Meet our Members - Amy

We won't ask you your age but how long have you been a Melbourne supporter?
My whole life, as evidenced by the attached distinctly late-80s photo of me. That is despite being born and bred in Western Australia

How did you become a Melbourne supporter?
Family.. I'd not have been allowed to support anyone else, lest I be made to live outside. 

How long have you been in the cheer squad? And what made you decide to join?
I started travelling over to Melbourne from Perth the year I turned 18, having been gifted my first ever trip to watch Melbourne in Melbourne for my 18th birthday. I chose the Queen's Birthday weekend as the match I wanted to see, and became utterly addicted to not being the away team (and copping the abuse that comes from supporting a Victorian team while living in the WA, 2-team bubble) With thanks to Tiger Airways, my mum and I were able to do multiple girls weekends in Melbourne over many seasons and over time, we came to know some pretty faces, like that of Sophie, Ryan, Mandy, Rachel, who we then connected with when they travelled to Perth for matches. When Ryan, Sophie, Suz and Gary took over the cheer squad, I signed right up because these were the people who'd made me feel so included, despite the fact I lived on the other side of the country. When I finally moved to Melbourne in 2017, I was quickly roped into utilising my spreadsheet skills to help and haven't looked back! 

Favourite current player?
Massive soft spot for Max Gawn, for many reasons. 

Favourite Melbourne player ever?
My love of the Dees reached new heights in the early noughties, despite the finals/no finals/finals pattern we were experiencing at the time. There is a key reason for this that a therapist would probably love to dissect, but regardless, the players from this era have a special place in my heart. Aaron Davey, Neita, Robbo, Brent Moloney, Adem Yze, Travis Johnstone, Jeff White, Brock McLean, Brad Green, Brad Miller, Colin Sylvia, Jared Rivers, Super Boot Paul Wheatley, James McDonald... 

Favourite game?
Other than the 2021 Premiership, it would have to be either Round 7, 2008 v Fremantle, coming from 51 points down to win by 6. Austin Wonaeamirri with the wonderfully OTT celebrations of the goal that put us in front (and every other goal besides!). Or the Round 21, 2005 game v Western Bulldogs which we had to win to make the finals. Jeff White getting awarded a free kick after being shepherded out of the ruck contest and kicking a goal to put us in front. Neale Daniher coming FLYING out of the box before the final siren (at a time when the countdown clock counted up when it hit 5 minutes remaining, so almost no one knew how long there was to go), fist pumping, hands up in the air as he bolted down the stairs and threw himself into the huddle of players celebrating. Brings a tear to my eye every time I watch it. 

Greatest player you ever saw? This can be from any club.
West Coast era Chris Judd. Infallible.  

Highest point in your footballing career
I have encouraged a passion for AFL and for the Dees with my 2 young children, 4yo Jordan and 2.5yo Jade. (My husband may argue that I've brainwashed them, although he's an Eagles supporter so it hasn't been too hard to convince them to support the Dees over the wooden spooners.. but I digress)  Bringing Jordan along to matches and seeing him cheering, singing the song, chanting M-E-L-B-O-U-R-N-E (before he could spell his own name), having him recognise players, heading home on the train and having him ask when we can go and see "Go Dees" again, having him notice everything in his surroundings that are red and blue and yelling "GO MELBOURNE"... it's been something else. Sharing this with Jordan in particular is a level of enjoyment in the game I love that I previously didn't realise was possible. 

Lowest point in your footballing career
Moving from Perth to Melbourne in 2017, in large part so I could watch Melbourne play live every week... only for us to finally make the grand final and, given the once in a lifetime global pandemic that was occurring, having to watch that grand final (and subsequent premiership) sitting on my couch because it was being played in the very city I moved from but wasn't allowed to go back to due to border closures. 

Any football superstitions?
Always wear my lucky undies, and don't buy the footy record. 

Craziest thing you've ever done for the Dees?
​I once flew to Melbourne from Perth on the red eye on a Sunday night, attended the Queens Birthday game, and flew back to Perth that night. I had called in sick to work, as the public holiday in Perth was a different weekend, with the excuse that I had tonsilitis... only to end up with legitimate laryngitis (likely from cheering my head off for the entire match) and needing to take a further 2 days off work. I also had to hide within the cheer squad during the match to be sure that I wasn't seen on the broadcast by my employer.