CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The Melbourne Demons ended a 57-year drought on Saturday night by defeating their cross-city rivals the Western Bulldogs, to win the 2021 Grand Final.
The weary Demons fanbase, many of whom have never known the joy of winning a flag in their lifetimes, weren’t treated to the easiest 80 grand final minutes – as they white knuckled through the horror of seeing the Dogs up by 19 points midway through the third quarter.
But in front of 61,118 makeshift fans at Perth’s Optus Stadium, the demons managed to claw their way back in front, before pumping their opponents in the final leg – finishing with a delicious 140-66 scoreline.
After what has been a very ordinary couple years in in the Victorian capital, it is not lost on fans of both teams that there was a cruel hollowness to this match being played in Perth.
The relocated Grand Final was a biosecurity protocol that rendered all of the Dees fan’s lifelong MCC memberships useless, forcing the vast majority of their supporters to watch the game at home alone in a locked Melbourne.
However, the fact that this flag was won 3400 kilometres away from home doesn’t change anything in the history books. The curse has been lifted, and fans can now look forward to living in a world where their team is no longer the bourgeoisie laughing stock of the AFL.
Toorak man, Lindsay Smurdoch (33) is one of these recently dignified football fans.
“Haha mate. I never thought I’d see the day” says the unmarried industrial equities trader, who shared this historic moment with his 55-year-old neighbour who can’t speak English.
“I think there’s a plan to do like a street parade with all the players when Melbourne reaches the 99% double jabbed milestone”
Mr Smurdoch says it’s not lost on him that this bucket list moment has been slightly stifled by the 2021 Melbourne lockdown, but he maintains confident that the excitement will still be burning when the pubs open back up.
“We’ll definitely get our North Melbourne Kangaroos moment”
“The pubs will be draped in red and blue. It’s gonna happen, man. I swear”
As for the humble pie that he’s going to force down the throats of the Western Bulldogs supporters he works with in Collins street. He says that day is coming too.
“Haha. I cannot wait to give it to them when we return to the office in February 2022”
