thanks Drunkn, and all the best to Dec with thanks for making his blood sweat and tears Red and Blue ones.  Appreciated the insight from the family perspective.  Go well.

Thanks for the insights and Good Luck

Was really hoping that Declan was going to make it, but that's the way it goes I guess.  The club ended up being a pretty tough gig to get a game as a key backman.

It must be frustrating getting so close to making it at the top level, but it's still a pretty decent effort to be as competitive as he was playing senior VFL.

Good luck mate. Saw plenty of Dec down at Casey and will fondly remember him.

Drunkn... hell man be proud ..... he made it ... wow how many of us Park footballers had the dream ... and didn’t really get close... The captain in my first game of football (a grand final) was Francis Bourke and I played against Fred Way and Lance Oswald .... he’ll mYtwo sons were wonderful players.. one played with Juddy and Ted Richards and with a Salem.. the other against Goddard .. and with a Salem and Dawes.. tell he has made it to the highest level.. well done ..and to you for your conviction...

He's definitely been the most loved 2 game player this forum has ever seen, which is mostly because of the infectious enthusiasm of his brother! Thanks @Drunkn167for giving us the personal connection, it has added a human element to all of it that I think is easy to forget exists most of the time.

It's a hard gig, AFL. I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for a young bloke to know that he's been *this close* for a couple of years but just couldn't quite crack it. Rest assured though, Dec played two more AFL games than most of us, which think is a very good achievement.

I hope life after AFL footy is kind.

Cheers mate.

2 hours ago, Drunkn167 said:

I posted this else where but thought it deserved it’s own topic 

Well boys, we knew this day was coming a long time ago and we've come to terms with it. Truth is Dec was a bit over football anyway, to be putting in all that blood, sweat and tears to not be playing regular senior footy isn't easy.

That being said, the family and I will be forever grateful to the Melbourne Football Club for giving Dec the chance to live out his life long dream, and he got that chance on a sunny afternoon at the MCG. Not only that, but they won a close game, and himself having an impact on that result (his centre clearance for those who remember) He and us will never forget it.

To everyone at Demonland, since I first started posting here 5 years ago when Dec started playing some decent footy at Casey, thank you for all your kind words. I have had a great time being able to share this experience with super passionate supporters which are sometimes hard to find. I have sincerely enjoyed the conversations and experiences I've had over the years and I'll be sure to pop back in ever now and again as I now and will always bleed Red and Blue.

Dec's career wasn't the most glamorous by any stretch but only a very small percentage of people who ever play our beloved game get to say they played in the AFL.

Cheers everyone, and have a drink on me!

Hope Dec continues playing and would be very happy if it is with Casey. If at some other club, then all the best to him. As you said, he has done what so few have, played AFL football. He should be proud of that achievement.

As for you, it must be hard to read posts potting a family member's ability, but I am sure you know it is not personal and what we all forget, including me occasionally, is that all these boys have families and it is not their fault if they are not Dustin Martin or Jeremy Cameron.

Keep posting and Go Dees.

Well said!         Good luck to you both. !!   wish I had been able to play football on the Gee,   played kick to kick years ago that was the closest   Cheers  Good Luck in the future

Good on you mate. Thanks for posting and come back soon. Besh wishes to you and your bro.

Edited August 27, 20196 yr by A F

Thank you Drunkn167 for great comments and opinions over the years. I wish you and your family all the best for the future.