An excerpt from The Age (Nick Sheridan), 21st Feb, 2009.......
The Melbourne Football Club has re-established a link with the footballers of Kinglake as the community seeks to return to normality after the devastating bushfires.
Melbourne chairman Jim Stynes and chief executive Cameron Schwab attended a meeting of about 150 Kinglake residents at the Kinglake football ground on Thursday night, where it was unanimously decided that the club continue to operate this season.
The Demons donated training jumpers and boots to the Kinglake players, as well as pledging to provide other support, such as mentoring and access to its club and AFL games.
Schwab said Melbourne was committed to providing any assistance it could to keep the Kinglake club going.
"I think most people are rising to the challenge of how they can assist in this process, and I suppose what we're trying to do is, we've got administrators, they'll help administrators, we've got coaches, they can help coaches, we've got players, they can help people play," he said.
Kinglake, about 60 minutes north of Melbourne, was part of the Demons' recruitment zone before the introduction of the draft.
"When I was a recruiting guy, I used to go up there to watch young players," Schwab said.
Kinglake president Cameron Cain said the club was rapt with the support it had received, but while keen to build a strong relationship with the Demons, was determined to stand on its own feet.
"I think if you don't take too much and you just stay in contact with them, then it could last for a long time," he said.
