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 …
October
3 - Just two days after playing in a losing grand final, Leigh Brown is named Melbourne’s forward line coach. Brown, who played in Collingwood’s 2010 premiership, retired with 246 matches to his name after playing with North Melbourne, Fremantle and the Magpies.
10 - Club general manager of list management Tim Harrington says at the start of trade week that Melbourne will focus on luring a 17 year-old from the Greater Western Sydney trade incentive scheme.
11 - Melbourne names former Bulldog Andrew Nichol as its backline coach. Nichol coached the under 16 Vic Metro team, and was assistant coach for Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup in 2011.
12 - Melbourne general manager of list management Tim Harrington says it was in the best interests of the club to step away from a deal to secure highly-rated youngsters Jaeger O’Meara or Brad Crouch. He said, “Early in the week, the focus on the week was on the 17-year-old trading scheme. We were strongly involved in that, but we also had a well considered walk away position. There was a point where we didn’t want to go any further to achieve these deals.”
13 - Brad Green signs on for the 2012 season. Green, who was named captain in 2011, will line up for his 13th AFL season, after he was drafted at No.19 in the 1999 AFL Draft. The 30 year-old said, “I’m excited to be at the club. We’ve got a lot of hard work to do over the pre-season, but I’m looking forward to getting it started and working with the likes of Mark Neeld, Neil Craig and Dave Misson.” Meanwhile, the Demons confirm they are targeting Brisbane Lions forward/ruckman Mitch Clark. “We are definitely interested in the possibility of Mitch Clark coming to the club. Late yesterday (Wednesday), I contacted [Brisbane Lions national talent manager] Robbie Kerr to express our interest,” Melbourne general manager of list management Tim Harrington says.
14 - Melbourne quartet Brad Green, James Frawley, Colin Sylvia and Jack Trengove are named in the Australian squad for the upcoming International Rules Series against Ireland at Etihad Stadium (October 28) and Metricon Stadium (November 4).
15 - Just one day after informing the football fraternity that he wants to join Fremantle, former Lion Mitch Clark stunningly joins Melbourne. The Demons secure Clark in exchange for selection No.12. The deal is done just before 10 pm Melbourne time.
17 - General manager of list management Tim Harrington says Melbourne “stuck to their plan and persevered” with pursuing former Lion and new Demon Mitch Clark. Harrington says: “We had targeted specific objectives and we had a course of action where we thought ‘this is how we’ll play it’. It’s no secret that we have a real need for a big-bodied presence in our forward line to complement a range of players we have in our forward line.”
19 - Melbourne delists forward/midfielder Addam Maric and rookies Tom McNamara and Cameron Johnston ahead of the first list lodgement deadline on Monday, October 31. Hawthorn premiership ruckman Robert Campbell, who spends one season as a Melbourne rookie, retires.
20 - Young leader Jack Grimes says he is itching for pre-season training and starting under a new coaching regime. Grimes tells melbournefc.com.au, “It’s great to have Neeldy [Mark Neeld] come in as an experienced senior AFL coach and then a guy like Neil Craig who will be helping out. I’m sure he’ll (Craig) be a great help to Neeldy and the assistant coaches. We didn’t want to have another year like last season and I feel like we’ve got a lot to prove next year and in the years to come.”
21 - Melbourne extends its partnership with the Northern Territory Government to continue to play a home-and-away match in Darwin in 2012. Chief executive Cameron Schwab says, “This is a wonderful outcome and capitalises on the goodwill we have generated in the Northern Territory over the last two years.” Meanwhile, vice-president Don McLardy hits back at comments made by Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett, who claims he was approached to take over as Melbourne president. “The Melbourne Football Club is very disappointed by comments made by Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett in relation to the Melbourne presidency. I can confirm that neither the Board, nor any person connected with it, has approached a Hawthorn person to become President of the Club. The club is flabbergasted as to why Mr Kennett would make these comments, and their timing. From comments made by Mr Kennett, the supposed approach was made over six months ago.” And after almost 40 years of combined service to Melbourne, club doctors Andrew Daff and Kal Fried step down from their positions. Daff served for 24 years and Fried for a total of 14 years.
23 - Midfielder/forward Colin Sylvia is involved in a morning car accident. He was the passenger in his own car. The accident took place at around 6.15 am when returning home after staying at a friend’s house. No one was injured in the accident. Sylvia is later dismissed from the Australian International Rules squad, as he was drinking the night before training.
25 - Brad Green is named captain of the Australian International Rules team. He leads an Australian sporting team for the second time in his life, after also captaining the Australian under-15 cricket team in the mid-90s. He also trialed with English soccer giant Manchester United as a teenager, and Green's list of sporting achievements rank among the most diverse of any sportsman in the world.
26 - The NAB Cup fixture is released. Melbourne will play Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions on February 25, 2012. The Demons will then play Collingwood and Hawthorn in the following two rounds.
27 - Kelly O’Donnell says his new pro-scouting role will be focusing on mature-age and previously listed AFL players.
28 - The AFL releases its 2012 premiership season fixture. Melbourne will open the season against Brisbane Lions at the MCG and play 13 matches at the MCG. Chief executive Cameron Schwab says, “We understand the challenge of creating an equitable fixture for 18 teams. We look forward to being a team that has earned the right to secure more of the premium time slots on a regular basis.” Meanwhile, Melbourne midfielder/forward Colin Sylvia is suspended by the club for the opening match of the 2012 premiership season. He is also fined $5000, the maximum fine in accordance with the AFL/AFLPA code of conduct, following his accident on October 23. Sylvia also has to immediately complete an AFLPA and Club approved alcohol programme.
31 - Melbourne starts its pre-season under new coach Mark Neeld and a revamped football department. Neeld says, “First and foremost over pre-season … we’re going to challenge the group. We’re going to challenge them mentally and physically. We’re going to challenge them with a new game plan, and we’re going to challenge them with new standards that the new group wants to set.” Neeld also declares the leadership open. He says: “My stance on the leadership group is that I have taken over a blank canvas, and I am not in a position to go to the CEO and the board and say right now 'these people should be captain or these people should be part of the leadership group'.” Meanwhile, Melbourne submits its first list lodgement and delists Austin Wonaeamirri and rookie Michael Newton.
October
3 - Just two days after playing in a losing grand final, Leigh Brown is named Melbourne’s forward line coach. Brown, who played in Collingwood’s 2010 premiership, retired with 246 matches to his name after playing with North Melbourne, Fremantle and the Magpies.
10 - Club general manager of list management Tim Harrington says at the start of trade week that Melbourne will focus on luring a 17 year-old from the Greater Western Sydney trade incentive scheme.
11 - Melbourne names former Bulldog Andrew Nichol as its backline coach. Nichol coached the under 16 Vic Metro team, and was assistant coach for Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup in 2011.
12 - Melbourne general manager of list management Tim Harrington says it was in the best interests of the club to step away from a deal to secure highly-rated youngsters Jaeger O’Meara or Brad Crouch. He said, “Early in the week, the focus on the week was on the 17-year-old trading scheme. We were strongly involved in that, but we also had a well considered walk away position. There was a point where we didn’t want to go any further to achieve these deals.”
13 - Brad Green signs on for the 2012 season. Green, who was named captain in 2011, will line up for his 13th AFL season, after he was drafted at No.19 in the 1999 AFL Draft. The 30 year-old said, “I’m excited to be at the club. We’ve got a lot of hard work to do over the pre-season, but I’m looking forward to getting it started and working with the likes of Mark Neeld, Neil Craig and Dave Misson.” Meanwhile, the Demons confirm they are targeting Brisbane Lions forward/ruckman Mitch Clark. “We are definitely interested in the possibility of Mitch Clark coming to the club. Late yesterday (Wednesday), I contacted [Brisbane Lions national talent manager] Robbie Kerr to express our interest,” Melbourne general manager of list management Tim Harrington says.
14 - Melbourne quartet Brad Green, James Frawley, Colin Sylvia and Jack Trengove are named in the Australian squad for the upcoming International Rules Series against Ireland at Etihad Stadium (October 28) and Metricon Stadium (November 4).
15 - Just one day after informing the football fraternity that he wants to join Fremantle, former Lion Mitch Clark stunningly joins Melbourne. The Demons secure Clark in exchange for selection No.12. The deal is done just before 10 pm Melbourne time.
17 - General manager of list management Tim Harrington says Melbourne “stuck to their plan and persevered” with pursuing former Lion and new Demon Mitch Clark. Harrington says: “We had targeted specific objectives and we had a course of action where we thought ‘this is how we’ll play it’. It’s no secret that we have a real need for a big-bodied presence in our forward line to complement a range of players we have in our forward line.”
19 - Melbourne delists forward/midfielder Addam Maric and rookies Tom McNamara and Cameron Johnston ahead of the first list lodgement deadline on Monday, October 31. Hawthorn premiership ruckman Robert Campbell, who spends one season as a Melbourne rookie, retires.
20 - Young leader Jack Grimes says he is itching for pre-season training and starting under a new coaching regime. Grimes tells melbournefc.com.au, “It’s great to have Neeldy [Mark Neeld] come in as an experienced senior AFL coach and then a guy like Neil Craig who will be helping out. I’m sure he’ll (Craig) be a great help to Neeldy and the assistant coaches. We didn’t want to have another year like last season and I feel like we’ve got a lot to prove next year and in the years to come.”
21 - Melbourne extends its partnership with the Northern Territory Government to continue to play a home-and-away match in Darwin in 2012. Chief executive Cameron Schwab says, “This is a wonderful outcome and capitalises on the goodwill we have generated in the Northern Territory over the last two years.” Meanwhile, vice-president Don McLardy hits back at comments made by Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett, who claims he was approached to take over as Melbourne president. “The Melbourne Football Club is very disappointed by comments made by Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett in relation to the Melbourne presidency. I can confirm that neither the Board, nor any person connected with it, has approached a Hawthorn person to become President of the Club. The club is flabbergasted as to why Mr Kennett would make these comments, and their timing. From comments made by Mr Kennett, the supposed approach was made over six months ago.” And after almost 40 years of combined service to Melbourne, club doctors Andrew Daff and Kal Fried step down from their positions. Daff served for 24 years and Fried for a total of 14 years.
23 - Midfielder/forward Colin Sylvia is involved in a morning car accident. He was the passenger in his own car. The accident took place at around 6.15 am when returning home after staying at a friend’s house. No one was injured in the accident. Sylvia is later dismissed from the Australian International Rules squad, as he was drinking the night before training.
25 - Brad Green is named captain of the Australian International Rules team. He leads an Australian sporting team for the second time in his life, after also captaining the Australian under-15 cricket team in the mid-90s. He also trialed with English soccer giant Manchester United as a teenager, and Green's list of sporting achievements rank among the most diverse of any sportsman in the world.
26 - The NAB Cup fixture is released. Melbourne will play Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Lions on February 25, 2012. The Demons will then play Collingwood and Hawthorn in the following two rounds.
27 - Kelly O’Donnell says his new pro-scouting role will be focusing on mature-age and previously listed AFL players.
28 - The AFL releases its 2012 premiership season fixture. Melbourne will open the season against Brisbane Lions at the MCG and play 13 matches at the MCG. Chief executive Cameron Schwab says, “We understand the challenge of creating an equitable fixture for 18 teams. We look forward to being a team that has earned the right to secure more of the premium time slots on a regular basis.” Meanwhile, Melbourne midfielder/forward Colin Sylvia is suspended by the club for the opening match of the 2012 premiership season. He is also fined $5000, the maximum fine in accordance with the AFL/AFLPA code of conduct, following his accident on October 23. Sylvia also has to immediately complete an AFLPA and Club approved alcohol programme.
31 - Melbourne starts its pre-season under new coach Mark Neeld and a revamped football department. Neeld says, “First and foremost over pre-season … we’re going to challenge the group. We’re going to challenge them mentally and physically. We’re going to challenge them with a new game plan, and we’re going to challenge them with new standards that the new group wants to set.” Neeld also declares the leadership open. He says: “My stance on the leadership group is that I have taken over a blank canvas, and I am not in a position to go to the CEO and the board and say right now 'these people should be captain or these people should be part of the leadership group'.” Meanwhile, Melbourne submits its first list lodgement and delists Austin Wonaeamirri and rookie Michael Newton.
