Melbourne Football Club completed the dream in the 2021 AFL Grand Final at Optus Stadium in Perth, beating the Western Bulldogs by 74 points to take home the hotly contested premiership after a 57-year drought. Although Yarrawonga product James Jordon didn’t get a chance to take to the field as he was named the Demons medical sub, he was still awarded a premiership medallion, being a part of the selected 23. When James spoke to the Yarrawonga Chronicle last week, he said the team had seen immense support from their fans in the west which was evident with a 50/50 crowd on grand final night and a large number of supporters turning out to Perth’s Forrest Place on Sunday to see the team presented on stage by club great Garry Lyon. “(On the Friday after the Preliminary final), we had an open session and there were heaps of fans that got down and were nice and loud which was good,” James said. “In the prelim we probably had a majority of the fans on our side which was great, but they’ve been awesome and it’s been good to see the red and blue over here.” James also recently said he hopes to return home to Yarrawonga soon and he will have some silverware to bring with him. “My closest mates are still in Yarra and hopefully I’ll get back and be able to see them in the offseason. I hope to get back in the off season and hopefully we can bring the cup home to Melbourne for all the Demons supporters,” James said last week. With celebrations in full swing in Perth and team meetings to occur in coming days to determine when the team will head back to Melbourne, the Chronicle did not contact James but kept up to date with celebrations via social media. For James’ mum Prue back home in Yarrawonga and unable to get to Perth due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was sad not to be able to be there in person to witness the premiership, but she was eagerly watching from home with immense excitement and pride. “It was just fantastic to see them reach that success,” Prue said. “What a game it was, they played brilliantly. “The whole club is just fantastic. From the players, coaches, staff to the other families, the Melbourne Football Club is just great. “We had a facetime with James after the game on Saturday and he was elated. We have received a few photos since of them celebrating which has been good to see, they are rejoicing in their success and enjoying their time in Perth before they head home and back into lockdown.” Further local residents, 101-year-old Joyce Duus and her son Ian Duus were very happy campers on Sunday after the Demons claimed their first premiership in 57 years. With Ian following the Dees all his life, and living in Croydon in the ‘60s, Ian and Joyce attended the Demons last premiership before Saturday night back in 1964 against Collingwood. “Dad followed Carlton and Mum came from Sydney, so she was never really into the footy but living in Croydon she came to the ‘64 Grand Final with me and sort of became a Demon supporter after that,” “Mum watched the first half of Saturday nights game in her room at Woods Point while I watched with a few mates. She rang me first thing on Sunday morning to ask how they’d gone but didn’t hear me right when I said the Demons had won by 74 points. “I was absolutely stoked with the game and the result. I didn’t know if I was ever going to see another Demons premiership. “A great mate of mine that now lives in Wodonga used to travel down to Melbourne for every game that we were allowed (covid pending), so he and I would have loved to be there, but it didn’t matter where we were, that was just fantastic.” More than 70 per cent of Murray River Council residents have now received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, Campaspe Shire’s vaccination rate continues to grow by about four percentage points each week, with 54.3 per cent now fully… In just a few short days Yarrawonga’s own James Jordon will have the experience of a lifetime, being a part of an AFL Grand final as his Melbourne Demons take on the Western Bulldogs. After 57 years since their last grand final win and 21 years… Working with the ‘Oliver Hume Group’, as the new estate manager at Silverwoods, is proving to be “an amazing life change” for Leanne Irvine. “It is an exciting time at Silverwoods, and for Yarrawonga in general, being one of the fastest…
