AS THE CLUB prepares to farewell Brad Green after more than a decade and 254 games, his background is being revisited, and his Tasmanian footballing origins, starting from North Launceston, are being celebrated.

Many Tasmanians have made a wonderful contribution to the Melbourne Football Club over the last century and a half - and that is even without considering those of Tasmanian birth, such as Garry Lyon and David Neitz, or those who have a shared identity which does not fit the direct pattern of transit from Tasmania to the Melbourne Football Club.

Those who fall into that latter category include luminaries such as Stuart Spencer, who dominated the 1955 and 1956 premierships and Best and Fairest awards before heading to Tasmanian side Clarence, where he also went on to lead a rare achievement when captaining Tasmania to victory against Victoria in 1960.

Another like Spencer was Ivor Warne-Smith, who played just one season with Melbourne in 1919 before heading to Tasmania, from whence he was eventually retrieved to resume his career - soon to become illustrious - with Melbourne in 1925.  He then dominated the late 1920s, playing in the 1926 premiership with Melbourne, and winning dual Brownlows in 1926 and 1928, before serving as a supreme administrator for the Club up to and through the 1950s.

There is also a small batch of players who, over the years, have ventured from Tasmania to another V/AFL club before making their way to Melbourne.

From University, Melbourne inherited former Cananore player Claude Bryan for the 1914 season, while Cameron Clayon from New Norfolk - later to be coached by a legendary Melbourne figure in Rod Grinter - was another Tiger who made his way across Yarra Park to become a Demon in the 1970s.

James Cook, Brent Crosswell and Michael Young all wore the navy blue of Carlton before combining it with Melbourne’s red, and David Grant and Jamie Shanahan dispensed with their St Kilda halos to also become Demons in the 1990s.

A number of noted Club identities grace the list of former Tasmanians to wear red and blue.

At the top of the statistical tree are the Febey twins of Devonport, who have an impressive record between them, with Matthew - establishing himself on the wing - playing 143 games, and Steven - a speedster who dominated the half back flank - entering the record books with 258 of his own between 1988 and 2001. They both overcame many obstacles before and throughout their careers to establish a formidable standing, not least of which is the record of being the only twins to have played at least 100 V/AFL games each.

Heading back to the 1950s, there is a strong Tasmanian presence, provided through Noel Clarke of North Launceston who kicked three goals to help Melbourne to the 1955 premiership, followed Bob ‘Tassie’ Johnson, part of the influx of Johnsons from the decade, appropriately nicknamed to avoid confusion. Also from North Launceston, Johnson took up the baton and played in the 1959, 1960 and 1964 premierships, dominating at full back for the majority of his career before finishing off in the back pocket and ruck, also holding the captaincy in 1969 - his last season.

Others from this era who made their mark from Tasmania included Peter ‘Trunky’ Marquis from Devonport, who went on to play in three flags with Melbourne in 1955, 1956 and 1957, renowned for his great strength and solid build at full back. He was complemented by speedster and decoy forward Athol Webb from East Launceston, who played in the 1956 and 1957 premiership sides, contributing five goals to the Olympic Premiership of 1956.

Three great characters of the Club carried their Tasmanian heritage through the 1960s and 1970s - and in two cases, extended it into wider representation.

First came Ray Groom from Cooee, whose height and pace served him well at centre half forward and in the ruck. Inheriting Ron Barassi’s No. 31, he went on to win the 1968 Best and Fairest before returning to Tasmania, where he served as that state’s Premier between 1992 and 1996. Max Walker, from the Friends School in Hobart, crossed over the end of Groom’s career, and gave Melbourne sound service as a fine marking ruckman and defender for 85 games between 1967 and 1972, before turning his attention to cricket. He played 34 Tests for Australia as a fast bowler, and went on to become one of Australia’s most loved sporting characters and story tellers.

Ray Biffin - another hailing from North Launceston - dominated with his uncompromising style of play between between 1968 and 1979, taking turns at both full back and full forward. A true character of the game, he brought toughness to the side, while also achieving honours such as leading Melbourne’s goal kicking table in 1976.

Way back in time, two further Tasmanians made a mark in red and blue - indeed, even before the start of the VFL for one. The first of these was the Hobart based Fred McGinis, who was originally intended for Essendon, but was foolishly rejected by them - so replaced the black with navy blue. A brilliant rover, he played in the 1900 premiership before being forced from the game with blindness.

Nearly three decades later, Harry Long - originally from Launceston - made his way to the mainland, and played 117 games for Melbourne between 1929 and 1937. Dependable at half back, he held the post of vice captain, and went on to work as an administrator for the Club following his retirement.

Returning to the exuberance of the modern era, Andy ‘Chopper’ Lovell - a woodchopper as a teenager, hailing from Glenorchy - was a renowned Tasmanian import in the late 1980s, playing 121 games for Melbourne before heading to West Coast in 1996.  A hard working midfielder, he - like Steven Febey - played in the 1988 Grand Final, amongst other honours. After hanging up his boots, Lovell spent time as coach of Sandringham, then Melbourne’s VFL affiliate side.

In the recent tradition of Melbourne players with Tasmanian origins, Russell Robertson took the game to new heights, with 228 games between 1997 and 2009, and achievements including the 2003 Best and Fairest. With a story of perseverance that included shuffling on and off the senior list, then being placed on the rookie list before a late season debut in 1997, Robertson’s high marking caught the attention of the multitudes very early on. He continued to entertain throughout his career, while being dedicated to the Club - and continues this today in his roving media role with the Club.

There are stories galore in the list of former Tasmanians. As Brad Green retires, another chapter is being added, with the likes of Jeremy Howe in the wings - and seeming to actually be airborne every week - along with Colin Garland, making his way in the leadership group and contributing at either end of the ground. They, alongside the likes of Green, are continuing the rich island contribution that has been made to the Melbourne Football Club well before living memory, and even before the existence of the VFL.

The list (supplied by the AFL) of those who have made their way from Tasmania to the Melbourne Football Club (including via other V/AFL clubs) is:

Dale Anderson, Charlie Barnes, Ben Beams, Lloyd Bennett, Ray Biffin, Adrian Bowden, Claude Bryan, Noel Clarke, Cameron Clayton, John Clennett, James Cook, Brent Crosswell, Cec Cumberland, Harden Dean, Col Deane, Matthew Febey, Steven Febey, John Forster, Colin Garland, Bob Gormly, David Grant, Brad Green, Ray Groom, John Hamilton, Peter Hamilton, Jeremy Howe, Graham Hunnibell, Colin Jackson, R ‘Tassie’ Johnson, Peter Johnston, Andrew Lamprill, Noel Leary, Harry Long, Andy Lovell, Peter ‘Trunky’ Marquis, Tony Martyn, Lew Massey, Fred McGinis, Len Norman, Alf Oldham, Terry Peirce, Kerry Rattray, Michael Reynolds, Russell Robertson, Michael Seddon, Ike Sellers, Jamie Shanahan, Scott Sutcliffe, Tony Thiessen, Max Walker, Athol Webb, Geoff Whitton, Grant Williams, Mark Withers, Michael Young.