An Open Letter to the Melbourne Football Club - Season 2019

Dear Melbourne FC (Players, Coaches, Support Staff, Administration)

My name is Charlie. I've been a lifelong supporter of the Melbourne Football Club, introduced to the Dee's by a family member, Karen.
Karen's passion screamed down the umpires, called Buckley soft, and phoned into 3AW post game, every game, to infinitely dissect her clubs performance.
She remains a Demons tragic, however she now lives in Mansfield. It's impossible to not acknowledge it's proximity to the snow as some sort of metaphor.
Karen's passion bit me like Edward on Bella and from that time forward, I was a tragic.

But the reason I'm writing this letter is in response to season 2019.
Personally, it's an unavoidable truth that most of the sadness in my adult life has come from attending Demons games and supporting, well, the Demons.
But those days were over. Last year's Prelim Final was the end of the era, the start of the new. It was Unicorns and Dandelions all day long. The world in technicolour.
Footy conversations no longer included that embarrassing line:

"Oh, me? I support the Demons."

My shirt was ripped, my chest buffed, I wore my red and blue beanie in public - IN CRICKET SEASON! That's what you did and I was proud.

But things have changed. We may be facing a Climate disaster that threatens our very existence, but as a Melbourne fan, that issue's been relegated to position #2.
You tore off your mask and revealed your old, wretched self. I found the house made of sweets and lollies and delicious treats, and in 2018 oh boy, did I gorge. But now, I'm sitting in an oven, it's hot and there's not a happy ending in sight.

I understand that as a fan, I come to this topic from a position of naivety. There are so many things the club hasn't and can't say publicly. Reasons for the rot. Issues that cripple. I get that. On the other hand, I'm really hoping in years to come there's a book released that's bigger than the bible, containing some similarly Biblical proportion problems you encountered that left us where we are right now.

So, where to from here?
Will I buy my membership in 2020? Of course.
Will I keep attending as many games as I can? Yes.*
And Will I leave the Jack Viney signed pic that my daughter received with her Baby Demon membership on the fridge? Yes, absolutely, nothing says good morning as I reach for the Jam like a ripping image of Jack Viney in action.

But if there's one thing I can ask in all earnest - (and it's not to win a premiership, my dreams of that day are gently folded and put away in the linen press), please, please, just play well enough that my Daughter doesn't grow up thinking Freo might be a better option.

Yours Faithfully...always.

Charlie Ranger



*Although I may have to start watching them on the TV's in the bars at the ground again if current form persists.