THE RETIREMENT of a popular star features in the next installment of AFL.com.au's top 50 moments from 2016. A rare cause for Richmond rapture is also among the list from 40-31, while a new 'people's beard' is crowned.

40. Family feud overshadows Jack's milestone

What should have been a celebration of Kieren Jack's major milestone in round 16 turned into a week of dirty laundry being aired. The Sydney co-captain chose not to invite his parents to his 200th game against Geelong because of a rift that was reported to have developed between his parents and partner. His mother, Donna, made the issue public when she posted on Twitter: "So sad. Dad 200 RL you 200 AFL & you don't want us there, your parents. No appreciation for all the years helping you get there". Jack spoke to the media and said it had been a "distressing week", but his resilience was on display when the ball was bounced against Geelong. He starred with 24 possessions and was swamped by teammates when he kicked his third goal in the final two minutes of the match. 

Despite being out of contract at the end of 2017, when he is due to become a free agent, Nat Fyfe's future had hardly been a talking point this year. That was until he spoke candidly in an interview with Channel Seven in August. "The idea of free agency is that players do have a say in their career and it would be remiss of me not to look at every possible option," Fyfe said. "But if I see a strong future at Freo then that's where I'll be playing my footy." It was an interview that put his future firmly on the agenda but the Brownlow medallist later sought to clarify his comments in an interview on the club's website. "Recent reports that I would consider a trade at the end of the season are completely false," he said. 

38. 'The Package' dropped

Jake Stringer started 2016 with a five-goal haul against Fremantle in the Western Bulldogs' season opener, but by round 21 he'd failed to kick multiple goals in a month of football. Still, it came as a shock when the Bulldogs' dropped their star forward weapon in a selection bombshell just three weeks before the start of their finals campaign. An All Australian in 2015, Stringer was now battling for selection in the VFL, rediscovering the work-rate needed at the top level. He returned for the finals and played a number of crucial cameos, kicking three goals against Hawthorn in the semi-final win and a memorable goal against Sydney in the Grand Final. 

37. Ice-cold Lloyd sinks Swans

As soon as the ball hit his right boot Sam Lloyd knew he'd kicked the match-winner Richmond so desperately needed. Trailing by five points against Sydney, Lloyd had marked just inside 50 and close to the boundary as the seconds counted down. When the siren sounded it was all on him and he delivered, kicking the first match-winning goal after the siren since 2013. "To be honest, I thought 'This is going in,' straight off the boot … I hit it pretty sweetly," Lloyd said. The win broke a run of six losses and was the high point of Richmond's tumultuous season. It also gave fans a glimpse into the future, with prized draftee Daniel Rioli kicking two final-quarter goals, including a brilliant running goal after taking three bounces down the MCG wing. 

36. Time for rivals to fear the beard

On Brownlow Medal night, cameras panned to Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn as his name was read out in the round 20 votes. Gawn had starred with 41 hit-outs, 11 marks (eight contested), seven score involvements, one goal and 16 disposals, giving his midfielders silver service in a memorable win. He was pipped for best-on-ground honours by Jack Viney though and shared his disappointment, holding up two fingers and mouthing the words "only two"? Gawn was the outstanding ruckman of the season and went from cult hero to genuine star, winning All Australian selection. That Hawthorn win saw him at the peak of his powers and might also have been a coming of age for his team, which now enters a new era under Simon Goodwin. 

35. Tigers need to focus on footy

With the help of a public relations firm and a shiny yellow and black media guide, Focus on Footy launched their short-lived coup attempt on September 5. The Richmond board was their target and their seven-person ticket included premiership Tigers Bryan Wood and Bruce Monteath. It was cardiologist Martin Hiscock, however, who became the voice of the ticket, declaring: "the Richmond Football Club is in crisis. Never has a year promised so much yet delivered so little". While the group's push fell short, it was a timely reminder for the Richmond board that change was needed. It wasn't long before Neil Balme was appointed football manager and the club's assistant coaching ranks were turned over. Focus on Footy wasn't the group to lead Richmond, but its message was heard loud and clear. 

34. Rance loses his cool with "ridiculous act"

It's not often a player approaches his club requesting to front a media conference, but that's what Richmond star Alex Rance did back in April. The defender had just been handed a two-match suspension for crudely dropping his elbow into the back of a vulnerable Jack Watts's head and he wanted to face the music. "I didn't want this to fester and look like I was hiding from the issue," Rance said. The three-time All Australian publicly apologised to Watts and said he didn't want to be remembered for what he called a stupid and emotional act. "It's going to be out there for good, and one thing I can pass on to the younger players now is to be so careful of your actions because often things like that stick," he said.  

33. Female stars take over prime time

Up until this year, women's exhibition matches had been staged as curtain raisers to AFL matches. In 2016, the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne were given their own stage in prime time on an otherwise footy-free weekend and the results were extraordinary. Broadcast live by Channel Seven, a bumper TV audience tuned in, while 6,365 fans packed out the Whitten Oval. The TV audience peaked at 1.05 million viewers and won its timeslot in Melbourne, where it averaged 387,000 viewers – the largest overall average audience in Melbourne of any game during the 2016 home and away season. Stars were born ahead of the inaugural AFL Women's season, with Bulldogs forward Moana Hope, who will don the Collingwood guernsey next year, starring with six goals.

Moana Hope (right) celebrates one of her six goals. Picture: AFL Photos

32. Hurley stays with Dons

One by one the banned Bombers recommitted to Essendon this year, each giving fans a shot of positivity through a year they'd rather forget. Dyson Heppell and Cale Hooker were among those who had committed to playing on, but Michael Hurley remained elusive. Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs grew as threats, but on August 18, just after 3pm, the Bombers got the news they'd been waiting for. Not only did Hurley commit to his 2017 contract, he'd been locked away on a five-year extension through to 2022. "What became clear was my strong bond with the playing group," Hurley said. "I have some really great mates at the club, we've made a lot of progress and I want to achieve success alongside them." It was music to the Bombers' ears.  

31. Dane's swansong

Collingwood doesn't do things by half, so when a club champion retires you can expect some pomp and ceremony. Swan didn't get the chance to farewell Collingwood supporters on the field after breaking three bones in his foot in round one. Instead he said his goodbye in a one-hour press conference that drew Mick Malthouse back to the club to pay tribute. "I'd rather die a hero than live long enough to die the villain," Swan said. Not only did he retire a Collingwood hero, he'll be remembered as a premiership player, Brownlow medallist and one of the most popular players in the history of fantasy football. Controversial off the field, his message to the media was simple: "Leave me alone."