Part 2: The Early Going
The Demons, Adam Dale, a promising start, and a one-day Premiership—2008/09.
Writer's Note: What began as a single post about Melbourne's 2009-10 premiership victory over St Kilda has taken on a life of its own. The rich cast of characters, behind-the-scenes moments, and the journey demanded more space than initially planned. Two posts in, we haven't yet reached the premiership season—but trust me, the backstory matters. Sometimes, the best stories take their time. Read the pilot here.
The season 2008-09 was serviceable for the (Demons) Melbourne Cricket Club. It was a case of new handlers, different methods, and similar outcomes. This after 2007-09 returned a T20 premiership for the outgoing captain/coach, Chris Davies—I’m sure some of the older folk down at Demonland might balk at such a presumption—T20 premierships!
That said, 50-over cricket had always come easily to the Demons, dating back to one of its very best, Dean Jones, and later stars Brad Hodge and Andrew Kent—all batters who thrived in the format. The club’s bowling depth with the white ball was equally impressive: fundamentally sound new ball operators, reliable medium-pacers, and quality spin. Attach dependable fielding and slick running, and you had a pretty robust package. From a coaching perspective, there really wasn’t much to do—wind them up, set them loose, and sit back.
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So it was expected that the Demons would be a force in 2008-09 in the 50-over format with Adam Dale at the helm. Six wins from seven games saw them on top of the ladder. A preliminary final win over Ringwood, where Andrew Kent and Michael Hill both made centuries, led to a final with close rivals, Prahran.
To me, the rivalry felt territorial, with both home grounds land-locked by city activity.
The Albert Ground is one of the most unique cricket grounds in the world. Flanked by St Kilda Road and Queens Way, both busy arteries, with the city skyline rising at its northern end, the ground offers glimpses of Albert Park and Port Phillip Bay from its elevated points. Toorak Park, in contrast, nestles quietly into its commercial and residential surrounds, just a stone's throw from the bustle of Chapel Street. Both are distinctive spaces to play club cricket.
The final, played at the Albert Ground in the shadow of Black Saturday, saw Melbourne triumph in a tight contest. Prahran struggled to 165, with Adam Bull's 51 the standout against Phil Halbish's 4-35. The chase wasn't straightforward—Andrew Kent's composed 52 steadied early nerves, with Halbish's crucial 33 steering Melbourne home despite some late jitters. All-rounder Halbish deserved man-of-the-match honours as the Demons claimed the flag with two wickets in hand.
Phil Halbish had been an integral part of the Demon's makeup, and new captain/coach, Adam Dale, would later reflect: "A fantastic competitor who influenced many games with the ball but also with the bat. His forthright batting in the lower order was hugely effective. A terrific team man with invaluable experience." It was fitting praise from Dale, himself no stranger to match-winning performances.
There’s no doubting 'Big Bish' had been somewhat diffident to some of the changes asked of the group. As the batting coach, I particularly enjoyed his steadfast position on batters. He was sold on the notion that bowlers controlled and won cricket matches—in his view, batters were merely pretenders prone to cracking under pressure. Bish was all 'old school'—respect was to be earned, not given. To this day, he deliberately mangles my nickname, a reminder of the good-natured sparring over the batter-bowler divide. C'mon, Bish, time to let it go.
Club cricket has always been the foundation of the Australian game. Players juggle time and work or study, weekend to weekend. It’s a place where cricketers discover their ceiling or not. Training nights rather than days. Many stop here, sometimes for no reason other than bad fortune or ill-timing. Others prosper and move forward to a first-class career and beyond. The banter remains, though. Phil Halbish would have to tread differently at the next level—he knows that. Despite that, he played for Melbourne with the same desire as he would for Victoria. It’s just he has a day job and perhaps some healthier perspectives on the play/work/life balance. Bridging any skill or standards gap is about consistency, performing under brighter lights, and turning potential into something tangible.
Then Test cricket. I can’t remember the ratio, but teammate David Boon always said that first-class cricket is 70/30, mind over skill. And, Test cricket is 80/20. Highlighting the mental aptitude required to climb the tree. Adam Dale navigated all three—he still has a picture of Sachin on his mantelpiece—it sits right next to a Phil Halbish portrait!
Doem’s journey is not unique, but then it is. North Melbourne to Brisbane club cricket, to Queensland and unprecedented success, then to the baggy green. Oh, then a full circle back to Melbourne! It was a very shrewd appointment—we can come back to that later.
The 2008-09 season closed with contrasting fortunes—a one-day flag and a rain-affected first-round exit in the main competition. Personally, I was finding my feet with the playing group (Bish notwithstanding), while Doemer's influence continued to grow. The younger players were developing, the core group strengthening, and with Melbourne's tireless recruiter, the enigmatic Doug Patrick, already preparing his annual scouting presentation, the foundations for 2009-10 looked promising.
Back soon.
