MELBOURNE’s rich history now has a home, with the club unveiling a permanent display in the MCC Museum. 

The new exhibition, which sits in the heart of the MCG, brings together some of the Demons’ most famed memorabilia, highlighting the stories and people of the past 165 years.

Historic medallions, vintage guernseys and unique keepsakes form part of the proud exhibition, which is now open for Melbourne members and supporters to enjoy.

Melbourne CEO Gary Pert spoke to the significance of the historical collection.

“This display is all about the 165-year history of the Melbourne Football Club,” Pert said.

“It showcases the foundations of our great club, from the synonymous stories to the superstar players, which all hold a special place in both our past and our present.”

Housed within the MCG, the display further speaks to the club’s connection to its spiritual home and the site from which it was born in 1858.

“It was so important for us to have the display here, at the MCG, because this is where the Melbourne Football Club was born,” Pert said.

“It’s where we play our AFL home games and where so much of our history over the past 160 plus years has been based. It’s the point where our members and supporters have come and experienced their connection with the club, the players and the magnificent wins.

“The MCG is such an important part of our DNA, which is why we’re so proud to now have a permanent display here, at our spiritual home.”

The exhibition brings together highlights aplenty for Dees fans, with some of the club’s – and its players’ – most memorable achievements on display. 

Of great significance is the 1991 Brownlow Medal belonging to the late Jim Stynes, which has been kindly loaned to the club by the Stynes family.

It sits alongside some of the more recent mementos, including Christian Petracca’s Norm Smith Medal, Max Gawn’s premiership guernsey, Jack Viney’s premiership medal and Bayley Fritsch’s premiership boots – all from the Demons’ drought-breaking victory in 2021. 

Melbourne’s pioneering AFLW side is also honoured with items from the exhibition matches through to the Season 7 AFLW Grand Final. Inaugural captain Daisy Pearce’s premiership guernsey takes pride of place in the display, alongside Karen Paxman’s premiership medal. 

An interactive multimedia station rounds out the exhibition, allowing visitors to engage with stories about the club, its players and key moments in history. Accompanying images and video footage have been included to further enrich the experience.

To celebrate the club’s permanent exhibition, the MCC Museum and Australian Sports Museum are opening its doors to Melbourne members, free of charge* for the month of March.

Members will be able to gain access by presenting their Melbourne Football Club membership card at the Australian Sports Museum desk (MCG, Gate 3). Standard entry fees will apply for accompanying family members and friends, who aren’t club members.

“I encourage everyone to come down, take some time to explore all of the stories and celebrate the great history of our club,” Pert said.

“This display is a snapshot of who we are and how we’ve evolved as a football club, and we hope it makes our people feel proud to belong to the red and blue.” 

*Free entry will only be permitted when the MCG is not in event mode. However, dual MFC/MCC members will be able to enter the MCC Museum from within the MCC Reserve during AFL games. Offer does not apply to MCG Tours and is subject to availability and operational capacity limits.