Nigel Dawe

FOLLOWING a side like Melbourne, or any team in any competition throughout the world for that matter, isn’t or shouldn’t ever be determined by any manic cravings for success.

Don’t get me wrong: winning week in, week out – all the way to that last Saturday in September would be nice, but it’s never going to happen. And even if it did, there’d be a monotony factor to it that’d lead you to a level of personal smugness, that would just result in watching every game all by yourself.

That said, when things turn grim you quite often find yourself close to, if not outright, on your own anyway. Numbers drop off and enthusiasms wane, taking all traces of optimism with it, it’s almost as much a law of nature as Darwin’s fabled views concerning the fittest, and their subsequent survival.

Maybe I didn’t get the quit now it’s all too tough gene, but when things I care about struggle or start to suffer, that’s when I up my ante, disappearing or deserting from the fray are just simply not options that have ever been on my table. Thus, 2025 won’t go down as anywhere near the grandest in our club’s history, but it certainly won’t go down as its worst (finishing 14th or 5th last in the competition).

Seeing Max Gawn – the ruck giant who debuted in round 11 of 2011 that has since taken his number 11 to such stellar heights, collecting his 8th All Australian blazer, was a delight to behold. Already our 2021 premiership captain can be mentioned in the same breath as Warne-Smith, Barassi, Smith, Mueller, Flower and Stynes as being among the greatest to have ever graced the Demons fold.

Sadly, we also saw the departure of Simon Goodwin, after 202 games as head coach, the fourth highest by any individual in the club’s history. Behind only Norm Smith, ‘Checker’ Hughes and Neale Daniher; he will forever reside in the highest echelons of fondness and esteem in the club’s overall history. “Premiership coach” is something that can never be stripped from a person’s grasp, or taken from their list of accomplishments.

Two other figures that deserve eternal praise, and who will depart as 200-gamers and premiership heroes are Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. All the very best gentlemen, thank you for the memories and the sheer delight you gave us during your time in the red and blue.

Congratulations also to our gallant AFLW team who almost did the unthinkable, and beat the rampaging Kangaroos in a preliminary final. Your efforts at the pointiest end of the season did yourselves and the team very proud. Good luck to coach Mick Stinear who leaves the club after being at the helm since 2017, not to mention landing the club its inaugural premiership in 2022.

And so, we now look towards a new era, a new chapter that will introduce the club’s 35th senior coach in Steven King. Aptly, emblazoned deep in the inner sanctum of our change room walls (which I saw after our 20-point win against Richmond back in the ANZAC Day clash this season) next to a giant red and blue heart motif, that read: “We hold the pen”. And that – the players, staff and each of us – still do.

We, to a person, have the privilege of contributing and being a part of the oldest club in the land. As if to herald the significance and weight of such a sentiment, Henry David Thoreau once said, “All questions rely on the present for their solution. Time measures nothing but itself.”

Good bye 2025…And on behalf of everyone at NSW Demons, have a wonderful, safe and secure festive season, and be sure to truly savour the presence and connection that you share with each of your friends and loved ones.

Go Dees!