MELBOURNE has elevated former captains David Neitz and Shane McGrath to its Hall of Fame.
The duo has joined a host of club greats, including the likes of Ron Barassi, Robert Flower and Jim Stynes in Melbourne’s Hall of Fame.
Neitz and McGrath were inducted at the club’s Foundation Heroes dinner, held at the Melbourne Town Hall on Wednesday night.
David Neitz
Neitz holds some of the biggest records at the club. He has played the most VFL/AFL games for Melbourne since it became a foundation club of the competition in 1897.
He represented Melbourne in 306 matches from 1993-2008 and, so far, is the only player to have played 300 games in the red and blue. He overtook the late, great Robert Flower on 272 games, and perhaps Nathan Jones is the only player in the foreseeable future.
He also holds the distinction of captaining the club in 175 matches, with Flower again next best. Flower led the club on 127 occasions. Neitz guided the Demons from 1998 until his retirement in 2008.
No one has kicked more goals for the footy club than Neitz. He booted 631 goals and sits ahead of the legendary Norm Smith, who kicked 546 goals for Melbourne.
Neitz won the Coleman Medal in 2002, booting 82 goals, while he led the club’s goalkicking a record seven times in 1996-97, 1999, 2002-03-04 and 2006. On five occasions, he kicked more than 50 goals in a season.
He won the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy in 2002, which was arguably his greatest individual season.
Such was Neitz’s versatility – he was All-Australian in 1995, selected primarily as a defender. When he claimed All-Australian selection again in 2002, he was named at full-forward.
Neitz was also part of the first and now legendary Rising Star nominations in 1993. He gained one in round six, 1993, with the likes of eventual winner Nathan Buckley (round seven), James Hird (round eight), Dustin Fletcher (round nine) and Matthew Richardson (round 10) following.
A powerful man and a much-loved figure at Melbourne, Neitz was a great competitor, possessing a genuine presence and was a much-admired person – on and off the field.
He is universally regarded as a great person – one who can easily mix and relate to people of all ages and backgrounds.
For the red and blue faithful, he was represented two eras – the Neil Balme and Neale Daniher era, particularly the latter. Neitz and Daniher was a duo that gave Melbourne supporters plenty to smile about in the late 1990s and for the early to mid 2000s. Neitz was captain of Melbourne’s most recent Grand Final team in 2000, which was coached by Daniher. And today, Neitz has stepped up again for his coach, being a great support in Neale’s fight to help rid MND.
Neitz was one of the last batch of Melbourne players to come through the old zoning system. He played under 19s with the likes of David Schwarz and Paul Hopgood.
He played under 19s as a 15-year-old in 1990 and came close to AFL selection in 1992, before he made his AFL debut in round one, 1993 against Hawthorn at Waverley Park as a 17-year-old.
From there, his career went from strength to strength – firstly as a key defender and then as a goalkicking full-forward. Such was his ability to play as a defender, Wayne Carey, regarded Neitz as one of his toughest opponents – that’s how good he was.
Neitz represented Victoria in State-of-Origin and Australia in International Rules and became a household name in the AFL.
In his 16th AFL season, Neitz’s outstanding career ended. A neck injury forced him to retire with the red and blue. He later worked in an administrative role at the football club and has since branched out with his own business ‘Brewmanity’.
Neitz was a leader, an ambassador and a hero to many.
Shane McGrath
McGrath, whose first name is James, captained Melbourne in 1950 and was a member of the club’s 1941 premiership.
Despite missing three seasons due to war service, he later returned to play in Melbourne’s 1948 side.
He is regarded as one of Melbourne’s greatest full backs.
McGrath made the Melbourne list in 1939, but remained in Boort, in country Victoria.
He made his VFL debut for Melbourne against Collingwood in round five, 1940, playing five games, before an ankle injury ended his season.
In just his second year, McGrath was Melbourne’s full-back in the 1941 premiership, which was the club’s third in a row.
McGrath later served in the army and in New Guinea.
He missed two seasons, before returning to play two games while on leave in 1944.
Again, he missed the 1945 season, before returning to play 20 matches in 1946 – a Grand Final year for Melbourne.
He was named in the Sporting Life Team of the Year in 1947-48-49 and named captain in 1950. McGrath also skippered Victoria in 1950. He played for Victoria eight times.
McGrath’s last match was the semi-final against Geelong in 1950.
His brother Frank McGrath played two matches for Melbourne.
Born on June 6, 1919, he passed away on November 1, 1974.
In 2008, McGrath was named one of Melbourne’s 150 Heroes.
Melbourne Hall of Fame members
2001
Founders
Thomas Wentworth Wills
Henry Colden Antill Harrison
Pioneers and administrators
William McClelland
Jim Cardwell
Yesteryear
Ivor Warne-Smith
Albert Chadwick
Percy Beames
Allan La Fontaine
Glory days
Jack Mueller
Norm Smith
Donald Cordner
Denis Cordner
Noel McMahen
Stuart Spencer
John Beckwith
Ron Barassi
Brian Dixon
Frank Adams
Ian Ridley
Hassa Mann
Frank 'Checker' Hughes
Modern era
Greg Wells
Robert Flower
Unsung hero
Sam Allica
2003
Stan Alves
Ron Baggott
R 'Bob' Johnson
Laurie Mithen
Don Williams
2006
Fred McGinis
Percy Page
Robert ‘Tassie’ Johnson
Gary Hardeman
Jim Stynes
Brett Lovett
Garry Lyon
2008
Dudley Phillips (Unsung hero)
Joe Blair (Pioneer and administrator)
Barry Bourke
Greg Healy
Todd Viney
Sean Wight
2013
Geoff Case
Maurie Gibb
Alan Johnson
Clyde Laidlaw
Wally Lock
Hall of Fame Legends
2001 – Norm Smith
2003 – Ron Barassi
2006 – Ian Ridley
2008 – Donald Cordner
2013 – Ivor Warne-Smith
