In the lead-up to Melbourne’s round 16 clash against Fremantle, melbournefc.com.au highlights 12 people who have helped forged a strong link between the two clubs in just 15 years
1 - Scott Chisholm: After playing 63 matches for Fremantle from 1995-98, the dashing defender crossed to Melbourne at the end of the 1998 season. Chisholm added 18 matches from 1999-2000, but just one in the club’s most recent grand final season.
2 - Chris Connolly: The midfielder made 84 appearances with the Demons from 1982-89. Connolly later became Fremantle’s most successful coach, guiding the club in 129 matches and to two finals series, including the 2006 preliminary final. He is now Melbourne’s football operations general manager.
3 - Neale Daniher: After serving as an assistant to Gerard Neesham at Fremantle, Daniher coached Melbourne from 1998 to mid-way through 2007. He guided the Demons in 223 matches (the third most at the club and behind only Norm Smith and ‘Checker Hughes’), including the 2000 grand final.
4 - Jeff Farmer: An electrifying small forward, Farmer played 249 AFL matches (131 for Fremantle and 118 for Melbourne) from 1995-2008. He spent his first seven seasons at Melbourne and in 2000 kicked 76 goals - a career-best. He also booted nine goals against Collingwood in 2000 - all in the second half.
5 - Phil Gilbert: A no-frills full-back, Gilbert played 39 matches from 1993-96, including 25 with the Demons in his first two years. He then became a pioneering Fremantle player. In his first game for Melbourne, Gilbert managed to keep Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall to three goals.
6 - Troy Longmuir: A talented left-footer, Longmuir played 17 matches with Melbourne in 1998-99, before returning to his native state, where he played 55 games with Fremantle. His older brother Justin played for Fremantle.
7 - Jason Norrish: The midfielder played 20 games for Melbourne from 1993-94, before becoming an inaugural Fremantle player. He flourished at Freo, playing 128 games from 1995-2002, winning the club champion in 1998. Norrish was also a vice-captain at Fremantle.
8 - Kelly O’Donnell: Played 80 matches for Melbourne from 1979-84 and later became an assistant coach at Fremantle from 2000-07. He returned to the Demons at the end of the 2007 season and has since been the club’s development coach.
9 - Mark Riley: ‘Bomber’ was a member of Fremantle’s original coaching panel in 1995. He was development coach (1995-97) and assistant coach (1998-2000), before joining Melbourne as an assistant in 2003. He then took over from Neale Daniher as Melbourne coach mid-2007.
10 - Cameron Schwab: One of the longest serving secretaries/CEOs in VFL/AFL history, Schwab stated at Melbourne as a cadet in 1982. He returned as chief executive in 1997 and later became Fremantle’s CEO from 2002-08. Now in his third stint at Melbourne, Schwab has been chief executive since 2008.
11 - Troy Simmonds: The ruckman/forward started his AFL career with Melbourne, playing 40 matches with the Demons from 1999-01. This included the 2000 grand final, although he played little part in it after being cleaned up early. Simmonds moved to Fremantle and played 64 matches from 2002-04.
12 - Jeff White: The ruckman was claimed by Fremantle with the No.1 pick in the 1994 AFL Draft. He spent three seasons with Freo, making 32 appearances. White then returned to Victoria and played 236 matches with Melbourne from 1998-2008, winning the club’s best and fairest award in 2004.
1 - Scott Chisholm: After playing 63 matches for Fremantle from 1995-98, the dashing defender crossed to Melbourne at the end of the 1998 season. Chisholm added 18 matches from 1999-2000, but just one in the club’s most recent grand final season.
2 - Chris Connolly: The midfielder made 84 appearances with the Demons from 1982-89. Connolly later became Fremantle’s most successful coach, guiding the club in 129 matches and to two finals series, including the 2006 preliminary final. He is now Melbourne’s football operations general manager.
3 - Neale Daniher: After serving as an assistant to Gerard Neesham at Fremantle, Daniher coached Melbourne from 1998 to mid-way through 2007. He guided the Demons in 223 matches (the third most at the club and behind only Norm Smith and ‘Checker Hughes’), including the 2000 grand final.
4 - Jeff Farmer: An electrifying small forward, Farmer played 249 AFL matches (131 for Fremantle and 118 for Melbourne) from 1995-2008. He spent his first seven seasons at Melbourne and in 2000 kicked 76 goals - a career-best. He also booted nine goals against Collingwood in 2000 - all in the second half.
5 - Phil Gilbert: A no-frills full-back, Gilbert played 39 matches from 1993-96, including 25 with the Demons in his first two years. He then became a pioneering Fremantle player. In his first game for Melbourne, Gilbert managed to keep Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall to three goals.
6 - Troy Longmuir: A talented left-footer, Longmuir played 17 matches with Melbourne in 1998-99, before returning to his native state, where he played 55 games with Fremantle. His older brother Justin played for Fremantle.
7 - Jason Norrish: The midfielder played 20 games for Melbourne from 1993-94, before becoming an inaugural Fremantle player. He flourished at Freo, playing 128 games from 1995-2002, winning the club champion in 1998. Norrish was also a vice-captain at Fremantle.
8 - Kelly O’Donnell: Played 80 matches for Melbourne from 1979-84 and later became an assistant coach at Fremantle from 2000-07. He returned to the Demons at the end of the 2007 season and has since been the club’s development coach.
9 - Mark Riley: ‘Bomber’ was a member of Fremantle’s original coaching panel in 1995. He was development coach (1995-97) and assistant coach (1998-2000), before joining Melbourne as an assistant in 2003. He then took over from Neale Daniher as Melbourne coach mid-2007.
10 - Cameron Schwab: One of the longest serving secretaries/CEOs in VFL/AFL history, Schwab stated at Melbourne as a cadet in 1982. He returned as chief executive in 1997 and later became Fremantle’s CEO from 2002-08. Now in his third stint at Melbourne, Schwab has been chief executive since 2008.
11 - Troy Simmonds: The ruckman/forward started his AFL career with Melbourne, playing 40 matches with the Demons from 1999-01. This included the 2000 grand final, although he played little part in it after being cleaned up early. Simmonds moved to Fremantle and played 64 matches from 2002-04.
12 - Jeff White: The ruckman was claimed by Fremantle with the No.1 pick in the 1994 AFL Draft. He spent three seasons with Freo, making 32 appearances. White then returned to Victoria and played 236 matches with Melbourne from 1998-2008, winning the club’s best and fairest award in 2004.
