QUE Sara Sara (Whatever will be, will be).
It might’ve been a 1956 Doris Day classic and covered by Australian Normie Rowe and the Playboys in 1965 – and a saying two-time premiership coach Denis Pagan said on several occasions at his oft-hilarious press conferences – but it’s probably now a mantra at Melbourne.
That ‘F’ word has remarkably come to the fore for the red and blue – as a possibility (I repeat a possibility) – when it seemed absolutely improbable, even a few days ago.
But the facts are, Melbourne’s season could be extended past the next two weeks, although plenty still has to happen for that to occur.
Melbourne must beat Carlton and Geelong in the final rounds. And North Melbourne must lose to the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney.
If the Kangas win just one of those matches – even by the narrowest of margins – then any permutation featuring Melbourne in September will be null and void.
So in the case of the classic popular ditty – the Normie Rowe version is a lot more rockin’ – it really is a case of ‘whatever will be, will be’ for Melbourne in 2016 and that has to be its philosophy.
The fact that finals and Melbourne are now being mentioned in the same breath in 2016 is a massive credit to so many at the club.
But just focusing on Carlton this week – that’s all Melbourne must and will do.
That will be the message coming from coach Paul Roos and his assistants to the players.
“It’s mathematically possible [to make the finals] but one of the things I’ve learned over the years – it’s a cliché, but it’s true – is all you can do is worry about [winning against] Port [Adelaide, which we did, and then] Carlton the week after,” he said.
“The ladder looks after itself; whatever happens – happens.”
There is certainly a hint of 1987 at the moment – and the fact that a game at Geelong in the final round could determine Melbourne’s fate adds to that romance.
For those that aren’t aware, the Demons had to beat Footscray at the Whitten Oval (then the Western Oval) and Hawthorn needed to defeat Geelong at the Cattery in the final round for Melbourne to make the finals for the first time in 23 years.
And it happened, after Hawthorn got over the line by three points, meaning the great Robbie Flower got to play finals for the first – and only time – in his brilliant career.
As a 10-year-old, turning 11 later that year, listening to that all unfold on the radio was a great experience. I can still remember running around outside pretty excited after that! And anyone who was lucky enough to experience that finals series as a supporter – it was an exhilarating time – even if it ended in a heartbreaking preliminary final loss.
Back in 1987, Melbourne won seven of its opening 17 games, before winning its next seven matches in a row.
This year, Melbourne won seven of its first 17 matches and has since won its past three. It still has another two rounds and then who knows?
But there is no doubt its past two wins have been particularly significant.
Not only did Melbourne end a 10-year losing streak against Hawthorn, it backed up with its first win over Port Adelaide in South Australia since 2000. It was also the red and blue’s first win over the Power since round 17, 2011 in Darwin.
As mentioned above, there is still a lot to happen, but it is now a possibility, when really it just seemed like a fairytale not so long ago.
Regardless of what happens for the rest of 2016 – it has been a successful season – no question.
Remember, it was not quite three years ago – the day after Nathan Jones won his second club best and fairest – that chairman Glen Bartlett and chief executive Peter Jackson unveiled coach Paul Roos as coach at the MCG.
And that was when the team had claimed just two wins for the season.
In just under three years, the club has achieved double-figure wins for the first time since 2006.
That’s a remarkable turnaround in anyone’s language.
With the team still one of the youngest in the competition and with a settled, focused and strong club still emerging – there is great hope for the future.
And whatever will be, will be for 2016.