Dry eyes were few and far between at Pat and Tina’s service station in Shepparton on Monday morning, as Melbourne Football Club paid one of its biggest fans a special visit.
Joe Di Conza, who could be seen handing out free beers to customers the morning after the 2021 AFL Grand Final, found himself unable to get to the official Demons’ Cup Tour event at Shepparton Marketplace due to work commitments — sparking the club into action.
With cup in hand, members of Melbourne’s media team stopped off at the renowned service station, where Di Conza and jubilant family members greeted them with great anticipation.
What ensued was 30 minutes of pure bliss for the family of Demons diehards, as they were all able to spend some treasured alone time with the prized piece of memorabilia and create special memories that will without a doubt last a lifetime.
After his special meeting with the cup, Joe struggled to put into words how touching it was to see the club go to such great lengths to thank him for his support over the years.
“It has just been a great experience. The love of my club goes back a long time, nearly 40 years I have been associated with Melbourne in all different phases and it is a very special part of my life,” Di Conza said.
“It is like having another child being born, it is just a warm feeling just knowing that the club have made time for me I just feel so privileged and so honoured — it really is a family club and I love being part of it.”
A passionate supporter of the club for four decades, Di Conza spent many years dreaming of the day he would see the premiership cup with ‘Melbourne’ etched on the front.
He said the feeling of seeing the cup in person and holding it in his hands was something he would treasure for the rest of his life.
“Holding back tears was a bit hard but it was a very special moment and the experience of a lifetime,” he said.
“Gary Pert (Melbourne’s chief executive officer) said this was the people’s cup and the more people that can experience what I experienced just now will make us a stronger club, and to actually have this tour on and one of the first country towns being Shepparton, it is just so special.”
Di Conza said being able to share the moment with sons Pat and Anthony, wife Angela, daughter-in-law Johanna and grandson Lorenzo made the day even more special — as he hopes to pass his diehard Demons fandom through the generations.
“I wanted to make sure all my boys could be here; the only one that was missing was Michael, who had to work, but his little son Lorenzo was here and to see the next generation experience it is so special,” Joe said.
“Having my two boys Pat and Anthony and daughter-in-law Johanna here with me was just incredible — having a family photo like that is so special and something we will treasure forever.”