ONE OF FOOTBALL’S best moments is when a youngster fulfils his childhood dream and makes his AFL debut.

And while playing a single match at the top level is an incredible milestone, unfortunately, some players don’t get to add too many more games to the tally.

But that doesn’t mean they don’t belong in football’s history, and Melbourne’s record books.

There are plenty of faces who made single figure appearances for the club - David Rodan and Gary Moorcroft to name a few - but here are 10 of the more unique ones of years gone by.

Nick Smith

Debut: Round 3, 2003 v Western Bulldogs

Games Played: 4

Nick Smith was a ruckman who lasted four years on Melbourne’s list, with the highlight being an appearance in the club’s Semi Final loss to Fremantle in 2006 after Mark Jamar was ruled out with injury.

Jace Bode

Debut: Round 19, 2007 v Western Bulldogs

Games Played: 9

Emerging from the 2006 Rookie Draft, Jace Bode played the last four games of the 2007 season, but was delisted after failing to cement his spot in the side the following year.

Isaac Weetra

Debut: Round 1, 2008 v Hawthorn

Games Played: 2

Recruited out of South Australia in 2006, Isaac Weetra played the opening two matches of the 2008 season before spending the remainder of his career in the VFL.

John Meesen

Debut (for Melbourne): Round 3, 2009 v Port Adelaide

Games Played: 4 (6 total)

Adelaide selected John Meesen with pick No.8 in the 2004 National Draft, and after playing two games for the club in three years, he made the move to Melbourne.

Danny Hughes

Debut: Round 7, 2010 v Western Bulldogs

Games Played: 2

Danny Hughes was a key forward for the Dees who kicked a goal in each of his two games for the club in 2010.

Josh Tynan

Debut: Round 1, 2012 v Brisbane

Games Played: 2

After being recruited via the 2011 National Draft, Josh Tynan played the first and last game of the 2012 season, but wasn’t selected at any point of the following year.

Mitch Clisby

Debut: Round 13, 2013 v St Kilda

Games Played: 8

Pulling on the number 50 guernsey, Mitch Clisby played eight consecutive games in the backend of 2013, before representing Essendon as a top-up player in the 2015 NAB Challenge.

Tom McNamara

Debut: Round 19 v North Melbourne, 2009

Games Played: 4

Tom McNamara was a 186cm defender who spent four years on Melbourne’s list, but was only seen on the field for three games in 2009 and the last game of 2011.

Tom Gillies              

Debut (for Melbourne): Round 1, 2013 v Port Adelaide

Games Played: 2 (15 total)

Lucky to make the list after playing 13 games for the Cats, but Tom Gillies joined Melbourne for the 2013 season as a delisted free agent and played in the opening two rounds of the year.

Dom Barry

Debut: Round 15, 2014 v Western Bulldogs

Games Played: 5 (10 total)

Dom Barry landed at the Demons in 2013 as a part of the club’s deal with GWS to secure Jesse Hogan. He made a promising start to his time at the club before opting to return home to Central Australia the next year. In 2018, he continued his AFL career for Port Adelaide, taking his career total to 10 senior matches.