Find out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Friday, November 4, 2011 and in recent days

Herald Sun

Jim’s new cancer drug hope (Friday, November 4)
By Aaron Langmaid

JIM Stynes is the first person in Australia to trial a breakthrough drug that could give new hope to thousands of cancer patients. But the 45-year-old admits he still doesn't know if he has what it takes to conquer the disease. The footy legend was selected for the treatment which, unlike chemotherapy, zooms in on cancer cells without destroying healthy ones. Oncologist Grant McArthur said Stynes was picked because of the tenacity he has shown through a gruelling range of treatments and surgery. Patients could benefit from similar trials from next year. Described as a new immune stimulation treatment, the drug is an extension of a US product called Ipilmumab. Stynes has been receiving fortnightly infusions but Prof. McArthur warned it wasn't without side-effects. "Sometimes the drug can activate the immune system too much," he said.

Neeld to put stamp on Demons (Monday, October 31)
By Matt Windley

NEW Melbourne coach Mark Neeld has wasted no time putting his stamp on the Demons, declaring 2011 captain Brad Green was no certainty to continue in the job next year.  And on the club's first day of pre-season training, exciting forward Austin Wonaeamirri was delisted and bad boy Colin Sylvia was told that only actions, not words, would repair his reputation in the eyes of Neeld. Green, also captain of the Australian International Rules team, led Melbourne for the first time this year. But a second leadership change in as many seasons could be on the cards after Neeld said Green, 30, would "not definitely" lead in 2012. "My stance on the leadership group is that I've taken over a blank canvas," he said. "I'm not in a position to gather the CEO and in turn go to the board and say, 'Right now this person should be captain'. "The reality is I don't know them. I've seen them train once and Brad isn't even here, Brad's part of the International Rules side, so I'm not in a position to endorse anyone as a part of that. "The leadership group and the captain of Melbourne will be announced in March and it will be determined by their behaviours and actions during the pre-season."

Demon Sylvia in cocktail of strife (Saturday, October 29)
By Mark Robinson

MELBOURNE'S Colin Sylvia has been suspended for Round 1 next year and fined $5000 for his involvement in an early morning car crash last weekend. Sylvia was the passenger in his BMW, which crashed into a pole and he and a mate then abandoned. The Demons learned of the accident from police. Sylvia, who was axed from the International Rules squad for drinking on a night before training, has also been ordered to complete an alcohol program. It is yet another incident in Sylvia's colourful career, which the club yesterday said was dotted with "poor judgment". The Demons yesterday expressed their disappointment that Sylvia was drinking before training, saying it was "not acceptable for a professional footballer" representing the club. He also failed the club by not notifying it of the car crash.

Melbourne coach must deal with wayward Colin Sylvia (Friday, October 28)
By Jon Ralph

NEW Melbourne coach Mark Neeld faces his first real test on Monday when he confronts wayward star Colin Sylvia. Sylvia is expected at AAMI Park for the first day of pre-season training and could yet face suspension. He was dumped from the International Rules side on Sunday night after drinking the night before training then leaving a serious car crash when a passenger in his own car. After Sylvia was caught out late at night in March and brought before the leadership group it warned him he would be suspended should he become involved in another infraction. Now after being embroiled in more controversy only seven months later, his Round 1 availability is in doubt. The Demons refused to comment yesterday, and will not be rushed into making a decision on Sylvia.

Green sees red over International Rules criticism (Wednesday, October 26)
By Matt Windley

AUSTRALIAN skipper Brad Green will not have a bar of the growing scepticism about the International Rules Series, declaring himself a "huge believer" in the hybrid concept. Green, appointed to the top job yesterday, will lead Australia in the two-Test series against Ireland, starting at Etihad Stadium on Friday night. The only AFL club captain in the 23-man squad, he has Demon James Frawley, Geelong's James Kelly and North Melbourne's Andrew Swallow as deputies. Green said yesterday being named captain was a huge highlight, before taking aim at those who have questioned the value of international rules. "I think it's great for our game that you've got two nations that are pretty passionate about this series," he said. "The Irish are as passionate as you can get and they're not coming over here to have a holiday and taste our Guinness. "They're over here to take us on and try and win back the series. I think the guys that are playing with us have wanted to be here. They've all wanted to take time off their holidays and play. "It's a huge honour any time you get to represent your country.”

The Age

Neeld has Demons moving to new beat: Stynes
By Jon Pierik

IT may only be early days but Melbourne president Jim Stynes likes what he has seen of new coach Mark Neeld. ''It looks like we have a coach now that is really serious and he is not going to relax,'' Stynes said yesterday. ''He is not going to sit back and let it all happen. He is going to create it - it's good.'' As the Demons' reshaped football department gets to work, it's also emerged powerbrokers remain hopeful of Garry Lyon remaining as football director once the season begins. Lyon, who took on the role at Stynes's bequest during the 2011 season after the club sacked coach Dean Bailey, has played a key role in several appointments, including that of Neeld.

Hope fuels Stynes
By Jon Pierik

JIM Stynes may have been physically and emotionally ''belted'', but his determination to fight his battle with cancer remains as strong as ever. That was apparent yesterday, just a fortnight after Stynes's wife Sam feared the brain and stomach tumours that had emerged since her husband's diagnosis in 2009 had taken their toll. However, Stynes, adopting the attitude that in an earlier life helped him play a record 244 matches straight with his beloved Melbourne Football Club, of which he is now president, had other ideas and has amazed his doctors. ''My cancer, they say the average length of life is about nine months,'' Stynes said. ''I have gone 2½ years. So, I have already done better than what most people do. ''I am just hoping that I can keep continuing that. We might have a breakthrough and get there. If not, that is what it is to be. We already have an extra 2½ years.''

I love life and I don't want to miss out: ailing Stynes opens up
By Megan Levy

The wife of AFL legend Jim Stynes feared her husband would die two weeks ago when he took a turn for the worse in his two-year battle with cancer. The Melbourne Football Club president and Brownlow medallist said he had "been belted" by the disease in recent months, but had suddenly turned the corner and was feeling much better. While the 45-year-old never believed his battle was over two weeks ago, his wife Sam said she feared the worst. "You were scaring everyone else around you," she said to her husband during an interview on radio station 3AW today. "I think Jim's still surprising our oncologist and carers and nurses. Several times we think, 'Will Jim get through this?'."

Neeld’s principal task (Tuesday, November 1)
By Jon Pierik

AS A former teacher, new Melbourne coach Mark Neeld said yesterday was ''like the first day at school''. ''New principal, new teachers, and a couple of new players,'' he said. Neeld, obviously, is the new principal, assistants Neil Craig and Leigh Brown are among the new ''teachers'', and former Brisbane Lion Mitch Clark headlines the new players. There could also be a new captain, with Neeld revealing after the Demons' first session of pre-season training that Brad Green was no certainty to hold on to the key role. ''My stance on the leadership group is that I have taken over a blank canvas,'' he said. ''I am not in a position to go to the CEO and then in return go to the board and say, 'Look, right now, these people should be captain, these people should be part of the leadership group'. ''Reality says I don't know them. I have seen them train once and Brad is not even here. Brad is part of the International Rules [squad]. The players will have some input into it, but the final call will be mine.''

Wonaeamirri delisted after going home (Tuesday, November 1)
By Michael Gleeson

MELBOURNE yesterday reached the point where the team could wait no longer. Austin Wonaeamirri made a difficult decision much easier. The exciting small forward was yesterday officially cut from Melbourne's list. That was the hard part - severing ties with a talent of great potential. The easier part was that the decision was taken because the player had been missing for weeks. Wonaeamirri returned to Darwin and then home to the Tiwi Islands after the club best and fairest a month ago and has not been seen since. He was due to return to Melbourne on October 10 to consult the surgeon who operated on his ankle, and then to join pre-season training that began yesterday. He is still yet to return. ''Unfortunately, we have been unable to adequately communicate with 'Aussie' to determine his future intentions. The Melbourne Football Club has made the choice to delist Aussie, and will continue to work with him over the next period to assist in planning for the next phase of his career," Melbourne list manager Tim Harrington said.

Demons delist Wonaeamirri, Sylvia given stern warning (Monday, October 31)
By Jon Pierik

MELBOURNE bad boy Colin Sylvia has been told he has work to do before he regains the faith of new coach Mark Neeld. And as the Demons returned for pre-season training at Gosch's Paddock today, the club confirmed that they had delisted Austin Wonaeamirri. Melbourne had been unable to make contact with Wonaeamirri in recent weeks after he returned home to the Northern Territory. Demons list manager Tim Harrington said the club would help Wonaeamirri to plan the next stage of his career. "We worked closely with Aussie's management, particularly Ned Guy from (management company) Stride as well as liaising with the AFLPA throughout this process," Harrington said. "Unfortunately, we have been unable to adequately communicate with Aussie to determine his future intentions. "The Melbourne Football Club has made the choice to delist Aussie, and will continue to work with him over the next period to assist in planning for the next phase of his career." 

Demons ban fine Sylvia (Saturday, October 29)
By AAP

MELBOURNE has suspended wayward star Colin Sylvia, fined him $5000 and ordered him to undergo alcohol counselling after he left the scene of a car accident last Sunday. Sylvia will miss next year's round one clash against Brisbane Lions after the Demons found he had exercised ''poor judgment'' in drinking the night before training with the international rules side, failing to report an accident, in which he was a passenger in his own car, and leaving the scene. The club said previous alcohol-fuelled indiscretions had also been taken into account in meting out the punishment. It also considered the fact that Sylvia had already been dropped from the international rules side playing a two-match series against Ireland. ''Colin breached club protocols … by not immediately making the club aware of the fact that he had been involved in an incident, in this case a serious accident that resulted in significant property damage,'' a club statement said.