THE YEAR 2000 was a memorable one for the Melbourne Football Club.

Sure, it didn’t end on the perfect note, but it was a season to be proud of, nonetheless.

After a slow start with three wins from their opening six games, the Demons came storming home to pinch third spot on the ladder and eventually find themselves in the AFL Grand Final.

Now, 20 years on, Jeff White joined us for Episode 2 of The Off-Season to reminisce on the season that was.

“The whole season in itself was just fantastic,” White said.

“In the middle of the year we had a few games where we got beaten by a considerable amount – one of them in particular being Carlton.

As White mentioned, the finals series began on a high with that triumphant victory over the Blues.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing, making it all the more special.

“People often ask me, ‘What was the biggest highlight of your career?’ and I think that final against Carlton,” White said.

“Like I said, we played them during the year – they beat us by [98] points at the MCG.

“Them and Essendon were the two standout clubs, but we were there in our own right.

“Just the wave of momentum we had going into that last quarter … and we just found that we couldn’t be stopped out of the centre.

“We were certainly the underdogs, and of course, being 21 points down at three quarter-time and coming back the way we did, just shows that we had a ‘never give up’ attitude.

“We had that throughout the whole year, and it was a great opportunity for this young group to get through (to the Preliminary Final) and it was one to remember.”

After a weekend off, Melbourne faced the Kangaroos on a Friday night, with the opportunity to book its spot in the big dance.

And in fine fashion, it did just that.

On the back of an eight-goal haul from Jeff Farmer, the Demons claimed a 50-point win, and as White said, “It was like clockwork that night.”

But the challenge steepened the next week, with Essendon – a side that had lost just one game for the year – awaiting at the home of footy.

Before the Dees got the chance to run out in front of 96,249 fans, there was a week of excitement to embrace.

That started on the Monday night, with midfielder Shane Woewodin surprising many to pinch the Brownlow Medal.

“It was just a wave of emotion and we were sipping water all night, so it was very different to how others have celebrated in the past, but we knew we had a job to do that week,” White said.

“But it just set up the week the best way it could’ve.

“It was an incredible experience for him, and the team members and coaching staff and people involved in the club.”

Next it was training in front of large crowds at Junction Oval and touring the streets of the city for the Grand Final parade.

But one memory sticks out for White, with plenty of strange interactions on the eve of his 100^th game.

“At the time I was living with David Neitz and Jeff Farmer, so the three of us were an integral part of that push to the Grand Final,” he said.

“I remember going out for dinner … and we were just sitting there in a quiet space, just the three of us, and we had a bottle of wine sent to our table.

“We asked the staff member who that came from and it was actually Sam Newman who was in the other room.

“I don’t know his intentions but throw a bit of a joke our way.

“Because it was Melbourne versus Essendon, two Victorian clubs, no matter where you went it was red and black, it was red and blue.

Unfortunately, from the moment the ball was bounced, on the club’s biggest day in 36 years, things didn't go to plan.

“They really suffocated us,” White said.

“We just couldn’t get out of our back 50 … and [they] were able to put scoreboard pressure on us.

“I still haven’t watched the game to this day, so I can’t really give you a full report.”

The Bombers went on to claim their 16^th premiership by a massive 60-point margin, with James Hird receiving the Norm Smith Medal.

Of course, the loss that day will hurt forever, and be reflected on as a missed opportunity, but it wasn’t a complete waste for the club.

“A lot of players grew from that,” White said.

“You never take anything for granted and we gave it our best shot.

“We showed that we earnt our spot to be in that Grand Final, but … they were just too good on the day, and credit to them, they had an outstanding year, Essendon.

“At the end of the day, that’s what unfolded.

“We definitely, as a team, as a coaching staff and as a club, hold our head up high on that year.”

To hear White talk in greater detail about the year 2000 as a whole, watch The Off-Season below.