Former Demons licking their lips over former team’s arrival

From a selfish point of view, a pair of Cairns-based former Melbourne Demons are rejoicing at the revelation the oldest football club in Australia is on the way to FNQ.

Adelaide, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 09: Clayton Oliver of the Demons gets away from Jared Polec of the Kangaroos during the round 11 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Adelaide Oval on August 09, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

• Barty’s inspiring message for young indigenous girls
• Belief Stingers will be at season’s tail
• Young gun proving he’s up to the Challenge
• FULL LIST: Cricket Far North rep squads get back in the nets

FROM a selfish point of view, former Demons Sam Blease and Aaron Davey are rejoicing at the revelation the oldest football club in Australia is on its way to FNQ.

Following their careers at the elite level, Blease and Davey have settled in Cairns and are working and playing in the local competition.

Davey has led the resurgent Cairns City Lions for a few years now, while Blease is in quarantine in Brisbane, aiming to be in FNQ soon to continue his role as Centrals Trinity Beach’s new football manager.

Adelaide, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 09: Kysaiah Pickett of the Demons tackled by Sam Durdin of the Kangaroos during the round 11 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Adelaide Oval on August 09, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Of the three teams announced as coming to Cairns next month, Melbourne is the “sexiest” from a neutral perspective, a club on the way up which should be challenging for the top eight this year.

Blease, who played 33 games over four years at Melbourne and one game at Geelong, said his old mob should play in the finals because it had a string of winnable games on the horizon.

“From a selfish point of view, it is going to be great to watch Melbourne, as a Melbourne Demons person, and all the rest of it,” Blease said.

“The last month they have hit their straps a little bit and are now moving towards playing finals.

“It will be an important next month in particular to see if they can play finals.

“Their midfield is as good as any going around. It is a really important next month of footy. They can beat Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, before they come to Cairns.”

The AFL Cairns pair has been out of the elite level for a little while but still has old teammates like Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Neville Jetta, among a couple of others, at the club.

Blease also has a family connection to emerging star Christian Petracca, recruiting his two brothers to play at Trinity Beach at some point later this year.

Adelaide, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 09: Clayton Oliver of the Demons competes with James Jordon of the Demons during the round 11 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Adelaide Oval on August 09, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Davey, known as “Flash’’, is looking forward to watching rookie livewire Kysaiah Pickett at Cazalys Stadium next month.

He played with Pickett’s old man, revered hard man Byron Pickett, when they were both at the Demons.

“Melbourne had a massive, promising 2018 and then last year they had a benchmark and a level of play, but it dropped off,” Davey said.

“They are a team full of confidence right now. It is a massive improvement from last year and they should just continue that up here.”

Davey, 37, was the first Indigenous player to win a best and fairest for the Melbourne Football Club and played the most games for the Demons by an Indigenous footballer.

He is also keen to watch his old club with his sons in their own backyard in the coming weeks.

Originally published as Former Demons licking their lips over former team’s arrival