BenJamin on Deesy St

@Return to Glory not a bad game yesterday. Opened the show bag from Chemist Warehouse yet?!!

Weagles fans aside (!!), you could do worse than settle in Perth. Was my fifth time there (first for footy), although unfortunately didn’t get out of East Perth this time. It’s always so bloody sunny and bright. I really like Freo, done some scuba diving off Rottnest and have stayed in Joondalup before and enjoyed that side of town too. Will be back!

Big shout out to the Western Demons and the MFC for organising this event on the banks of the Swan River at relatively short notice - was undoubtedly the highlight of the day, indeed trip, for us. We loved hearing from Todd Viney, brought a tear to my eye, and some nice memories from ‘87. He bleeds red and blue. All Dees’ fans were in a buoyant mood. We met some lovely people, really dedicated to the cause, had a kick of the footy on the grass, won some cash in some moneyboard game. Things were looking good. Walking together to the stadium - towards a sea of blue and yellow - was daunting but uplifting too. Pity about the [censored] game, our tired and inept performance and those rabid and deafening Eagles’ fans in the cauldron. Having to endure more than two hours of their relentless din of whinge and entitlement, as well as the incessant arrogance and gloating in the rows behind us (at one stage, I was told by an elderly gentleman I was a “[censored] idiot” for daring to suggest that Nicholls was not wearing a Melbourne jersey - this was when free kick count was 12-5 in Eagles’ favour) was torture, pure and simple. And then to cap it off, after the siren, listening/watching them chant “MCG, MCG, MCG” and then sing (in every conceivable key imaginable) and dance to Daddy Cool’s Eagle Rock for what seemed like an eternity . . . [censored], now I’m whinging. Was hoping to ride a wave of euphoria back to Melb, but instead got dumped unceremoniously (and with a three grand credit card bill) in Perth. It’s just [censored].

Why the hell not (will deal with the acute credit card pain of this trip in a - hopefully - euphoric state next month)

The name Clarrie Olivia has a certain ring to it! All the best for next week - exciting and life-changing on all fronts

Damn right!! (I do like a beer, don’t get me wrong, but haven’t indulged at Melb games since taking the kids there.)

High up in the stands of Optus Stadium, I will shed a tear and hug - as if my life depended on it - my 8 year old daughter, who in her lifetime has almost single-handedly re-kindled my enthusiasm/interest in footy and love of MFC, and treat myself (and my brother) to my first beer at a Melb game in 8 years.

Hi WPL and L36, we three will be in row 19 - scarves (and beanies if we can stand the heat) will be our garb!

Good stuff - that makes at least 7 of us in 511! You’ll hear our roars and screams after every goal, and ”oooss” and “aaahss” after every Clarry pick up and handball. Throw in a bit of “Weeeeeeeeeeiiiiid” and I think you’ll know soon enough who the three nutters up the back are!

We got through. 511 for us. Can’t bloody wait!

We’ll be there, as criminally expensive as it is. Have been swept up in this wave, 54 years in the making, and am powerless in getting off it now.

Yes, you might be right about that, sorry. The premium option gives you priority access to finals’ tickets.

Spoke to MFC Membership Services today about all this (and why not!!). There’ll be a pre-general-admission opportunity for WCE and Melb/Haw club members to get tix, through Ticketmaster (thank Christ), most probably on Mon 17 Sept between 9am-1pm. From what they were saying, it sounds like the amount of tix offered, in the first instance, to both the home and away club members will be the same - that’s promising if you are an MFC member and you intend to go. Re travel packages if you’re that way inclined, MFC won’t be doing them, but there will be some packages (tix and travel/accom or just travel/accom) available through AFL Travel. Needless to say, if the Dees get up this Fri as I think we should, Perth here we come, by hook or by crook!!

More crap

Well, that was cathartic

We owe the Cats. Last two losses down at Kardinia Park (111 and Zach T) reduced my eldest daughter to convulsive fits of despair and snot after the final siren. She used my shoulder and my 1980s hand-knitted scarf (marked with my own tears from 1987) as a hanky each time - it’s still intact and will be worn with pride this Fri night. Anyway, what a difference a few weeks make. Here she is running out with the boys for the GWS game last week, with all ahead of her and the team. Great photo full of hope, joy and purpose, from article here: http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-09-04/finals-experience-no-issue-lewis Go Demons!!!

Keep changing the goal posts, TGR. You wrote him off barely halfway through his first year at the club. He’s already proven you wrong.

Logged in at 9am through Ticketek app and got this error image for 20 mins. Been waiting in queue since. Farcical.

Great to see you’re believing, Jnr. Not wanting to show you up here but I remember saying something similar (about most teams fearing us) after Round 2 this year and your response at the time was, “Comedy gold”. Agree with you that this team has all the attributes you say it has. And probably like you, I can’t bloody wait to have another crack at Geelong - got some unfinished business with them, and some painful memories (going back many years) to ease, if not erase.

Well, thank you, Jordan, for another typically solid season (in a long line of solid seasons), this time as the general down back, whose importance grew the longer the year went on in Lever’s absence. 21 games, averaging 23 touches, designated kicker (with Salem and Vince) from opposition points, an absolutely cracking 300th in Adelaide with all to play for, slick hands, cool head, steely character, club spokesperson, exceptional leader - and I stress that last point. The bond between him, Jones and Gawn - and his influence on those guys and the playing group as a whole - is clear for all to see. From Oliver: “When he says something, you do it.” One thing I’ve learnt over many years, both as a participant and spectator, is to write off champions at your peril, especially those as proud and competitive as Lewis. Two good years for the Dees should not come as any great surprise. Who’s to say he can’t be just as effective next year? Well played, Jordan, and looking forward to your September contribution in the red and the blue!

Big shout out to the MFC for embracing and rewarding their members this week. My 8-year old won the ‘Junior Mascot experience’ for today’s game. She’ll be running out with the boys, through the banner! Asked who she’d like to run out with (they get a choice), she said without hesitation, “Clarry, and if not him, Max.” She knows her footy! Great reward for a dedicated young Demon.

Looks like my attempt at humour has fallen flat. Ah well. From memory, the line “all those in favour say aye” pops up in a few Simpsons’ episodes (going on strike, monorail etc), hence my response. But I think I might have picked the wrong image/episode here in trying to convey my overwhelming support of extending Goodwin’s contract.

One for the believers. Fantastic post-match interview with Nathan Jones here: http://m.melbournefc.com.au/video/2018-08-19/rd-22-nathan-jones-postmatch Talks about dealing with what must have been a crippling weight of expectations over a 12 year period, and how he has grown as a leader, learning more about himself and footy over the last 2 years than ever before. Dees’ fans, time to cast aside the veil of negativity for good, and start believing.

The funny thing is (and the line that will be trotted out), if we beat the Swannies this week, we still wouldn’t have beaten a team in the top 8 - as they will have dropped out!