EACH week, as the Melbourne supporters who sit within the vicinity of the Cheer Squad take their seats, there are many who immediately pull out their gold coins, and scan the area looking for the familiar faces of Judy Boyd and Debra Keane.

Judy and Debra are the Cheer Squad ladies who are quick to engage with all supporters in the hope of selling a lucky dip ticket for the game's win/loss margin, as well as for Melbourne's first goal kicker.

Lorraine Beaman, Judy and Debra were known as the ‘craft ladies’ when the Cheer Squad sat alongside the race in the Northern Stand, where numbers were bolstered by the support of the red-seat members.

These ladies had baskets of all things red and blue for sale. You could buy aprons, baby bootees, tea-cosies, earrings and dolls, all to support the Cheer Squad and show your true colours.

Lorraine is now the Cheer Squad coordinator, and still finds time to knit the odd coat-hanger cover.

Debra and Judy are both life-long Melbourne supporters.

Debra's all time favourite player is Robert Flower, and cites her favourite Melbourne moment as seeing Robbie play finals in 1987.

Her biggest wish now is that her current favourite, Colin Sylvia, could saviour some finals experience soon and become a premiership player. 

Judy is often referred to as ‘the lady with the dolls’, because she is easily recognised by her distinctive scarf, or rather, the adornments on her scarf.

The Club can produce a new members' scarf each year but for Judy, the only scarf is the one she knitted for herself when she was 15 years old.

Her mother cast her critical eye over it and pointed out a few mistakes. Those flaws gave birth to the jewels that now adorn her scarf. Every pin, every badge and every doll carries with it a reminder of the friends she has met while following the Melbourne Football Club.

There's the pin that her friend the Bulldogs supporter gave her, and the badge that her friend the Collingwood supporter gave her. There's the Mother’s Day pin, the one-eyed beanie, and the red and blue doll painted by her dying friend Kay.

One of her treasures is the Graeme Yeats badge - her all-time favourite player. But it's not just a scarf that sets her apart.

She ensures she attends each game wearing her red and blue earrings, necklace and glasses chain - note, the beads in the glasses chain are actually little boots! 

Judy's red and blue fever hasn't rubbed off on her husband. When she gets home after the game, all her gear has to be hidden away in a separate room.

Even her excitement in catching the boot Robbo threw into the Cheer Squad at the end of season 2007 wasn't enough to allow such a special trophy to be on display in the Boyd family home.

She also confesses that her scarf isn't washed very often at all.

Judy wasn't at the 1964 Grand Final. She was too young, and didn't have the money for a ticket. She now hopes there's still going to be room on her scarf for that special premiership badge when it finally comes our way. 

In the meantime, if you see Debra and Judy before the game, remember to sing out for a first goal-kicker or a win/loss ticket. You never know, that backman you drew for first goal-kicker might just happen to take the ball, run through the lines with one bounce, two bounces, three and kick truly - just for you!  

 

Go Dees!

MFC Cheer Squad