A fantastic but moving article by the talented Megan Hustwaite in the Age who interviewed family of past demon players who have recent passed.

https://amp.theage.com.au/sport/afl/families-of-demons-who-died-too-young-say-their-hearts-still-beat-true-20210915-p58ry0.html?btis=&__twitter_impression=true

Oh jeez. It’s way too early to be chopping onions.

wonderful article

So much recent tragedy. I hadn't thought about it until it was pointed out recently.

I know the team has been poor, the finances strained, the reputation in tatters - but we have always been a strong club cared for by well meaning people.

Failure is also a great galvaniser...

Such a great read. Good to feel connected to these demon greats again… across the great divide. It brought them all back.  I can imagine how proud and loud  jimmy would be right now. Robbie will always have a special spot in my heart, as would anyone who saw him play or knew him. Still a cut above anyone else i’ve seen. 

Good to feel the connection with Troy and sean and Colin again also… hope they’re all wishing us on from wherever they are. I want to win it fr all of them too. 

I don’t think Dean Baileys family will be doing the same though. Sending a thought out to him and his family .. with an apology to u all for being mixed up with this club at its nadir. Hope u can find a way to wish us well. 

Our club is steeped in rich history and also a lot of tragedy. Winning a flag would mean so much to so many people and help to heal wounds, big and small. 

I think I lasted two lines 😢.

Some great memories for me with Wight, Stynes and Hi-ho Sylvia.

Great piece from Megan Hustwaite. So many Demons gone too soon, it was great for this to not just be acknowledged in an article but for a journo to take the time to tell the stories of those left behind and how they are connected to what our team is doing today.

Edited September 19, 20214 yr by ChaserJ

33 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

I think I lasted two lines 😢.

Some great memories for me with Wight, Stynes and Hi-ho Sylvia.

The Sean Wight one was really sad to read for me.

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

A fantastic but moving article by the talented Megan Hustwaite in the Age who interviewed family of past demon players who have recent passed.

https://amp.theage.com.au/sport/afl/families-of-demons-who-died-too-young-say-their-hearts-still-beat-true-20210915-p58ry0.html?btis=&__twitter_impression=true

Wonderful. It’s all I can do to not cry. Boys do it for them, their families, you, your families and us. Don’t waste this chance, the last was 21 years ago.

17 minutes ago, ChaserJ said:

Great piece from Megan Hustwaite. So many Demons gone too soon, it was great for this to just be acknowledged in an article but for a journo to take the time to tell the stories of those left behind and how they are connected to what our team is doing today.

It is a great piece. The mother’s ongoing grief in the Sylvia bit at the end hit me square in the feels. It’s easy as footy fans to dehumanise football players a bit. To think of Colin Sylvia as that kid who never quite managed to reach the heights we thought he might. But at the heart of it, he was just a young man, with a close relationship with his mum and the best years of his life still ahead of him, who is gone too soon. We all felt a pang of sadness when we heard the news, but she still lives it daily. 

It’s all about the people and this article captures that. I highly doubt Brad Flower, Sam Ludbey-Stynes, Peggy Wight, the Broadbridges and Lynne Hatfield have anything in common whatsoever other than grieving men lost too soon, and the Melbourne footy club. They’re all our people, it will mean something to them, and they’ll be amongst like-minded friends if it happens, even if they don’t know it.

People can waffle about us being dandies, toffs and snobs all they like. Our last twenty years have been exacting on so many fronts besides what’s happened on the playing front.

Probably an oversight but Brad Greens wife passed away  at 40  and a club director passed away relatively young  too in last 8? Years

My mother was a demon supporter before she died. She would have loved it. My uncle definitely won’t see next grand final.

I feel for them. Especially Robbie. He was the last demon I saw as a demon through and through. Barracked for the team all his life. Kept trying to play for our club and our club only, despite numerous rejections. Refused many offers to leave and have success with other clubs. The mans loyalty and love for this club was matched by none. He was a demon through and through.

Of those that died only Sylvia did not get the best out of them selves during their careers at MFC.

I met Robbie, Jim and Sean while i worked as trainer with MFC and watch their progress but the deaths were very sad.

There is an old saying "only the Good Die Young" and they were very good.

We will always love each and evey one of our boys💖💙

They will be forever red and blue.

I'm ashamed to say that while I had been thinking in the last few weeks about Flower, Stynes, Wight, Broadbridge and Bailey as Demons who had left us too soon, I had completely forgotten about Colin Sylvia until I read the article.