SINCE Melbourne played its last match of the 2011 season against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on September 4, the club has been at the forefront of news in the AFL. Melbournefc.com.au editor Matt Burgan looks back on the past four months in a special four-part series …

December

2 - Melbourne adds another player, Norwood’s Leigh Williams, to its train-on list.

5 - President Jim Stynes gives boom recruit Mitch Clark the No.11 guernsey. Stynes, who wore it with such distinction, says he rapt to see the number worn again. Clark says it’s an “honour” to wear the number. Meanwhile, Stynes says he thought he was “done and dusted”, as he continues to fight cancer. “They’ve (the doctors) decided that there is something else we can do. I’m going to go in and have another brain operation and hopefully that’ll give me a bit more time.”

6 - Melbourne hands out new numbers to Sam Blease, who switches from No.46 to No.17, James Strauss (No.47 to No.19), Tom McDonald (No.43 to No.25), Dan Nicholson (No.49 to No.26) and Michael Evans (No.50 to No.32). The club also allocates numbers to drafteee James Sellar (No.30), Rory Taggert (No.43) and Josh Tynan (No.46).

7 - Jack Trengove plays down the prospect of being named captain for 2012. “I haven’t thought too much about it all,” he says. “With Neeldy (Mark Neeld) coming in, he’s given everyone a blank canvas, and has given everyone an opportunity to show what their leadership qualities are like. He’s not going to announce the leadership group until the start of the season, but I’m sure whoever he picks in the leadership group will really lead by example on and off the field, and they’ll be great for the club.”

8 - Chief executive Cameron Schwab confirms the club is interested in training at high altitude. He tells The Age, ''Neil [Craig] is very interested in [the training facility] but it's something that Mark Neeld has had a close connection with through his Collingwood experience, and he believes it does provide advantages. Meanwhile, president Jim Stynes has surgery to remove a brain tumour. A message on Jimbo Super Muesli Facebook says, “Professor Rosenfeld who performs the surgery says they got a big removal/clearance rate on the tumour without any damage. All in all, looks like a big success. Sam is by his side as usual. Thanks to everyone for your well wishes and prayers. We all love you big guy.”

12 - Former Demon Daniel Ward reflects on being selected in the inaugural Rookie Draft in 1997. He tells melbournefc.com.au - “We got six players, including James McDonald, Russell Robertson, myself, Matthew Bishop and Nathan Bassett. I don’t know of too many other rookie drafts that had that many 100-game players. And there were a few more games from James McDonald and Robbo.” Ward also reflects on his battle with gambling. He says, “To be honest, living with those challenges in the public eye is a bit tougher, but that comes with it. I went through a fair bit there, but addiction - whether it’s drugs or alcohol or in my case gambling - can destroy so many lives, including myself. That was hard going through [my playing career], but I’m lucky enough to come out the other end and I’m by no means cured. But on Christmas Day, I’ll be 18 months clean, so life is getting better and I’m heading in the right direction, which is great.”

13 - Melbourne finalises its 2012 playing list by selecting four players in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft. The Demons select Jai Sheahan (selection No.6), Tom Couch (No.24), James Magner (No.42) and Leigh Williams (No.59). National recruiting manager Barry Prendergast says, “We went in with a clear focus of what we wanted to achieve and we did that. [We selected] two talls and two inside midfielders - three really strong bodies and two especially ready to go. And one who won’t be too far down the track - it’s not like we have to put a body on him.”

14 - Melbourne announces an operating profit of $135,976 (FY10: $724,458) for the year ended 31 October 2011. The club’s normalised operating profit for 2011 is $777,262. As part of the operating profit, and in accordance with the AFL player rules, the club pre-pays a number of 2012 player contracts to take the club to 100 per cent of TPP in 2011, so as to create room in the salary cap for future years. Meanwhile, Melbourne confirms it rookie numbers for 2012: Tom Couch (No.47), James Magner (No.49), Jai Sheahan (No.50) and Leigh Williams (No.51).

15 - Ruckman Max Gawn will require surgery after injuring his knee during training at Casey Fields on Wednesday. Gawn undergoes scans, which confirms a medial meniscus tear of the right knee. The full extent of the injury, including how much football Gawn will miss, will be determined after his operation.

16 - Melbourne confirms Liam Jurrah has undergone surgery on his wrist. The operation will not have a large affect his pre-season campaign. He is expected to come back to the main group in mid-January.

17 - The club confirms that Max Gawn will miss the 2012 season after having surgery on his right knee. Gawn underwent surgery on Friday night to repair the medial meniscus tear, but upon further investigation by the surgeon, it was also revealed that Gawn had a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. The surgery was a success and Gawn is expected to make a full recovery. Football manager Josh Mahoney said, “This is obviously a disappointing result for Max and the Club. We see Max as a long term player for the Melbourne Football Club. He will be fit and healthy to complete a full preseason in preparation for the 2013 season.”