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What a day!! If there was ever an event to make you feel proud to be a member of the Melbourne Football Club, yesterday was it! My day started off picking up my nephews at about 8.30 and we made our way to the station. We got to the MCG see a sea of red and blue spectators milling around, queuing up to see the 13 premiership cups, and we made our way to the ice cream van. We found our seats in the MCC members reserve and the match replay started on the big screen. During the course of the morning we got to see some of the honour boards and photos of the MCC and the affiliated sports, including two sections dedicated to the Melbourne Football Club. All the proof I needed that while three other teams call the MCG home, the true home team is in fact the Dees, and has been since 1858. (Sorry, Richmond, Collingwood and Hawthorn!) It was treated like any other match. We cheered the goals, we argued with dodgy decisions (I still reckon that should have been a goal to Max Gawn and how that high tackle on Kozzie Picket wasn’t paid is beyond me). Quarter time saw Andrew Leoncelli and Guy Rigoni compete in the super kick competition, half time saw Robbo Live - Russell Robertson and his band playing Aussie hits, and 3 quarter time gave us a chance to farewell Neville Jetta and Nathan Jones. Then it was time for members of the Demon Army and the Ruby Demons to form the guard of honour on the ground for the players to run out. Standing on that turf while 40,000 people are in the stands is one of the most surreal experiences. The players came out, followed by the players who didn’t get to play, coaches, staff and some board members, and some, like us, had tears in their eyes. Garry Lyon looked like he was completely awash with emotion. We made our way back to our seats after navigating the rabbit warren of the underbelly of the MCG, in time to see the players awarded their medals (we missed the Norm Smith presentation to Petracca while trying to get back up to our seats). There was not a dry eye in the stadium when Neale Daniher presented Simon Goodwin with the Jock McHale medal, and then we hear it, the speech Basil robbed Goody of delivering on GF night. And he delivered it so absolutely beautifully. The cup made its way down a long line of past players, And with Ron Barassi unable to come to present it, it was instead presented by David Neitz. As I predicted! The after party at the London Tavern was next. And that was a massive party. The cup made its appearance, and we all had our turn with it, but we had a few gatecrashers in the form of past players. I managed to get photos with Brian Stynes, Rod Grinter, David Neitz, club president Kate Roffey, Steven Febey, and while I didn’t get a photo with him, had a good chat with Paul Hopgood. By 6.00 I found myself ready to leave. As I went outside i noticed small group outside, and I exclaimed “so nice to be somehere quiet!” Conversation was struck, they then mentioned they were about to go to the East End Bar. “Ah, Gawny’s bar in Hawthorn,” I said. They asked me if I’d like to come along, and I said I’d love to, but I should go home, as I had to get my car from my sister’s. It was then revealed to me who they were - Tom McDonald’s dad, Max Gawn’s mum, and Clayton Oliver’s mum. It was perhaps one of my favourite conversations I’d had in the course of the day. Exhausting day, but all in all, epic. I'm so proud of this club, and that I'm a member of it. Go Dees!!

Yep! Got lucky through a mate with connections and my daughter was able to present one of the medals. The club managed it amazingly too. She scored a premiership jumper, premiership hat and they're sending us professional photos too.

Couldnt help but notice the lack of supporters in Footscrays half of the ground......

Pert said this morning on SEN that they were OK with Jackson staying in Perth for a family Christmas given there is uncertainty on WA borders and if he came back now he may not get back there again for a while. Fair enough. He also said Jacko has a program from the club and is training hard over there. Kozzie, having lost a close relative earlier this year is probably similar. He proved his reliability anyway by training hard in Adelaide pre-season early in the year with his time off with full club support. Club culture again I reckon.

Following COVID lockdowns, I was keen to do something about my fitness so started running 5km every day. After two weeks of this, I arrived in Geelong.

I can confirm he was on Hamilton Island. Hope he enjoyed it as much as we did. Super relaxing place. Did nothing wrong, just looked to be having a nice time in a nice spot with his girlfriend and in his Melbourne gear most times we saw him. Good kid this one.

had spakfilla inserted at Bunnings straight after the Grand final.

Umm... 'Train with' bloke with the beard is going to find it tough to make the list? Well someone had to say it... Go easy on me!

I guess a conspicuous absentee from the past players was the guy who played 42 games between 1989 and 1992, first in #48 and later in #24. 🤭

News reports starting with “Demon Premiership Stars……” - will never get sick of hearing that.

Surely we’re past being afraid of West Coast in Perth. We’ve won more flags there than they have!

The hint was in the word "trials" There where 4 of them. Looks like Selwyn is a fan of interval training. Go and then go again, then go again and go again. Not many sides could run with us in the second half this season, I think they intend to keep it that way.

Front page H/S…

Good on them! Being sensible and trusting players is how you obtain loyalty, and this will certainly pay off in the long run – plus, it’s the right thing to do.

It all started with the Booing of Daniels.

Where are our intrepid on the spot reporters? Is complacency already sinking in?

Had a great time yesterday. Fantastic to see so many Melbourne Demons supporters! We didn't have to worry about winning or losing. It was just a big party! It was a bit of a joke and a laugh when I said to one fellow Demons supporter while waiting in line to get a coffee at the start of the 3rd quarter that things looked grim....do you think we will come back from here? 😂 Saw David Neitz and gave him the thumbs up! 👍 He's still a great bloke! Gotta love big Neita! My face got a little sunburnt even though I was wearing a hat. A bit of a mystery how that happened?! Took the train in with my Dad. Sadly we got there too late to get a photo with the 2021 AFL Premiership Cup. It had just left the Premiership Cups display when we arrived there. My Dad is 72 and has health issues so I can't really rush him to do things. Hopefully, I can arrange with the Club for another time to get a photo with my Dad and I holding the 2021 AFL Premiership Cup.

I don't have the link, but I had friends show me videos on Tik-Tok (some social media video thingy) showing Luke Jackson training very hard with a personal trainer while he is currently over in Perth.

A key contribution in making the day so special .Well done the Gary. I loved his intro to Christain Salem saying this player".. is likely the best ever No.3 in a Dees jumper..."

I got to the G just before midday. Didn’t see a Dees goal until almost 1pm! The crowd were subdued until then but once the 3rd qtr turnaround commenced everyone was right into it cheering every goal to the rafters. Best rendition of Grand Old Flag at the siren ever. Everyone’s lungs were bursting belting it out. A lot of mentions of winning it at the G in 22. I think is a genuine motivator for this group. We’ll be firm favorites. Looking forward to it See you all in 2022. Go Dees

Duuuuuuude, thanks so much for posting that. Stuck up here in north Queensland (lol, I know, its hard to live in Airlie Beach), and relying on you southerners for a report. That brought me closer than I ever thought I would get. Magnificent video. Feels like being there. Wow.

A very special day today. I was able to take my nephews (4 & 6) to the MCG for the first time. Although I suspect they were more interested in munching down on their hot pies and hot dogs. But it will be a moment i'll look back on and celebrate with my family and 35,000 loyal Demon supporters who all share our deep love for the club and it's players. I think everyone had a tear in their eye when Neale Daniher received a standing ovation and later there was a Gawny chant echoing out around the ground which brought a lot of joy and entertainment. The club put on a great show for us all today, and i'm so glad we got to at least share a bit of that experience and piece of history together.

i remember hearing Burgess last season or the one before that, saying that heat was our friend - the hotter the better. Obviously you want the heat training to be controlled, but it has been proven in sports science that this type of training can be extremely beneficial to fitness and performance.

That is hardly a collapse. That happens to me every time I get up off the couch after a few beers.

How bad do they want it? Pretty bad based upon those pics !

But in Perth, whose home game would it be B-B-P? 😁

… my apologies (especially to Jake’s SON). 😬

Will announce a Profit of $2m Cash Windfall will continue next year with more members and blockbuster games Gosch's Paddock works for full sized oval about to start No updates on Permanent Home Luke Jackson in Perth with family due to border restrictions and being able to stay in Perth over Christmas. Will return after Christmas.

IMG_0801.MOV It was so good just to sit back, relax and look at Red & Blue in the stands.

I thought Garry did really well in the role of MC too

I agree it was subdued, but as soon as Harmes stole the ball in the third and hit Fritta on the lead it was amazing! The kick by Harmes was celebrated almost as much as the goal

It all kicked on at the London Tavern afterwards. The cup was there for anyone to get their hands on and a lot of the past players too. The whole day was really cathartic.

Can't thank you enough for this. Love our tribe, bloody hope to join you all for #14

Wow, that's amazing. Thanks to every Melbournian/Victorian who was there to cheer for Neale. You guys are bloody incredible. Legends!

Not all of them were because I never played a game for the Dees... ;)

They would be inflickted with the night vapours, and suffer foul humours and for which there is no remedy, save leeches and bloodletting.

Couldn't help myself

He did the same last off-season. He is an absolute unit now as well. Put on quite a bit more size.

A day and a celebration befitting a premiership club. Kudos to all who organised and participated. Go dees.

Luke has built a lot of credits with respect to the condition he came back from last year's offseason. He was in ripper nick.

It was a great day out. We were stuck in the Punt Rd carpark so missed the start, but had a wander around enjoying the ambience, the past cups etc and sat down to watch the last half. Goosebumps when Harmes laced out Fritta and the crowd went bananas. Got all teary when the crowd loudly celebrated the last minute of the third quarter. I didn't think re-watching the replay would have that effect on me, but it partially closed a grand final experience gap. I thought the touches with the ground GOAL celebrations, the thunder noise and even the small things like the scoreboard & clock keeping time with the replay was top stuff. And the ovation for Neale Daniher. And the past player guard of honour. And Noel McMahen ("It's about bloody time"). We're a classy club.

Speaking of Jake, he and Tracc were being interviewed by Clint Stanaway on the boundary line just in front of us. It’s funny what you don’t see on camera… Jake’s baby girl was sitting on the ground by their feet. Tracc must’ve had a stone in his shoe or something coz he slipped his shoe off with his other foot (again, smooth move) without using his hands. While the shoe was off, the little one started to play with the shoelaces. Tracc glanced down and didn’t bother to put the shoe back on, he knew it was entertaining her. God how I love these guys! ❤️💙

Dockers are OK, Eagles can GAGF

Very happy with how the day went - just like I'd expected, in fact, probably even better. With this kind of thing, it's easy to think of all of the 'what ifs' but if you can take it for what it is, it's pretty special. Apart from anything else, a true one-off (hopefully!). Best of all was seeing so many enthusiastic Demons of all ages but especially the kids. About 5-10 years ago, there was a real visible slump in kids and teens attending, and I still get a real kick out of seeing them a bit more abundant and proud of their colours since 2018ish. When Kate Roffey said "What other club would get 30,000+ at a GF re-watch", I was scoffing a bit, thinking of other, larger supporter bases. But actually, when you think about it, it's pretty impressive given what the event actually entailed, the amount of time that has passed and all the obstacles thrown up around it. And the vibe was great. So grateful to have been able to experience this with my family and my Demon family too. More tears of pride, and for those who couldn't be there. And I think I'm now ready to say: Bring on 2022!

Rivers has a Melb based girlfriend so came back early

My dear brother died in 2004 aged just 44. A more avid Dees fan you would never have met. Along with my red and blue eyed mother who also succumbed to the dreaded C in 2007 they will be in my thoughts today. Mum who lived through many flags often would say to her three sons " Oh I just want to live to see a flag with my boys"! Sadly it was not to be but they will both be part of the celebrations today. As a footnote, we sprinkled some of my brothers ashes on the 50m arc at the Punt road end in 2005 only for the arena to be dug up for the Comm Games in 2006. Luckily we had enough left to repeat the dose in 2007! Go Dees!

My first day a the G since 2019 DD. Here's hoping for some games in 2022.