It doesn't get any bigger than this for Melbourne Demons' fan Frank Giampaolo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On Saturday, the Horsham resident will watch his beloved Dees aim to win their first AFL premiership since 1964.
Standing in their way will be a tough Bulldogs team led by 2016 premiership coach Luke Beveridge and littered with players from the Bulldog's 2016 grand final victory.
If the Demons can pull off a famous win Giampaolo will be one of thousands of long-suffering Melbourne fans to rejoice.
READ MORE:
"It'd just make me so happy, it's as simple as that," Giampaolo said.
"I'm really excited.
"Geez, it's been a long time. And if we don't win it this year, with the competition now 18 teams, premierships are going to be really hard to win."
Not only is Giampaolo a rusted-on Demons supporter, but he also appeared in 53 senior games for them as a player, between 1973 and 1977. He kicked 31 senior goals in his time at the club and also won a best and fairest award with the Demons' under 19 side in 1972.
Outside of football, Giampaolo and his wife Jenny raised four children in Horsham, who are now spread between Horsham, Ballarat and Geelong. Growing up they didn't really have a choice of who they would support.
"All my four kids, they're all Melbourne fans," Giampaolo said.
"They keep saying to me, 'why did you make us Melbourne supporters'?
"It will be all worth it now if they can do it."
Giampaolo would prefer to be watching the game from the mighty MCG, but it doesn't mean it will be any less sweet should the Dees get up.
Due to restrictions, the 67-year-old will likely be watching from the comfort of his own home in Horsham. He's not too fussed but does feel for other fans that will miss it.
"I'll be at home just watching it unless the pubs open up. It'll be nice and peaceful," he said.
"It's just sad that, we haven't won it yet, but if we happen to win it, there's a lot of people that are going to miss it."
Giampaolo's heart has bled red and blue from the moment he was recruited by the Demons in the 1970s.
He has ridden the waves of the club ever since; which would not have been easy considering they have only made two grand finals (1988 and 2000) since their last premiership.
Giampaolo was at the 2000 grand final which the Demons lost by 60-points to Essendon and knows that they're not easy games to win.
MORE NEWS:
"The 2000 grand final was hard to take being there because we'd lost that in the first quarter," he said.
"That Essendon side was one of the best sides in the era. we got flogged.
"I left ten minutes before the end. That was hard."
This century, after the 2000 grand final, the club has had a particularly torrid time of it, only recording six finals appearances (including 2021).
Following their 2018 preliminary final loss, some shrewd recruiting and draft acquisitions, coupled with player development has turned the Demons into the force they are in 2021.
The side has stars on every line, with big-game players like Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Steven May and Christian Petracca willing the Demons to break their flag drought.
The Bulldogs however will be no easy-beats and have their fair share of stars, including Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Adam Treloar and Aaron Naughton.
The sides have played each other twice already this year at one win apiece, however Melbourne go in as favourites after winning the minor premiership.
If Melbourne manage to defeat the Bulldogs it will no doubt go some way to erasing Giampaolo and other Dees' fans years of heartache.
"t's going to be hard, that Bulldogs team they're tough," he said.
"They play a similar game to us.
"I'm pretty sure we can beat them, but we've got to start well. Like any grand final if you don't start well you can just be behind the eight-ball right from the word go."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.mailtimes.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Wim_Mail_Times
- Follow us on Instagram www.instagram.com/wimmeramailtimes/