MELBOURNE has awarded life memberships to defender Colin Garland and former long-time trainer John Clare.
The pair received their awards at Melbourne’s annual general meeting, held in the Members Dining Room at the MCG.
Garland, who is entering his 11th AFL season after being drafted by Melbourne at No.46 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, has been a fine player for the club.
Recruited from North Hobart/Tasmania U18/Tasmania VFL, Garland has played 141 games for Melbourne since he made his AFL debut in round five, 2007 against the Sydney Swans at the SCG.
A NAB AFL Rising Star nominee in 2008, Garland finished second to Nathan Jones in Melbourne’s best and fairest in 2013. He has also been a member of Melbourne’s leadership group.
Garland said he never envisaged on becoming a life member, but relished the accolade.
“Where I started from, to play a game was probably the target once I got here,” he told Melbourne TV.
“I’ve been here 10 years and the calibre of people that are life members of the club – [I’m] truly honoured and humbled by the gifting of the life membership.”
Garland said he was honoured to have received life membership and play under the likes of Neale Daniher and the late Dean Bailey, adding that the latter gave him the confidence to flourish as a player.
“I don’t need to tell the supporters of the ride that they’ve had to go on – I see it every day,” he said.
“The fire is still there because who wouldn’t want to be part of the group that Melbourne Football Club’s got at the moment. The character of the place and the work ethic is the best it’s been since I’ve been at the club – it’s unreal.
“I could never repay the club and the way it’s built me up – I just couldn’t thank them enough.”
Clare was a trainer with the club for 25 years, after joining Melbourne in the 1990 pre-season.
A quiet and humble man, he was born in the United Kingdom and moved to Australia when he was eight years old.
Now 66, Clare said he never took his role for granted and added that it was a great honour to become a life member.
“When I got the phone call from the president, you think about it and think ‘is it true?’ and it was, so I couldn’t believe it,” he said.
“I’ve seen a lot of players come and go – some great players – [like] Jimmy [Stynes], the Febey [brothers, Steven and Matthew], Garry Lyon and Greg Healy.
“We were a young side when we made the Grand Final in 2000 … we did pre-season up on the Murray and they bonded really well and from there – that’s where they took it.”
Meanwhile, Demon Army members Sophie Galer and Ryan Sinclair have been named joint winners of the Volunteers of the Year.
Galer and Sinclair have been instrumental in the Demon Army and have been tireless workers for the club.
They both bleed red and blue and were thoroughly deserving winners.
