Mercy Health’s Ron loves his Demons

For many aged care residents, AFL is their great passion.

Melbourne supporter Ron Coates is one of the lucky Demons’ supporters. The Mercy Health Bethlehem Home for the Aged (Bendigo) resident vividly recalls watching Melbourne in the club’s glory days – back in the 1950s and 60s.

The 1964 premiership, the last before famous coach Norm Smith and the great Ron Barassi sensationally left the club holds a special place in his heart. Therefore, last year’s Demons’ premiership was a dream come true.

The aged care resident says he can finally move on from the Norm Smith era when premierships were the expectation.

Aged Care residents are glued to the footy

Alongside about 50 other residents, Mr Coates is glued to the TV for AFL matches throughout the season and this year his Demons’ passion, coupled with Melbourne’s early season winning form, helped him come second in the Mercy Health tipping competition.

Amassing 121 votes, Mr Coates picked nine winners in round 22 but says his beloved Demons “let him down at the business end of the year”.

“We fell apart when it counted.”

Mr Coates had hoped with Melbourne’s finals elimination one of “his boys” would at least win the Brownlow Medal, with midfielder Clayton Oliver among the favourites.

But again, it was not to be. The problem, according to Mr Coates was “his mate Christian Petracca kept getting the votes.”

Ahead of the AFL Grand Final, he says it will not be anywhere near as exciting for him as last year, but he confidently predicts a comfortable Geelong victory.

The Bethlehem home had never seen such a score

Tipping-wise, Mr Coates had a lot of competition and the carers, nurses and staff at Mercy Health Bethlehem have never seen such a high score as that achieved by Joyce Brady.

The 93-year-old Carlton supporter amassed an astonishing 137 points – a score that topped the entire aged care facility.

While the Blues fell away late in the season and missed the finals, Patrick Cripps’ Brownlow Medal win lifted her spirits.

“I haven’t really a favourite player but he’s special and just so tough at the ball.”

Thee nonagenarian says she does not have a secret recipe when it comes to tipping.

“I just pick them on form.

“I used to have all the newspapers and read them but this time I didn’t really have much of a method,” she says.

Mrs Brady also lent towards the Cats on the grand final day.

“We’ve got some pretty handy tipsters around the place. Check us out, we often do a lot better than some of these so-called professionals on television and in the newspapers.”