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I was able to visit our spiritual home today.

Mate who is a News Cameraman at The ABC I was so jealous

This is a bit of a long story, but bear with me. I am the most cyclical of Demons supporters, but I knew we’d win the flag this year, and I know exactly when I knew. April 24th. It was the night we beat Richmond. I was sitting with my 11 year old nephew on his couch in Brisbane. I’d gone up to visit my nephews, and sister in law, as my brother died of cancer last year 4 days before Christmas. He was only 50. Diagnosed in June. Lifelong Dees fan. Was heartbreaking. After we smashed the Tigers and Jonesy was carried off the ground I noticed my nephew had a little tear in his eye. I asked him if he was ok, and he said he was worried. He said he didn’t want the Demons to win the flag this year, because it seemed cruel that they would win it the next season after his dad died. That was when I knew. I’ve supported this club for all of my 43 years on earth, and only the Demons could win the flag in such heartbreaking circumstances. I told my dad, whose 73, and his instant reaction was ‘oh [censored]. We’ll win it now’. It just seemed very Melbourne. During the game I’d held it together until about 6 minutes to go and then it got to me. I was a mess. After the game my Victorian family FaceTimed me - being in regional Vic they were able to be together. When I picked up they sang the song to me. I felt so alone in that moment, as so much of my life as a supporter had been with them. It was so thoughtful of them to call me and do that, as they know how much the Demons mean to me. After we hung up I cried again. I called my nephews and we had a cry together too. We cried for what we had seen, and for who didn’t see it. Footy is a funny thing. It allows us to connect across generations in a way that few things do. I’m very lucky to have had the Demons in my life, if for no other reason than they have helped keep me closer to people that matter - week after week, season after season. I loved Saturday night. I was very happy to feel so emotional. It made me feel alive, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

Some of you know I’ve had a number of health issues to deal with over the last couple of years. I saw my heart specialist today and all is good. We were speaking French (as best I can) and I could swear he said “your heart beats true”.

Friday night here we come..... A source told The Age that Channel Seven gifted some of their sponsors, who didn’t originally plan to run advertisements during the telecast of the big game, some free plugs. The reason for that act of generosity was partly due to there being so many ad breaks because of the glut of goals that were kicked in the second half. In essence, Melbourne kicked too many goals for the host broadcaster to keep up with, leaving them with extra ad spots to fill. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/glut-of-demon-goals-leads-to-free-ads-for-lucky-companies-20210929-p58vtg.html

I've moved discussion about the bar owner to a separate thread. Let's keep this one focussed on our glorious triumph 🏆

One highlight of so many for me was TMac hitting pause on the celebrations and driving home the goal after the siren - clinical, take no prisoners!

My son was born on the Monday before Round 1. Every game day he wore the MFC onesie. The day we played Adelaide he threw up on himself and we had to change him. The day we played Collingwood he [censored] on himself and we had to change him. The night we got beaten by the Bulldogs he threw up on himself. I can't explain the GWS loss. 😂

I want to touch on the significance of the Harmes kick to Fritsch in the third quarter. Up until that point, Harmes was having a pretty average game I thought and it was his errant handball that set up Bontempelli’s third goal. Therefore, the fact he was able to cleanly gather a loose ball (at a time when we couldn’t collect a ground ball if our lives depended on it) and put that beautiful kick to Fritsch under pressure was a huge moment.

Just listened to Tim Lane in the last 3 minutes of the match. He said Melbourne had kicked 100 points (which I know we all know) in essentially a quarter and a half against a team that had not conceded 100 points to any team all year. [censored] stupendous.

And there is the first club to start mimicking everything we do. Weird feeling this.

The cup is officially home baby! Great reporting by demon long time tragic in Nick McCallum

Eyes were welling up by 3QT. Fritsch goal 3min into 4th Quarter saw me absolutely break down crying uncontrollably. Literally bawling my eyes out. Mind you, fatigue from a 2 week old first born probably was a slight contributing factor. Haha.

You now something special is about to happen when your partner, who says she can't watch games because they're too stressful, and tells me off for yelling at the tv actually watches the whole game and starts yelling at the Tv herself.

Presumably after Max lets go and someone gives it a bit of a wipe down

100% old55. I liked how the bench/rest of the team didn't run on either till after he'd kicked it.

Why would I voluntarily subject myself to Derwayne’s voice?

I'll be spending Trade Week watching replays of our fabulous Grand Final Win with different commentaries. Have now watched Ch 7 and SEN versions Looking forward to watching the others. Trade Week? Pffft who cares.

I unashamedly sobbed for about 10 minutes after the siren went. I sobbed so much I was hyperventilating. My daughter thought I was in some sort of medical crisis and got me a paper bag to blow into. Through my tears I just tried to explain how happy I was and how I never thought I would see this day. She still looked at me like I wasn't quite right.

Ha ha. I didn’t care one bit about the commercials because I didn’t even notice them, as I was too busy jumping up and down and screaming my lungs out with enjoyment. 🏆

And treat their viewers with some respect??!! You're a funny guy, Pates!

And so it begins. Our players will be lauded as Superstars. We will become the hunted. Everyone will want what we have and try to replicate our game plan. A simple one two hand pass between Petracca and Oliver will be called incredible by commentators. Salem will be lauded as the best kick in the league every time he gets the ball. Even when he missed one it will be a rare miss.

Cripps to defensive wing

Am I the only one who has no desire to touch the cup itself? To me it's like the ark of the covenant - only the truly worthy may place their hands upon it.

They played our theme song throughout the airport and the boys were greeted by a couple of dozen Covid Compliance Officers. And Nick McCallum, of course. 😊

Think it will be this one

It is, until you come up against a team with dominant ruckmen who can play wing, back or forward and take contested marks, as well as dominate hitouts. Like the team that won the flag on Saturday. Then suddenly your least valuable position becomes your most valuable position, and you are sad that your ruckmen are trash.

I believe Dogga and most of the boys have got their MFC tattoos today … he ain’t going nowhere.

Begs the question of if they had filled their sponsors quota then why not just stay live and show more replays/chat between the goals? I’m sure people would’ve been very happy to do without the extra adverts.

When Nibbler kicked the goal in the last I dropped to the floor and I cried. Then post game when Gawny said “after 57 years of pain it’s coming home” I started again.

I had a cry on Monday Morning listening to Talkback Radio It was all long time Melbourne Supporters. We have been through so much [censored]. To kill the curse so emphatically after all these years, i am still coming to terms with it. I just hope the Club is strong enough to keep getting better. next year we will be hunted and hated

Easier said than done. If it were easy everyone would have done it by now.

Then why the [censored] did they still bombard us post game?

Mid way through the last. Not sure which goal but I was half tank also. I knew when Clarry kicked that goal we were home. I didn't cry then but i had an overriding emotion of pure joy and my mind just went straight to the likes of all the past Melbourne players and even supporters who some have waited 50 years like my dad. Unfortunately it was a night of sadness as I received a text message of congratulations from an ex friend who notified me that my old mentor and counsellor who was also a tragic Melbourne supporter had recently passed away back in July this year of cancer. She thought I knew but I didn't. We had only messaged each other after the Richmond win this year pretty much confirming to each other that the lid was off and we could seriously win it this year and we'd both attend the grand final if we got there. She was in her 50s and was as passionate as they come but also the biggest heart of gold. She'd never seen a Melbourne flag and I was completely gutted that she was only 2 months of from seeing one for the first time in her life. I'm more angry she never told me that she was terminally ill but understood that's how she was a person. That win was for you dear Kate.