Adem Yze and Jeff White to play final game for MELBOURNEfc

Melbourne Club Champion's Adem Yze and Jeff White announced today that they will both play their final games for MELBOURNEfc this Sunday when the team takes on Richmond for the Round 22 encounter at the MCG.

Both White and Yze spoke to the playing group before their media conference today.

Yze, 30, will earn an AFL Life Membership this Sunday when he plays his 300th game of AFL football, comprised of 271 premiership games, 25 pre-season games, and four International Rules matches.

Yze sits third on the Club's all-time games record list, behind Robert Flower with 272, and David Neitz with 306 games.

Yze started his 14-year career with his AFL debut in 1995. He was taken in the 1994 National Draft as a first round selection - Number 16 overall. Yze was drafted from the Murray Bushrangers after starting out with Shepparton United.

Yze's long list of accolades includes Club Best and Fairest in 2001, All-Australian 2002, third (equal) Brownlow Medal 2002, and International Rules Series 2000. Yze also played 226 consecutive games, placing him second on the AFL's all-time consecutive games record behind Jim Stynes with 244.

Adem Yze said, "I've had a fantastic time at the Melbourne Football Club.  It has been an unbelievable 14 years of my life in which I have met some great people and formed many relationships that I will keep for ever.  I will cherish many memories and thank those people that have been part of my football career."

Yze has kicked 234 goals.

Jeff White will play his 268th AFL game on Sunday - his 236th for MELBOURNEfc, placing him seventh on the Club's all-time games record list, behind Brian Dixon 252, Steven Febey 258, Jim Stynes 264, Adem Yze 271, Robert Flower 272, and David Neitz 306.

White started his 14-year career when he made his AFL debut in 1995. He was drafted in the 1994 National AFL Draft as a first round selection, taken at Number 1 overall by the Fremantle  Football Club, before moving to MELBOURNEfc at the end of the 1997 season.

White was originally drafted from the Southern Stingrays, after beginning his junior career with Frankston.

White's list of accolades includes Club Best and Fairest in 2004, and All-Australian 2004.

Jeff White said, "It's amazing how my time at Melbourne has gone so quickly.  It seems    like only yesterday when I arrived here and now my time at the Club is closing.  I have had some terrific experiences with Melbourne and will remember my teammates and years of football  at Melbourne for the rest of my life."

White has kicked 111 goals.

Both Yze and White played in the 2000 Grand Final team, and were honoured earlier in the season when they were named as playing Heroes of the Melbourne Football Club in its 150th year.

As these marvellous playing careers draw to an end, the Melbourne Football Club salutes both Adem Yze and Jeff White and their enormous contribution, with both being regarded as two of the Club's greatest players of the modern era.

MELBOURNEfc members and supporters will have their final chance to officially farewell both Yze and White when they take the field for the final time in the Round 22 match against Richmond at the MCG on Sunday at 2.10  pm. There will be an aftermatch function at Olympic Park following the game - running from 5 pm to 8 pm - to celebrate these two memorable careers.