The heart beats true

I honestly think he coaches in an outdated way. He relies a lot on an ‘us vs. the world’ mentality, which can get you going, but as you say is very hard to sustain. All that stuff after the prelim about how they were so disappointed that the video of them celebrating had been released, and then taking shots at anyone who had said Treloar was under performing in a different role. It all just felt like they needed to create a feeling of being backed into a corner. You don’t need to play on emotion, you just need to play for the team, and sometimes that’s actually about calming down and focusing simply on the next moment.

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.

I still plan to do a lot of apologising… ’I’m sorry September is so hard for you’ ’Sorry, and I agree, it does seem unfair that we have so many great young players’ ’Excuse us. We just seem to get it done when it counts’ I’m nothing if not gracious.

I just heard on the radio they are to be retained in custody until their court date in 2 weeks. That’s a fair commitment of time, along with the fine they’ll get.

I hope their risk assessment included a month in jail. The WA government is jailing 1 in 6 CoVID breaches. This is the most high profile.

The Junkyard Dogga

I doubt Glenn loved his exit, but it’s great that both he and Kate understood the momentous occasion on Saturday night, and could both be there for it. They both have played an important role, and deserved that moment.

I was still so anxious and tense at that stage I yelled at the TV ‘for [censored] sake BT he’s not like anyone else, he’s his own person’. Yeah. Saturday was a long day here.

I hope you’re not referring to those gorgeous Teddy Bears? If so, you spelled ‘Priceless Premiership Memorabilia’ wrong.

I said it in another thread but that guy is the spirit animal of every Melbourne supporter. The more real it became the more we felt we had to lose, and the more the history of the club weighed on us. And the best bit is the boys went absolutely berserk and played so well we didn’t have to worry about any of it. I’d love to buy that guy a drink.

He didn’t need to predict it, he’d done the math and knew it! 🤣

My favourite quote goes back to mid season, when we sat 2 games clear on top. Dr. D - ‘We won’t make top 4 from here’ Nailed it 👍

This bloke. He actually made me feel like I wasn’t alone in being completely unable to comprehend what was happening.

First of all, Pert did deliver. A flag. You are welcome. Secondly, darkhorse said ‘ I feel I should not have to hang outside the hotel or try random pubs for my kids to get a photo/signature from a player. ‘ to a bunch of supporters who weren’t able to go and see the game at all, many of whom have invested a lot over the last 50 odd years. He saw the club break a 57 year curse, with his own eyes, and he’s disappointed that he didn’t get a signature! Wow. Its like complaining about the price of mittens to a double amputee. Appreciate what you have.

Imagine being so good that people now worry about how we will keep all our stars together? This time last year Oliver was off to Carlton, Trac to the Pies. I think the boys looked fairly connected on the ground after the granny. Doubt anyone is rushing to leave.

Just to put this in perspective: I can’t go further than my front door, am not allowed on the street after 9 or I’ll get arrested, everywhere I go I live in constant fear of getting a disease that has killed millions of people in the last 12 months, and I’ve given the club well over 100k in my lifetime on memberships and extras. In return I got to see my side win the flag on the TV like any other impartial viewer. Shall I continue, or shall we all pull our heads in and enjoy the fact we won the GRAND FINAL AND ARE PREMIERS!!!

He’ll get to Carlton. I’ll resist saying he’s ‘choosing money over success’ - because then I’d have to get a terrible haircut and start being a racist.

To be fair to the bloke, he followed through on what really matters. Also, finding it hard to feel too sorry for our WA Members, given what they have had access to over the last month.

I feel the need to say this for those of you talking about doing it at the G. I was an AFL Member for 15 years. I went to a lot of grand finals as a neutral supporter, and one as a Demon (2000). The grand final at the G is a funny one. There is a lot of neutrals and corporates there. It’s definitely not 50k passionate supporters from each team. More like 30k each - and 40k neutrals and corporates. I often used to get annoyed with the crowd at the GF, because a lot of them seemed to not care, and not know the game well.

I always thought the Gary Ayres Medal was for the player with the worst hair cut in the finals?

Trying to work out what part of the city that is?

That footage of the 3rd quarter centre clearances they just showed On The Couch is proof of the value of belief in a system. The Bulldogs set up properly, but didn’t maintain their structure enough. They all got drawn to the ball too easily. You could argue they were trying to do it individually instead of trusting the team. Sound familiar Demons fans? That was our problem for all of 19-20. Absolute credit to the players and the coaching staff. Belief and buy in.

Lockhart stiff. Looked a lock for Round 1 until he got injured right before the season started, and then seemed to literally drop off the clubs map. Not many updates or mentions of him.

Fox Footy is making me emotional tonight. Turn it on if you can.

The Age’s podcast breakdown of the game, and of our list is really good listening. https://www.theage.com.au/podcast/the-age-real-footy-podcast/drought-breaker-with-a-team-of-destiny-the-dees-grand-final-win-20210927-p58v47.html