MELBOURNE is set to name the newest inductees and club legends to its Hall of Fame.
The club established its Hall of Fame in 2001 to honour past Melbourne players, coaches and staff members.
Stay tuned for rolling coverage below.
FRED FANNING - Hall of Fame Inductee
Fanning is a familiar name to fans of Melbourne’s history books, having played 104 games between 1940 and 1947.
He was part of the 1940 Premiership side and won Melbourne’s Best and Fairest trophy in 1945.
A hero in front of goal, Fanning was the club’s leading goal-kicker on five occasions, earning the honours in 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, and 1947. He tallied 411 majors across seven seasons, playing alongside well-known names such as Smith and Mueller.
The star forward still holds the league record for number of goals scored in a match, kicking 18 against St Kilda in Round 19, 1947.
This unbelievable achievement came in his final ever VFL game for Melbourne, with the then 25-year-old retiring soon after.
Fanning passed in 1993, with his grandson Brad accepting the Hall of Fame award on his behalf.
JIM STYNES - Club Legend
Stynes is a name that needs little introduction, as one of the most well-known Melbourne players and administrators.
He first came to Melbourne as part of the ‘Irish Experiment’ in 1984, before quickly proving himself as one of the competition’s most dynamic rucks, winning a Brownlow Medal in 1991.
He was also a four-time winner of the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Trophy, Melbourne’s Best and Fairest, in 1991, 1995, 1996 and 1997.
Upon retirement, Stynes became the first international player to be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame (2003), later recognised with a similar honour at club level (2006).
Stynes remained heavily involved with the club following his career and, despite battling health concerns, served as President from 2008 to 2009.
The Jim Stynes Foundation was created and named in his honour after his untimely passing in 2012, at the age of just 45. Now the community platform of the club, the Foundation exists to give back to the young people within the communities Melbourne is a part of.
Stynes’ work co-founding The Reach Foundation in 1994 remains his enduring legacy with its goal of empowering young people and improving youth mental health across Australia.
Stynes’ honour was accepted by his daughter Matisse and nephew Sammy on his behalf.
All four men have added to the rich tapestry that forms the Melbourne Football Club, and the club is honoured to celebrate those who embody the Demon Spirit most, on the eve of the 2025 AFL season.
JACK MUELLER - Club Legend
Between 1934 to 1950, Mueller was one of the most well-known faces in the VFL, as a four-time Premiership player.
Despite losing two fingers in an industrial accident in his first season, Mueller became a key part of the dominant Demons side that played in five Grand Finals in nine years.
Playing 216 games and kicking 378 goals across his career, Mueller was recognised for his consistent contribution to the team when he won the club’s Best and Fairest in 1937, 1939, and 1946.
He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1996, acknowledging his impact across the wider football community, before earning club Hall of Fame honours in 2001.
Mueller sadly passed in 2021, with his nephew Bryan accepting the award on his behalf.
JAMES MCDONALD - Hall of Fame Inductee
McDonald is a star of the modern era, having played 251 games for Melbourne between 1997 and 2010.
His older brother, Anthony, played for Melbourne between 1997 and 2002, and the younger McDonald quickly took the nickname ‘Junior’.
Originally drafted as a rookie, he soon established as a star in his own right and became a core part of the hard-working midfield group.
2006 was his break-out season, where the tough hitter beat the AFL tackle record with 15 in Round 7 against Fremantle. He finished the year with a record high 143 tackles, rewarded for his efforts with inclusion on the interchange for the 2006 All-Australian team.
A two-time Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Medallist in 2006 and 2007, he also served as Melbourne’s captain between 2008 and 2010.
He is the namesake for the James McDonald Trophy, awarded at Melbourne’s Best and Fairest event, to the player who best demonstrates the club values of Trust, Respect, Unity and Excellence.
