One of the most highly anticipated sporting podcasts is here, No Merger. The four-part docuseries delves into the truth behind the failed merger of Melbourne and Hawthorn. 

What happened broke friendships and tarnished legacies forever.

Told through conversations with the people at the front of the controversy, including former AFL CEO, Ross Oakley, acclaimed AFL journalist Mike Sheahan, Demon Alternative co-founder Mark Jenkins, Operation Payback frontman Don Scott, ex-Melbourne coach Neile Balme, former players Jason Dunstall, Alastair Clarkson, Andrew Leoncelli, appearances from Demon Army cheersquad leader Sophie Galer, diehard Demons supporter Gary Marchant, and many many more!

Sydney based actor Ditch Davey, who recently joined the cast of Home & Away, features as the voice actor of ex-Melbourne president, Ian Ridley, who passed away in 2008.

The podcast pre-launched yesterday with front and back page attention in the Herald Sun, featuring Don Scott's claims that Hawthorn were breaching the salary cap in the 80s. The news was syndicated and picked up via Seven, Nine, Fox Sports, The Age and other various outlets.

Listen via the following platforms or wherever you get your podcasts! 

Apple: https://apple.co/2X5ZOUq 

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3hIy000

iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2X0yo22

Adrian from Podular Media and The DeeBrief, one of the producers of the series, kindly passed on this episodic breakdown of the series.

Episode 1 - LIVE NOW

In the mid 80s, the AFL began to go through its most transformative period. The appointment of Ross Oakley as CEO, saw struggling Victorian clubs' futures brought into question. Melbourne Football Club became embroiled in a number of these discussions, while Fitzroy were relocated and merged with the Brisbane Bears.

Unhappy Hawks | 2 - Published on Tuesday, August 4

Hawthorn Football Club are the most successful AFL team of the past six decades. Despite their dominance in the 80s and early 90s they were an organisation on their knees. It begs the question - how could such a star-studded team find themselves in such a position?

The 'Merger Match' | 3 - Published on Tuesday, August 11

When the Herald Sun broke the story of a merger between Melbourne and Hawthorn it sent shockwaves through the football community. Anti-merger groups were formed and the battle lines to preserve the identity of two historic football clubs drawn. The battle between economic rationality and passion had begun.

Vicious Vote Night | 4 - Published on Tuesday, August 18

The Demon Alternative and Operation Payback scrambled to get last minute press ahead of the Members' Vote Night. Wild scenes greeted the pro-merger Boards, as the merger descended into a night of utter chaos. Vicious taunts and toxicity pervaded the Dallas Brooks Hall and Camberwell Civic Centre, where both sets of supporters would decide upon the future of their football clubs.

I'm sure this will one stir our emotions throughout listening to the series! Thankfully, they were able to uncover some important information around the dubious nature of the vote night [in episode 4], which I know is a sore spot for many. And there's a big revelation in episode 2, as Adrian was informing me, about a misconception that still lingers around like a bad smell - keep an ear out for that one.

It's an engrossing listen, you'll be hooked and no doubt it'll generate great debate here on Demonland. 

Adrian will be joining us on the Demonland Podcast this Friday LIVE at 8:30pm to discuss the Podcast and talk about this dark time for the club.

Great, sounds intriguing. Look forward to hearing from Adrian 

Good listen

What a great effort by the Deebrief lads, he is a prolific podcaster. 

This is great. Listening now...

Andy you’re right about it stirring the emotions 

That 87 prelim audio was gut wrenching , and I wasn’t even there and too young to remember it 

it seems incredible this club survived the last 50 years without being merged or relocated 

3 minutes ago, Delusional demon 82 said:

Andy you’re right about it stirring the emotions 

That 87 prelim audio was gut wrenching , and I wasn’t even there and too young to remember it 

it seems incredible this club survived the last 50 years without being merged or relocated 

I feel sorry for Tiger

But a Merger with Whorethorn was just not on, for anyone of us who went through ‘87 & ‘88

 

2 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I feel sorry for Tiger

But a Merger with Whorethorn was just not on, for anyone of us who went through ‘87 & ‘88

 

Any merger full stop to be honest , if I were a Fitzroy supporter that three peat in 01-03 still wouldn’t have felt right , I would still feel a little bit cheated 

if the demons ever climb the summit for a 13th time at least I’ll feel completely  fulfilled because it would be the same club as the one that won its 12th premiership so many years ago, on its own , with the same colours and with the same name 

2 minutes ago, Delusional demon 82 said:

Any merger full stop to be honest , if I were a Fitzroy supporter that three peat in 01-03 still wouldn’t have felt right , I would still feel a little bit cheated 

if the demons ever climb the summit for a 13th time at least I’ll feel completely  fulfilled because it would be the same club as the one that won its 12th premiership so many years ago, on its own , with the same colours and with the same name 

Agreed 100% But a Merger with Whorethorn should never have even been spoken about. We had been humiliated by them 2 years running

Enjoyed it. Loved the doco style

So I gave their main debrief pod a go. Let's just say it was 'passionate' ! was like a heated demonland debate in audio form. The Brayshaw debate has raised my blood pressure, hoo boy. 

Look forward to more merger/debrief content.

 

 

Edited July 28, 20204 yr by John Demonic

1 hour ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I feel sorry for Tiger

But a Merger with Whorethorn was just not on, for anyone of us who went through ‘87 & ‘88

 

I watched the merger match at the end of 1996 with the mindset this will be my last time watching my Demons..

So strong was the media noise of the merge being a foregone conclusion.

I remember at the time thinking can I really support anyone else.

Thank god it never came to fruition 

7 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

I watched the merger match at the end of 1996 with the mindset this will be my last time watching my Demons..

So strong was the media noise of the merge being a foregone conclusion.

I remember at the time thinking can I really support anyone else.

Thank god it never came to fruition 

Yes I was there also PSD, I was gutted we lost, for the same reason. I was never going to support any Brown & Gold.

Maybe years later I would have relented, I don't know, but the memories of '87 & '88 still linger on, so I doubt it

The Jumper design really sucked too, I wish now I had kept all the club letters and brochures from the day, but I burnt it all

 

SWYL I have the papers as I saved MFC papers. It makes interesting reading all these years latter.

When we get back to playing with crowds I will photostat them and you can pick them up at the game.

I sit in 52K2.

I remember being at Dallas Brooks and the passion in the room was something that I had rarely seen at games.

My dad made me follow Melbourne, I only barracked for the dee's to go to the footy with him, otherwise I wasnt allowed to go. He was one of the drunks at the back of the second tier Olympic stand.. it beggars belief but he would drive home sometimes too.

I remember being at Dallas Brooks and an old bloke said to me that if I had gone through all the [censored] years like him, i would vote yes too. Finally after all these years, I understand what he was talking about. 

I am glad that we didnt merge, though 2008-13 were really tough as a supporter, questioned my passion for the game

Even though we have been [censored] and are a long way behind every other team I still love the Dee's, my first true love.

The only thing that kills me these days is watching Hawthorn win premiership after premiership since the failed merger, while we continued with the status quo. Doesnt help that my brother is a Hawks fan either.

Evan at 45 years of age, I still dream of us winning the premiership, always with a kick after the siren. 

I digress, great episode tho.

26 minutes ago, cookieboc said:

Evan at 45 years of age, I still dream of us winning the premiership, always with a kick after the siren. 

41 here, but i have - since 88 - dreamed about us winning a premiership by 100 points...since 2007 i'd prefer 120.....

4 hours ago, cookieboc said:

I remember being at Dallas Brooks and the passion in the room was something that I had rarely seen at games.

My dad made me follow Melbourne, I only barracked for the dee's to go to the footy with him, otherwise I wasnt allowed to go. He was one of the drunks at the back of the second tier Olympic stand.. it beggars belief but he would drive home sometimes too.

I remember being at Dallas Brooks and an old bloke said to me that if I had gone through all the [censored] years like him, i would vote yes too. Finally after all these years, I understand what he was talking about. 

I am glad that we didnt merge, though 2008-13 were really tough as a supporter, questioned my passion for the game

Even though we have been [censored] and are a long way behind every other team I still love the Dee's, my first true love.

The only thing that kills me these days is watching Hawthorn win premiership after premiership since the failed merger, while we continued with the status quo. Doesnt help that my brother is a Hawks fan either.

Evan at 45 years of age, I still dream of us winning the premiership, always with a kick after the siren. 

I digress, great episode tho.

 

3 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

41 here, but i have - since 88 - dreamed about us winning a premiership by 100 points...since 2007 i'd prefer 120.....

48 years and still dreaming since 1980.

It will happen someday just hope it's whilst I still have my full faculties 

Listening to some of the recordings from that time makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Brings it all back. 

1 hour ago, Pennant St Dee said:

 

48 years and still dreaming since 1980.

It will happen someday just hope it's whilst I still have my full faculties 

i'm just hoping i'm still alive!!

Time poor at the moment *but not enough to post on Demonland

A'nd there's a big revelation in episode 2, as Adrian was informing me, about a misconception that still lingers around like a bad smell - keep an ear out for that one.' -

What is the misconception?

4 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

41 here, but i have - since 88 - dreamed about us winning a premiership by 100 points...since 2007 i'd prefer 120.....

I've always said that there are only 2 margins to win by, 1 point and 101 points. Especially against collingwood. all other margins are meh

7 hours ago, cookieboc said:

 I remember being at Dallas Brooks and an old bloke said to me that if I had gone through all the [censored] years like him, i would vote yes too. Finally after all these years, I understand what he was talking about. 

 To be honest I would have voted yes at the time too.

There was often talk in the media how Victoria couldn't sustain so many sides.
My thinking was that we get on the front foot and go for it to capitalise on any AFL concessions.
Join memberships and players making a quite formidable outfit.
It was looking as Melbourne would also be the dominant party in the merge which was a reason Don Scott went on his now famous jumper striping rant.

 

Edited July 29, 20204 yr by Fork 'em

I will never, ever forget that time.

I was also at Dallas Brooks hall, with five other Demon fans that night, people were fighting for our club, the passion, it still gives me chills to this day.

Never forget!

 

Episodes 2 & 3 are now available.

Unhappy Hawks | 2 - Published on Tuesday, August 4 - LISTEN HERE

Hawthorn Football Club are the most successful AFL team of the past six decades. Despite their dominance in the 80s and early 90s they were an organisation on their knees. It begs the question - how could such a star-studded team find themselves in such a position?

The 'Merger Match' | 3 - Published on Tuesday, August 11 - LISTEN HERE

When the Herald Sun broke the story of a merger between Melbourne and Hawthorn it sent shockwaves through the football community. Anti-merger groups were formed and the battle lines to preserve the identity of two historic football clubs drawn. The battle between economic rationality and passion had begun.