THE Demons are the up and comers.
They’re quick, they’re confident and they’ve got skills. They like to show us what they’ve got, donning huge infectious smiles while they do it.
They love a quick snap on goal and they’ll always go for the specky. And don’t forget about the chase-down tackle; it rivals some of the best in the game.
While they might sound the part, these Demons are not your average footy team.
They don’t have the latest boots, state-of-the-art facilities or even phone reception to keep in contact with one another.
Instead, these Demons live 460 kilometres out of Alice Springs, in a small remote community called Nyirripi.
The town is proud to be the home of the Nyirripi Demons. From the local ground that they call the ‘MCG’, to the sprayed roller door out the front of the milk bar, the 260 residents have painted the town red and blue. They even have a ginormous Melbourne Football Club logo on a feature wall, where the name Melbourne has fittingly been replaced with Nyirripi.
The Police Station sits vacant, having been unmanned for the past four years; sediments of the local tip filter through the streets and the town’s 1:1 human-to-dog ratio is on full display.
But the local school is where it’s all at; the heart of the action. A third of town is waiting, the kids are buzzing and the teachers are eager for our arrival.
It’s safe to say we receive a welcome like no other. From the minute our two five-seater planes touch down on the tarmac, to the moment we are greeted by running students with flags, posters and cameras in hand, we immediately feel part of the Nyirripi family.
The students’ faces are filled with pure joy as Maddie Shevlin, Ainslie Kemp, Claudia Whitfort, Sarah Lampard, Pat McKenna and Lachlan Filipovic take it all in.
“What’s your name?” one student asks.
“What’s your number?” says another, while trying to find the player he had researched for his school project.
A few photos, hugs and high-fives later, we relocate a minute down the road to the school.
We soon realise that the reception we received on the runway was only just the beginning.
The outside play area is packed with smiling, cheering and overwhelmed kids, some of whom gather around a handmade sign with the players’ faces. The teachers usher them to get into a group photo, while the principal, Wendy, gets her camera ready for the perfect shot.
Students rally around us, each trying to get our attention. The camera is in high demand and the grins are flowing.
“Photo? Photo?” they ask.
“Can we see it?”
As principal Wendy calls for the kids to move inside, almost all are cooperating. They line up and sit down at the entrance of the classroom, before we make our way in alongside parents and teachers.
Out of the heat, an Aboriginal elder offers to help translate into the local language of Walpiri, and school is in session.
The team from Clean Faces, Strong Eyes kick things off, educating the students on trachoma; an eye infection, which causes blindness but can be easily prevented with good hygiene.
“Who remembers what will happen if we don’t wash our faces?” nurse Liz asks.
“We will go blind,” answers one student.
“We won’t be able to see,” says another.
Liz and Lauren (IEH) talk through the best prevention methods of the disease, with the kids interacting as they go.
Kemp reinforces the message.
“I make sure I wash my face and keep my eyes clean, so that I can mark the ball,” she says.
“I wouldn’t be able to mark it if I couldn’t see!”
We continue the class with a Q&A session.
“Who likes to eat their vegetables here?” one teacher asks.
A few students slowly raise their hands, while one decides to break the silence.
“I will eat my vegetables and be as tall as you,” he says, pointing to the 200cm-high Filipovic.
The young boy jumps up for a photo, marking it as his starting point to look back on in a few year’s time.
Reinforcing the importance of education, we share our favourite subjects throughout our schooling.
“I loved English and learning lots of new words,” says Shevlin.
“My favourite subject was maths, but I also loved sport because I got to run around,” says Whitfort.
A few ears prick up with the 18-year-old’s response, and attention quickly turns to the footy clinic on the schedule.
The classroom empties as students, teachers and parents file back out to the play area, collecting a footy on their way.
Barefoot and ready to go, the kids are excited to give us a taste of football in the Red Centre.
They handball between one another, kick to the players and start what could almost be described as a mini match simulation, all before we get a specky contest underway.
McKenna acts as the marking bag while Whitfort, Lampard and Kemp feed the ball. The kids line up with anticipation, ready for their chance to get some hang time.
With their smiles as impressive as their skills, there’s no doubt they’re enjoying themselves, and excitement goes to another level when the giveaway bags come out.
With their smiles as impressive as their skills, there’s no doubt they’re enjoying themselves, and excitement goes to another level when a special guest arrives.
The kids run towards Milpa the Trachoma Goanna, holding his hand and posing for photos; they love him.
A friendly face of the Clean Faces, Strong Eyes crew, Milpa’s arrival also signifies the start of the giveaways, but only if the kids agree to look after their eyes and keep their faces clean.
Showing off their new Melbourne caps, wristbands and footballs, the appreciation is clear on the students’ faces.
The feeling continues as the kids follow us to the airstrip, and the significance of our visit really starts to sink in.
Waving goodbye, we know this won’t be the last we’ll see of these kids.
We’ll be back, and with the Northern Territory a focus of Melbourne’s Academy, maybe one day we will have a home-grown superstar of Nyirripi to visit with us.
Until then, go Dees.
