By David Nagel
The AFL grand final may be held in Perth this year emotions will be running high in Melbourne as the Demons and Bulldogs square off in the decider for the first time since 1954. The Gazette caught up with passionate supporters of both sides.
Emotions bubbling for 57 long years could spill over on Saturday night if Melbourne wins the 2021 AFL Grand Final against the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium in Perth.
When it comes to football, things have been a lot different over the last two years as Covid dictates where and when we can play our great game.
But there’s some things that Covid can’t take away…like the passion and loyalty of the supporters of all 18 clubs in the competition.
One of the oldest clubs in the VFL/AFL is Melbourne, who this week is chasing its first premiership since coach Norm Smith and captain Ron Barassi held aloft the cup in 1964.
For Pakenham resident Mel Elston, and her nine-year-old son Lachlan, a Demons win would be an absolute dream come true.
Elston, nee Henwood, has had the red and blue running through her veins since she could learn to walk.
“The whole Henwood family, my grandparents Bev and Stan, my dad Wayne, mum Diane, my brother Nick, sister Anthea, aunties and cousins, there’s a heap of us that have followed Melbourne all our lives, “ Mel explained.
“We all went to the footy as kids, right through the generations, and now I’m taking my kids as well.
“We all just love our footy, we even go interstate to watch games and we’re all members.”
Mel, now 40, has been watching the Dees since the age of seven, going to the football with her aunty Denise Davidson, also a Henwood.
Her first taste of finals football was in 1988, when she was on hand to watch the Demons defeat Carlton by 22 points in the preliminary final that year.
“I was too little to go to the grand final, but I do remember us all going to the 2000 grand final and having a barbecue in the car park,” she said.
“Even though we didn’t win it was such a great atmosphere to be a part of and that’s the most disappointing thing about this year.
“It’s so exciting to be in the grand final, but we’re devastated we can’t be there to watch the game.
“This week we would have been at training, the grand final parade, there’s so much we’re missing out on this year. We love our footy so much we even go to the parade when our team’s not participating.”
Along her journey Mel’s favourite Demon players have been Stephen Tingay and Alan Johnson, while son Lachlan has taken on some heroes of his own.
“Lachie loves it, he goes to the footy and absorbs it all, loves the footy record, marking the goals and all that, and we’re always on the phone, at the breaks, checking who has had what stats,” Mel said.
“He loves Jack Viney and has fallen in love with Kysaiah Pickett, he thinks he’s amazing, and Clayton Oliver is a favourite as well.
“But he knows every player from every team; he’s totally absorbed in football. He’s beside himself, he can’t wait, and he’s so excited.”
Mel and Lachie are being supported this week by two Collingwood supporters in the house, dad Rob and youngest son Hudson.
Mel has plans for Rob this week.
“We’ll ramp it up this week, get a few decorations up and get Rob up the ladder,” she said.
“There’s a few others in the neighbourhood as well, so it’s getting really exciting.”
Mel said emotions had already spilt over this year, with Max Gawn’s after-the-siren goal in round 23 – that locked away the minor premiership – and the preliminary final win over Geelong tugging at the heartstrings.
“It’s been amazing, and we have probably cried a bit to be honest,” she said.
“Maxy was amazing in the prelim, and his goal after the siren was incredible.
“Lachie was a mess, he couldn’t believe it, and the emotion that came out of someone so young was incredible.”
So what would it mean if the Dees can hold aloft the silverware on Saturday night?
“It would mean a lot and we would all be absolutely ecstatic,” she said.
“It would be pure joy. We’ve waited a long time and we’ve always loved the footy, it would just be the icing on the cake.”
