First on the list is David Neitz, pre-eminent as the Club’s only 300 game player, totalling 306 games from 1993 to 2008. He is followed by Robert Flower, the saviour of a generation with 272 games between 1973 and 1987. After Flower is a duo with a special record. First comes Adem Yze, with 271 games in total, 226 of which were consecutive. He was closely followed by Jim Stynes, with 264 games in total, 244 of which were consecutive. In AFL terms, Stynes and Yze are first and second respectively for overall consecutive games, setting an impressive challenge for future generations.
Fifth on the 250 game list is Steven Febey, with 258 games between 1988 and 2002. 1950s and 1960s legend, Brian Dixon, adds another No. 9 guernsey to the group with 252 games. One game behind him is James McDonald, his 251 games achieved between 1997 and 2010.
It is entirely appropriate that Brad Green will this weekend slot in behind McDonald, having played a great majority of his games alongside ‘Junior’ since debuting in Round 2, 2000. In an uncanny correlation with his upcoming 250th game, the opposition was North Melbourne, in a night match at the MCG. Sharing his senior debut with Paul Wheatley, and with Cameron Bruce playing just his second game, Green came away with two goals in a sound first up performance. He and Wheatley were the only teenagers in that team, hailed during a frenetic year as ‘Fresh-Faced Demons’ as they thrilled audiences on the way to a Grand Final appearance.
As with Green, those who are with him on the list have generated honours and memories galore. Who would have thought that David Neitz, as a member of the Club’s Under 15 ‘Robbie Flower’ development squad, would go on to succeed Flower’s own games and captaincy tenure records, would win the Coleman Medal in 2002, and would surpass the great Norm Smith’s 546 goal record with 628 of his own? Then, of course, there was Flower himself - the self-confessed ‘skinny kid’ who bought his own ticket into the first game he played - a win against Geelong in Round 10, 1973, and a debutant’s goal for Flower. He went on to weave his magic for 272 out of a possible 324 games, and owned the MCG wing to the day he played his last game - the Preliminary Final of 1987, which was the third of just three wonderful weeks of finals to complete his career. Now the Club’s No. 1 ticket holder, he and Neitz share another honour, with each having a terrace in the MCC named after them.
If Flower owned the MCG wing - and the memory of his spinning down the ground, ball in hand, invariably heading towards another goal, is writ large in the minds of most - then recalling Adem Yze brings the senses to life in another way, as the booming wave of ‘Yzzzzzeeee’ (loosely translated as ‘Oooooozzzzee’) was committed to the sound memories of most audiences when the No. 13 was in full flight. Best First Year Player in 1995, the versatile left footer came from Shepparton, and with a list of honours including the 2001 Best and Fairest to his credit, was an integral part of the Club for all his 271 games, coming to rest just one behind Flower.
When lists of honours are discussed, as well as being on the 250 game list with 264 to his credit, Jim Stynes is a huge presence throughout the Club’s story. The pioneer of the ‘Irish Experiment’, 1991 Brownlow Medallist, and four time Best and Fairest, Stynes looms large in all stories of the Club, not only for his playing prowess, but for his presidency and love of Melbourne. Passing away earlier this year after a brave battle with cancer, Stynes nonetheless lives on in the qualities that one of his coaches - Neil Balme - highlighted in him when he said - ‘…very strong minded, quite stubborn in his thinking…essentially that was his real strength - he had great belief in himself.’ That belief not only enabled Stynes to overcome the ignominy of running across the mark in the 1987 Preliminary Finals - it gave him the fighting qualities to play beyond all expectations through 244 consecutive games of his 264, and in later seasons, in a different role, to demolish Melbourne’s debt and stabilise the Club for the future.
As Stynes was one of the constant presences of the 1980s and 1990s, so teammate Steven Febey applied fierce dedication to reach a total of 258 games, also scoring the rare honour of being the only Melbourne player to play in both the 1988 and 2000 Grand Finals. Originally a basketballer, Steven was complemented by his twin brother, Matthew, who played 143 games for Melbourne between 1992 and 2000. Both Febeys overcame shocking injuries, but resilience and determination was their catchcry from the beginning. Indeed, Steven had played only one game for Devonport before being drafted at No. 3 in the inaugural national draft - Melbourne’s first pick. He went on to apply his quick hands and agility from 1988 into a new century, finally hanging up his boots in 2002 - but not before achievements such as representing both Victoria and his native Tasmania, finishing third in the Best and Fairest in 1998, and being recognised as the Club’s most improved and fifth Best and Fairest in 1989 - the season in which he also played in Melbourne’s night premiership. Febey’s longevity was hailed throughout his career, and in 1996 it was written that ‘Steven has learnt to play with and overcome injuries, including a broken jaw and AC joint, cracked elbow, and operations on his knee and ankle.’ In 1999, he suffered a depressed fracture of the cheekbone and fractured eye socket, as well as a broken finger and torn hamstring - but determination dominated characterised his career.
Determination has exemplified all those who have reached substantial games tallies, and of nobody is this more true than Brian Dixon, just behind Febey with 252 games to his credit. He may have appeared unorthodox to many, and his kicking style was often worrisome, but from making his senior debut as a 17 year-old in 1954, Dixon went on to win an Outstanding Service award in the Olympic Premiership year of 1956, and the praise of the Club, with the comment being made that ‘his elusive turn and speed in breaking away…made his wing always a danger flank for the opposition.’ Dixon carried this brilliance through to premierships in 1957 and 1959, with the regret of a loss in 1958 only making he and his teammates more determined than ever to succeed. Such an attitude propelled them to meet and defeat Collingwood in 1960, and Dixon’s value to this was supremely recognised through his Best and Fairest win, having ‘steadily improved his football each year….’ In 1961, he overcame injury to win the rare honour of a Tassie Medal after his form for Victoria in the Australian National Football Competition Carnival in Brisbane. The achievements and honours continued throughout, with the triumph of the 1964 premiership another highlight, and in Round 13, 1965, Dixon became the first player to play 250 games for Melbourne - a fitting honour to be remembered to recognised to this day.
Tipping into the list with 251 games is the much loved James ‘Junior’ McDonald, the Ballarat and Old Xaverians player who went quietly about his business between 1997 and 2010. Determined and courageous, he overcame early chronic fatigue syndrome to make his senior debut in Round 17, 1997, and was noted as ‘…a good crumbing player who reads the game well….once we can develop his endurance he will be a good player for us capable of playing half forward, win or on ball.’ His games total is ample evidence of this, but in 2000 he was cruelly deprived of a Grand Final berth after a knee injury and subsequent reconstruction. Reaching 251 games must have seemed a world away to the third and youngest of the McDonald brothers to make his senior debut, Anthony playing 104 for Melbourne, and Alex 107 for Hawthorn and Collingwood. But, perseverance characterised this youngest of the McDonalds, and in 2003 he was second in the Best and Fairest, while in 2006 he was named Best and Fairest and All Australian, and was chosen to play for Australia in Ireland. His second Best and Fairest came in 2007, and he went on to serve as captain - a long way from the early days of his rookie list promotion back in 1997.
Every one of those who has passed the 250 game milestone has a fascinating story to tell, and Brad Green is the latest addition to the assembly. We congratulate him on adding his name to a wonderful honour roll.
