IT FELT familiar. It felt right. Another season of AFL theatre had arrived. 

Melbourne’s first show was a Saturday matinee.

And it started accordingly, even if there was something different and something new about the show.

The ‘pied piper’ as president Don McLardy often referred to him - the late, great Jim Stynes - was not around. His passing had been the talk of Melbourne town, not just the club, but the city.

The man behind the stage show wasn’t there in body, but certainly in spirit, especially pre-match.

Stynes’ sidekick Garry Lyon gave three cast members - Mitch Clark, James Magner and Josh Tynan - their red and blue guernseys for the first time. It was recognition for the trio, as they had secured a part in the big picture. It was delivered in the style of the Australian baggy green - out on the ground and among the inner sanctum.

A one minute applause for Stynes was given, and the national anthem followed. And soon, it was show time.

Pulsating beats, which counted down to the start of the show - instead of the traditional siren - were a marketing strategy that actually resonated with the crowd. It was an innovation for the theatre-goers.

A new director was also in town: Mark Neeld.

His style would be different. Not wrong. Just a different take.  He would put his own stamp, not spin, on the show.

Early on and mid-way through the piece, it was entertaining theatre. There was plenty to like about the drama. Certainly, the punters were getting their money’s worth.

But after a while, for the majority of punters, the piece took a turn for the worse.

It got nasty. Many asked why?

Why did the sub-plot take a turn for the worse?

Why did the so-called supporting act (aka Brisbane Lions) outshine the supposed star of the day (Melbourne)?

Why did it turn into a horror instead of a fairytale?

Was it because the backer behind the show was not there? His presence lost?

Did it take a toll on the cast?

There was no doubt, the pre-production had been rocked. But was it a matter of how much it would take its toll on the show and its performers?

The director spoke after the show. He was adamant that we’ll never know.

“I reckon that’s an impossible question to answer,” Neeld said in relation to whether Stynes’ passing and funeral - just four days earlier - had taken its toll on its players.

“I have absolutely no idea. I don’t think anyone has any way to measure that.

“Reality, your guess is every bit as good as mine.”

While respectful and realistic about the loss of the man behind the scene, the new director said it was up to the rest of the cast to carry on and deliver what it had promised.

He demanded that the show must go on.

“Dramatic situation, absolutely, but don’t think for one minute that I’m going to hide behind that or I’m going to let the players hide behind that,” Neeld said.

“You can’t tell me that due to the fact that we had an emotional week that the Brisbane midfielders were better than our midfielders - no way.

“I’m not copping that.”

There were a handful of graduates and emerging actors who gave the production some life.

One lead performer who gave his all - Jack Grimes - conceded the build-up had been tough. But then again, the young star said the show should have gone on.

“It was a big emotional week for the club - not just us, but everyone involved in the Melbourne Football Club and involved in Jimmy,” Grimes said.

“It’s hard to know whether it had an impact, but all we know is that we were given the best opportunity to prepare and perform.

“There won’t be any players thinking that was the reason why this result’s happened.”

That might be so collectively, but who really knows individually?

All humans react differently in different situations. All sorts of factors can have an impact on performance. Even the director said it was impossible to say whether Stynes’ loss impacted.

Now the cast - plus, no doubt, some new members - will have the opportunity to perform the show again. It must be performed with pride.

But the proof will be in the pudding with the second show. The theatre travels to Perth - a tough gig to perform.

It might not be award-winning stuff, but sticking to the plot, putting their heart and soul into the show and making sure it is a credible drama will be the only answer after opening show jitters.

It will be theatre worth watching.