THE DEMON Army is Melbourne’s official cheer squad, where the club’s most dedicated and loyal members come together to support the red and blue.

But more recently, The Demon Army has also turned out to be a matchmaker in the lives of die-hard Demon fans Alex and Rhiannon.

The couple met in 2014 through their shared love of the club and hit it off, with the pair fast becoming an official Demon duo.

“We got chatting about footy, then met at the MCG for the first time,” Alex told Melbourne Media.

“Then we ended up getting married."

And it wasn’t just any wedding ceremony either, it had to have a touch of red and blue, with Rhiannon walking down the aisle to the team song ‘It’s A Grand Old Flag’, which Alex insisted wasn’t intentional.

“It was actually an accident, it was meant to get turned off but the DJ kept it playing, so she ended up coming down the aisle to it,” Alex said.

“But it definitely set the tone for a fun wedding.”

The two have remained as loyal as ever with Rhiannon now sitting on the committee of The Demon Army and Alex continuing his tremendous support within the cheer squad.

Now the couple are gearing up for the biggest moment in their supporter history, preparing to cheer on the side in the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final.

Melbourne secured its spot in the Grand Final after an unforgettable Preliminary Final win that left the couple overwhelmed with tears of joy.

“There was an outpouring of emotion during that third quarter, when it was basically clear that we were going to the Grand Final,” Alex said.

“It’s exciting to go into this Grand Final, it feels right from watching how they’ve been playing, they’ve been filling us with a lot of confidence.”

The Demon duo are based in Melbourne and, like many long-term Demon supporters, are currently doing it tough in the Victorian COVID lockdown.

The two emphasised the positive impact the club’s success has had on their year and the year of so many fellow Melbourne fans in similar situations.

“It means a lot,” Alex said.

“This year, getting those wins every week, it leaves you feeling really good.

“Which has been so important, particularly through a period where there has been so much stuff that hasn’t been great.”

Both Alex and Rhiannon grew up in families filled with Dees supporters, with Alex’s mother a passionate member who is longing to see another premiership win for the club.

“She grew up during the golden era in the 50’s and 60’s, so she’s been able to experience a lot of success," Alex said.

“But she’s also lived through even more hard times than me, so she’s really excited to hopefully see some more success this year.”

Forced to watch the game from their houses, the Grand Final will be a bittersweet moment for the die-hard fans who are used to attending most games throughout the season.

However, Alex explained that it’s the opportunity to see the team play in the Grand Final, even if they’re watching from home, that will make it such a special day.

“It has been frustrating not being at the games, because we used to basically go to every game we could, including the interstate games,” Alex said.

“We were ready to travel if we were allowed, but unfortunately that’s not the case.

“We’re choosing not to dwell too much and just focus on the positive of how well we’re playing.

“I’m just so glad that we’ve made it to the Grand Final and we’ll get to experience it.”

You can get involved with The Demon Army by checking out their website here.