Success all-round for history making Demons

THE Queen’s Birthday weekend has proved a successful one for the Portarlington Demons Football Club, both on and off the field.

The Demons are still celebrating after their first-ever win against Geelong Amateur, the final score 8.10-58 to 7.10-52.

It was the first time Portarlington had ever defeated the Ammos since the latter entered the Bellarine Football League nearly 25 years ago.

Coach Jesse Smith said he hadn’t stopped smiling since the siren sounded on Saturday.

“I found out two minutes before the siren that we had never beaten the Ammos and I saw a few tears welling up in some supporters’ eyes, and committee members were running over and saying to me this has never happened,” Smith told K rock’s Tom King during The Wash Up.

“It was a nervous time in the coach’s box, but to their credit they hung in there and that’s the first time they’ve been able to do it and I’m super proud of the boys.”

The club also enjoyed off-field success raising almost $3,000 for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Club secretary Geoff Fary, who lost his wife Monica Hayes to the disease two years ago, is an ambassador for the Fight MND Foundation.

The club has been active supporter of the foundation and the “Team Monica Hayes” entry in Daniher’s Drive, an annual event designed to raise awareness about the condition and funds for medical research.

This year in the local Big Freeze, both club captains volunteered to be dunked by buckets of ice after the game.

The jubilant crowd of celebrating Portarlington supporters resembled a sea of blue in their Fight MND beanies.

Both clubs and their players donated generously to the fund.

A limited number of the popular Fight MND beanies remain available.

Anyone wishing to buy one for $20, or to follow the progress of Daniher’s Drive, should phone Geoff on 0419 972 653 or email [email protected].