A proud football family with links to the Border would be over the moon to see Melbourne break its 57-year premiership drought on Saturday.
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Sisters Melissa and Vicky Daniher, cousins of AFL great Neale Daniher, this week decorated their Albury store, Muriel's on David, with all the red and blue they could find.
Melissa said she was torn on grand final day in 2000 when the Demons took on Essendon as both clubs have been synonymous with the Daniher name.
Neale and brothers Terry, Anthony and Chris all played for Essendon, before he went on to coach Melbourne for almost 10 years.
But she's well and truly on the Melbourne wagon as the Demons return to the game's biggest stage for the first time in 21 years.
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"We were over the doom and gloom of COVID, so we thought we'd put some colours up," Melissa said.
"We saw lots of Richmond supporters around last year but I haven't seen many colours around anywhere.
"If it puts a smile on someone's face, that's what it's about. We don't mind putting up a couple of balloons and streamers.
"I don't know if we've scared off all the Bulldogs fans with the colours (laughs).
"There's a few Bulldogs supporters out there, but a lot are getting behind the Dees and most have commented about Neale and said it would be great if they could get it for him.
"Everything he has done has been amazing and we just hope it all comes together.
"There hasn't been too much sport locally, so at least everyone can get behind the AFL and we've all come out of lockdown."
An online petition to get the former Melbourne coach an exemption to travel to Western Australia to watch the Demons received more than 70,000 signatures, but Melissa is confident he'll enjoy it regardless.
"I haven't spoken to him directly, but through the family I know he'd dearly love to see them win and he's very happy to watch it in the comfort of his home with his family," she added.
"He'll be absolutely chuffed if they get that flag and I think that will be the absolute icing on the cake.
"I'm a bit nervous, I'm pretty vocal with the football. I'll just relocate some balloons and streamers to my house I think."
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