GBDee

It’s coming home…

Brilliant! Hope you enjoy the beer. Who's the beer journo? My co-founder may know him. Don't worry if you'd rather not say, of course.

I'll be just across the river from you. I had thought of hosting a GF event for Demons fans but coverage would be via the BT Sport App and reliant on our often sketchy broadband feed so I daren't risk it. Imagine the picture buffering just as Maxy is about to launch from 55m?! As an alternative, and if it goes well from a Demons perspective, if you (or anyone else for that matter) fancies a post-GF slurp, head south across Tower Bridge to Southwark Brewing Company Tap Room (SE1 2EZ - Tube London Bridge) where I'm a co-owner and will certainly look after any Demons fans who stumble in. Once across Tower Bridge, turn left at the third set of traffic lights - Druid Street - and we're the third railway arch on the right. Yes we do brew "warm, flat Pom cask ales" ;-) but don't worry, we also have various craft keg beers and a Pilsner lager (and wines and spirits for those not into beer). The wines might not match the quality of those I brought back from Gippsland a few years back but hey, when in Rome... Anyway, you'd all be welcome - just ask for Andy. Go Melbourne.

Couldn’t watch because I’m on cricket tour in a quintessential Suffolk village where there’s only intermittent electricity, never mind wifi, but make no mistake, the web-fingered locals are now suitably educated in the storied history and present successes of the greatest team on God’s earth. All are now on board. Seriously, love you all.

Tears in my eyes over here. Unbelievable comeback against all the odds. Appalling umpiring throughout. Have a great night over there - I’m off to get seriously stotious. IAGOF

I’ve kept quiet on here since I joined - the nuances of the modern game are so far removed from what I grew up with in early 60’s Melbourne that I feel under-qualified to comment in depth - but I truly believe our time has come. I fell in love with the Demons back then, I was there in ‘64 and I’ll be shouting at my tv with the rest of you here in England. Finals start tomorrow and it’s our time folks.

Wow, this brings back memories (the 8-2 ‘soccer’ match that is). Like you my Dad didn’t ‘get’ Aussie Rules and he took me to see any UK touring side that made it to Melbourne, so I was there that day too. We’d emigrated to Aus in ‘60 and, after a spell in Sydney, settled in Williamstown where I had my first taste of ‘footy’ in the school playground. Back then, you followed your local team so most of the kids were Footscray daft. One day, Dad’s workmates were on at him to choose a VFL team to and he was leaning towards South as they played in red & white like his beloved Sunderland back in England. One loudmouth though (Pies fan, no surprise there) was pestering him to follow them but, knowing that Sunderland’s bitter rival Newcastle played in black & white and were also the Magpies, he wasn’t interested. In fact, he told me he chose the Dees that day simply because they were Collingwood’s big rival. Thus started my love affair with the club and within days I had a brand new MFC guernsey and was soon pestering Dad to take me to games. Anyway, I was there in ‘64. Aged 8. Only a few memories but each as vivid as if it happened yesterday. The noise, the foul-mouthed Collingwood fans in front of us abusing the bald John Lord, Ray Gabelich lumbering from the left H-F flank right below me to all but break my heart, Froggy Crompton popping up with his goal, the final siren that I didn’t even hear such was the noise and my Dad ripping into the Pie fans as they skulked away. Returned to England in the seventies but still follow them - tv coverage is pretty good over here and I’ve been back twice with two wins each time. Just desperate for one more flag before I drop off my perch...