17-year Fremantle member Steve Greenwood played a small but pivotal role on Grand Final day last weekend, helping Melbourne execute a pre-game ritual before the first bounce.

Greenwood, who is a passionate member of the Fremantle cheer squad and banner team, was contacted by the Demons in the build-up to their big day.

With the difficulties of Melbourne’s cheer squad based in Victoria and unable to come across to Optus Stadium, Greenwood was called upon to lend a helping hand and supervise Melbourne’s Grand Final banner.

“I was contacted on the Tuesday after the tickets went on sale by the Melbourne cheer squad,” Greenwood said.

“They said that the AFL wanted them to do a banner and asked how we could help.

“The banner arrived (from Melbourne) on Friday morning, the day before the grand final, and we poled it on Friday afternoon.

“We had to do some quite extensive modifications to it because there are different sizes in the poles from what they use over there to what we use over here.

“We finished off the preparations at about 7pm on Friday evening and as you saw the next day, the banner was pretty magnificent!”

Greenwood worked alongside Melbourne’s Perth-based supporter group, and felt the pressure of being able to deliver an incredible banner for the eventual premiers to run through before the game.

“I was working closely with Melbourne’s Perth-based cheer squad, and we did multiple Facetime calls with the Melbourne-based ‘Demon Army’ as well,” Greenwood said.

“It’s the first time I’ve actually supervised a banner as well, I’d never supervised a Freo banner.

“There was a lot of pressure, and I didn’t sleep at all on Friday night…I just didn’t want to do what happened to Collingwood in 2018!”

Greenwood said it was an ‘experience of a lifetime’ to be able to play a small role in Melbourne’s historic win.

“I loved the game, it was just amazing and right at the end of the game the Melbourne cheer squad invited me over to enjoy the last few minutes with them,” Greenwood said.

“I went to the pub with them afterwards, which was pretty crazy.

“I want to thank the Melbourne guys because to be collaborating with different cheer squads across the country has been an amazing experience.

“I have made some lifetime friends doing this, it’s amazing.”