Every club – from local to the AFL – has some of it...memorabilia that gets generated in house, and lives on as part of small collections, pinned on walls, perched on desks, sometimes signed and occasionally a great personal treasure that tells many stories.  These back pages have emerged largely from the Club’s football department, as well as from personal collections, marking achievements and milestones.

Robbo Rules – 30 April 2001
Russell Robertson proved to be a highlight of this win over the Swans in early 2001.  As he recalls now:

‘I remember the extreme excitement because it was a close game.  Sydney had fought their way back...Paul Wheatley had the ball and I knew he was a very long kick, so I pushed back waiting for a high one.  He obliged and after that it was all like slow motion....I remember clearly to this day the sound of that MCG crowd....Then I thought, ‘Oh no, now I have to kick a goal!’

And he did – his third in three minutes.

Up North – 8 July 2002
For some years in the early 2000s, Melbourne played home games against Brisbane at the Gabba, receiving funds in return for the change of venue.  While it may have seemed an unlikely setting for success, there were exceptions that made the experience worthwhile.

Round 14, 2002 was such an occasion.

Melbourne was victorious by 21 points, in the process snapping an 18 game winning streak for the Lions at the Gabba.  As Nathan Brown, seen here crunching Jason Akermanis, remembers, the victory ‘was just one of the great home and away wins in my time at the footy club’. 

Six Of The Best – 18 April 2004
With a Coleman Medal and Best and Fairest to his credit in 2002, and settled into captaincy, David Neitz was one of the stars of the show when Melbourne defeated the Western Bulldogs by ten points at the MCG in an early season clash in 2004.

As always, the captain was throwing everything at the ball.  Of this image, Neitz reflects:

‘Sometimes a man’s got to know his limitations.  I’m all for testing those limitations, but by the look of that photo it is clear that I should leave the high flying to the likes of Russell Robertson or Jeremy Howe!’

Flash Splash – 22 May 2004
At the start of 2004, Aaron Davey was on the rookie list, taken at No. 3 - a ‘speedy forward coming off an eye-catching season with Port Melbourne in the VFL’.  Before the season had even started, he was elevated, his passage to the senior list helped by the Club’s Coterie group.

Done With Yze – 24 April 2005
As well as being a magnet for the catchy headline, Adem Yze created some memorable images throughout his long playing career.  Seen here in full flight, he was part of the team that defeated Sydney in a night encounter at the SCG, bringing the Barassi Trophy for this Anzac Round win home to Melbourne.



White Delight – 21 August 2005
Jeff White’s autograph note says it all, really – ‘An Awesome Win’. 

This win over the Western Bulldogs was an instrumental one in the story of Season 2005.  White’s late breaking goal in the dying seconds landed a four point win and steadied the season.  As he recalls:

‘I thought about the process, I visualised the ball spinning perfectly in the air.

Once it left my boot, I knew it was home.’

And that, indeed, was awesome.



Demons, Dons and Dogs – 29 August 2005
This final home and away game of the 2005 season was Melbourne’s chance to make the finals.

Russell Robertson was the late breaking star of the show.  His reaction was rightly ‘Deelirious’:

‘I have always been a bit cheeky – most of my football was played that way, and when this goal went through in one of the most unnatural bounces of a Sherrin ever to down Essendon in a close one and put us into a finals series, well, the face says it all.  I was just so happy.  I was always happiest when I was kicking a goal for my beloved Dees.’



Yze Again – 14 May 2006
Too Yze?  An early season 59 point win over the Dockers was a heartening one in 2006, also taking the Demons to a welcome seventh place.

This early grasp on a finals berth would not be relinquished for the rest of the season.  One of those who fought hardest to make it so was – appropriately – Adem Yze, who had 28 possessions in this game. 

Neitz Magic – 5 June 2006
Round 10, 2006 was a special day for the Melbourne captain.  The Neitz show was in full action against St Kilda, with the captain kicking eight goals on the very day that he overtook Robert Flower’s games record with his 273^rd game.  As he remembers:

‘Everything fell into place in that record breaking game.  I remember kicking three quick goals early, and the adrenaline was absolutely pumping.  That game had such a big build up, and to play well as well as have a win made it extra special.’

Familiar Image – 21 August 2006
From a slight youngster in 2004, by late 2006 Aaron Davey had indeed transformed into an imposing figure, his image well reminiscent of Richmond great ‘Captain Blood’ – Jack Dyer.

The determination of Davey also helped to translate to a 50 point victory over the Kangaroos. With captain David Neitz kicking four of his eight goals in the third quarter, Davey himself scored four for the match. 

Equalling The Cats – 27 August 2006
Down at the then Shell Stadium, Melbourne faced a massive challenge to overcome Geelong. 

In a heart stopping final quarter, both teams scrambled to 14.10.94 apiece. 

And that was it.

For Geelong, however, it really was it.  The draw meant that the Cats couldn’t make the finals in 2006, whereas Melbourne was in fourth place and ready for September.

Perfectly Presidential – 30 June 2008
This one point victory over Brisbane represented the first win of Jim Stynes’ administration. Hopes were high for Austin Wonaeamirri to replicate Round Seven against Fremantle, when his four goals helped carry Melbourne to a one goal win.

Come Round 14, the Lions took control as the clock ticked down, and their eleven point lead looked insurmountable.

Wonaeamirri then emerged, grabbing the ball and running with it, down the members’ wing, space all around, and the clock ticking down to the final siren – and one point to Melbourne.