Dear members and supporters,

Firstly, I hope you and your families are staying safe. As we know, this is uncharted territory for  everyone and we’re all adjusting to it in different ways. Hopefully your at-home haircuts are going better than my mohawk.

With the community’s health and safety being the most important thing right now, football has obviously taken a backseat. While this needed to happen, I want you to know that our work hasn’t stopped, albeit in a very different environment. We are working with what we’ve got, like many of you are too, and are riding this out, together (while maintain social distancing).

Obviously, the fact that we can’t do that we love right now, and have been training to do since October, is frustrating. But we understand we are incredibly lucky that we have a job to go back to when the time is right, and that job is to work our arses off to make you proud to be a Demon. 

So, the purpose of this open letter is to thank you and acknowledge everyone who is currently financially supporting the Club. Without this support, and without every little dollar we are getting from our members and sponsors, we would be in real trouble.

I have always been taught that through challenging times, you see the best and worst in people, and so far, I’ve only seen the best in our supporters. It makes me so confident in where our Club will be when we come out the other side of this. 

For the best part of six years, I sat in the stands with you. Whether I was injured or couldn’t get a game, I rode every bump with you. Sitting in the Olympic stand, I experienced the high and the lows of being a Melbourne supporter, so I want you to know that I do understand how you are feeling.

I know it’s been tough and let’s be real, when I say “I’ve been through the hard times”, who could forget the time when Jack Fitzpatrick decided to tunnelball the footy through for a deliberate rushed behind which cost us the game on Queen’s Birthday, or when my close friend Lynden Dunn tagged Gary Ablett Jr. who then proceeded to rack up 30 touches in one half. 

On a more serious note, I know the pain – missing the finals in 2017, the Preliminary Final loss in 2018 or the disappointment of last year.

But, as with any adversity, these times have brought us closer. I know if we stick together, we will come out of this stronger than ever before.

I am reliably informed by the higher ups at the Club that our members have supported us like no other Club in the competition during the COVID-19 shutdown. You are sticking with us and many of you have bought memberships since the games were postponed. I can’t express how proud that makes me (and my teammates) – you are sticking with us and personally, I love you for that.

So, my message to the great Demon faithful is a simple thank you. Thank you to those who have signed up; you are standing up for us in a time of need and we will always be extremely grateful for that. For those who are not yet members, I understand this might not be financially possible for some right now. For those that are able to join us, we would absolutely love your support. We want you to be part of our great Club and share in this challenge with us.

While I would love to, I can’t do anything for you today. I’m itching to get back out there and play for you, but we can’t just yet. In times like this though, we must focus on the opportunity in front of us, and let me tell you, when it’s time to return, we will be ready. Make no mistake, this year is going to be the difficult one to win, so how much better would it be to do it.

We are stronger together, Demon family.

Thank you again, and I can’t wait to lead us out when the time’s right to do so.

Go Dees.

Love Max