Joan Lawson: founding member of the Western Demons, and lifelong supporter.
While you can take the girl out of Melbourne, you can’t take the Melbourne out of the girl.
Joan Lawson, lifelong supporter of the Demons and following in her parents’ footsteps, found herself shifting from her home town of Melbourne, to Perth, Western Australia in 1973. Feeling isolated from football and her beloved Dees, it was not until 1992 that Mrs Lawson, along with three others, founded a supporter group in Western Australia known as the Western Demons.
With over 700 Western Demons members to date, Melbourne supporters in the region are able to come together as a supporter group and attend live match screenings at the Melbourne Hotel in Perth, and various events throughout the year.
Through raffles and auctions, the Western Demons raise money for the Melbourne Football Club. Just recently, ten thousand dollars was contributed towards purchasing nets for behind the goalposts at Casey Fields.
Recently retired from her position at the West Australian Football Commission in the education and female football departments, Mrs Lawson continues to lead the Western Demons, generated by passion and loyalty for the Club.
“I was born with a red and blue spoon in my mouth, and have supported the Dees since I was a little kid,” Mrs Lawson said.
“Then, when we were teenagers, mum and dad would take us to Geelong or out to Collingwood or Footscray to watch the Demons. My parents would tell us, if you see us out in the crowd don’t speak to us, because by then we were silly teenage girls carrying on at the football.”
“One day we were down at Geelong, and Ron Barassi was playing. My girlfriend and I decided after the match that we would jump the fence to get autographs - as you did back in those days. So, after the match, I went running off and I thought, where is she? Well I looked back, and there she was stuck in the picket fence and she couldn’t get over it.”
Mrs Lawson said that the Melbourne Football Club’s new style and approach has made a significant impact on supporters and the Club as a whole. With the leadership of Jim Stynes, Cameron Schwab and Chris Connolly, to name a few, she feels the Club is more approachable and inviting from a supporter’s perspective.
“When Melbourne are playing in Perth, the whole team will come across and attend a dinner on the Friday night. Players will sit at the tables with the guests, and rotate during the night, mingling with the supporters,” she says.
“There’s been a whole culture change at the Club for the better, and this is something we should never let go of, because it is something special.”
Change is occurring in all facets of the Club and in particular, women’s involvement in football. With a background in female football from her time at the football commission, Mrs Lawson focuses on encouraging women’s participation, both on and off the field.
“Women’s football is the fastest growing sport in Australia, if they had that in my day I would have played footy instead of netball,” she said.
As exhilaration and anticipation surrounds the Club, Mrs Lawson is proud to see it reach a new era, supported by a line up of up and coming stars.
“In 2011 I’ll be buying my grand final ticket, I might be a bit premature, but I think they’ll be there,” Mrs Lawson said
“It’s just exciting times.”
