WHEN I think about the early stages of my career, I have to feel a bit for my Mum and Dad.
 
Put yourself in their shoes for a moment.

From six years old, Mum and Dad drove me to footy games all over town, woke up early to take me to games, cleaned the team’s muddy jumpers, coached, supported, hoped and prayed … and then I was finally picked up by the Demons.
 
From then, the phone calls flooded in from well wishers, the family celebrated, and all of that love, effort and time they’d put in finally paid off.
 
They had been hoping to get on the AFL ride for a while and it finally happened.
 
So when I joined Melbourne and went off to training, I became part of the inner sanctum.

There was coach John Northey barking orders and senior players like Garry Lyon, Jim Stynes, Todd Viney, Greg Healy, Graeme Yeats and Brett Lovett leading the way.

But unlike the junior ranks, Mum and Dad couldn’t stand around and hear the coaches’ address at the breaks, help out at training or cut the oranges at quarter-time!

They were left on the fringe.

Instead, Mum and Dad would ask: “What goes on at training? What did the coach say? What’s Garry Lyon like? Who’s the best trainer?”
 
As parents, all of these questions were asked.
 
But by the time they got to the best part of the ride, the only way they could get an answer was via their teenage son.

And anyone who has ever tried to get an answer out of a teenager knows how that conversation goes.

Something like this …
 
Parent: “How was training? 

Me: “We just trained ... you know, like normal training.” 

Parent: “What did the coach say?”

Me: “Nothing much.”

Parent: “How’s Garry Lyon?”

Me: “He’s alright.”

Parent: “Who’s the best trainer?”

Me: “I dunno, they’re all pretty good.”
 
Talk about ripped off! Poor old Mum and Dad were part of the ride and didn't know anything!

The reason why I highlight this is because it’s a similar situation for the current day parents. And I was reminded of this at the recent ‘parents weekend’ for the Demons of today. 

It seems the current day parents aren’t getting the answers they are looking for from their boys.

So in the spirit of inclusiveness and embracing all of our people - a trademark of the Jim Stynes-led board - the parents’ weekend was a great opportunity for them to get the answers they were seeking.

And more broadly to feel a closer connection to the club and be part of the future we are all trying to create.

Cameron Schwab spoke of the direction of the club and its business model; Chris Connolly spoke of the football department; Todd Viney went through the degree of scrutiny that the players go through on a week-to-week basis and how the club evaluates their career expectations; Kelly O'Donnell spoke about his expectations in regard to players learning and developing as footballers; and finally Ian Flack reminded everyone that there is life after football, and we expect them to be involved in some kind of study or work placement program.

All in all, it was a fairly comprehensive explanation to all of the unanswered questions in their minds.

So on behalf of my Mum and Dad, I can only hope that the parents of the current day players gained one back.
 
I can only hope that when the players arrived home to ask their parents how their weekend was, there was only one reply.

Son: “What happened over the weekend?”

Parent: “Nothing much!”

Of course, the parent would’ve said it with a wry smile!