NERVES are building for long-time parochial Melbourne supporters Denis Costigan and Neil Brown.
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In less than 24 hours, his beloved Dees will take on Ballarat's adopted club Western Bulldogs in the AFL Grand Final in Perth.
Melbourne's 1964 grand final win was Costigan's first time to a then-Victorian Football League match.
From that moment - a four-point thrilling win against Collingwood at the MCG - Costigan's heart beat true for the red and the blue.
That was the moment Brown, then aged eight, knew he was a Demon.
But that moment was also the only time Costigan and Brown have tasted AFL premiership glory.
We've been to a couple of other grand finals, but this is the best side we've had ever since I can remember.
- Denis Costigan, Melbourne supporter
"There were 110,000 people at the MCG and you could just walk in, you didn't need a ticket, We won by four points after a fluky Collingwood shot on goal was kicked out - I'll never forget that Melbourne win," Costigan said.
"We've been to a couple of other grand finals, but this is the best side we've had ever since I can remember.
"It's bittersweet we haven't been able to go down...We're devastated we can't even get together as a group or go to the pub and watch the game. Whatever way it turns, it's not the same as being there on the day."
Costigan expects to be in constant COVID-safe contact with his fellow Ballarat Demons Supporter Group members, like Brown. He was particularly sad to miss out on being with his grandson Aiden on grand final day due to Ballarat's lockdown rules.
Family means a lot to Costigan, even his older brother who is a passionate Bulldogs' supporter.
"I expect we'll wish one another well on the day but we have different loyalties," Costigan said.
He admit the 'Doggies tended to be his second favourite team, except when playing his Dees.
Costigan's dad was a Melbourne supporter, his mum parochial about Richmond, but he has loved being on the Demons' bandwagon, even in lean and unsuccessful times.
A founding member of Ballarat Demons Supporters Group, Costigan said the buses still went to Melbourne in the "horrible years" to every home game.
Costigan said there was surprisingly a strong Melbourne contingent in Ballarat, all passionate but fairly conservative, likely after so many years in AFL premiership wilderness.
The club, established in 1987, has enjoyed family days and sportsman's dinners but Costigan said the group had keenly felt the impacts of missing the excitement players were delivering this season.
"We've followed Max [Gawn] and from the start he was a consistent, persistent operator...He stuck with us and all through the dark times," Costigan said.
"Maxie was there when we were getting thrashed and could always hold his head high.
"Nathan Jones has been a great captain and everyone's so sad he didn't make it to the grand final but his wife is having twins and hopefully there'll be a couple more players for us, ladies or men.
"[Clayton] Oliver, [Christian] Petracca, [Angus] Brayshaw - you could name them all. All the players have been good this year.
"...I was more nervous before the Geelong [preliminary final] game because Geelong has had the edge on us but the way we played them was incredible.
"We're not home yet. The Bulldogs have got a fabulous side."
Brown felt coaching was the difference for the 2021 Demons, including the expert advisory role of Mark Williams to rally the players.
Costigan and Brown watched Melbourne's last grand final appearance in 2000 on a big screen at The Glasshouse, not far from the MCG. Brown said a flag was definitely overdue.
It's overdue, but any Melbourne supporter will tell you that.
- Neil Brown, Melbourne supporter
"It's been 57 years since we won our last premiership and that's exactly when I started barracking for Melbourne," Brown said.
"It's overdue, but any Melbourne supporter will tell you that.
"I can't wait for the game to start."
- The AFL Grand Final between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs in at Perth Stadium on Saturday from 7.15pm, Ballarat time.
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