Clubs Delist And More Retire

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

With the first official list lodgement due at the end of October, several clubs have culled their lists to make room for new players gained during trade week and also at draft time. As of mid-October, the following clubs have made changes.

Fremantle has delisted Steven Dodd, Ryan Murphy, Chris Hall, Brock O'Brien, Tim Ruffles and Ben Bucovaz. Dodd was rookie-listed in 2003 and elevated to the senior list and debuted in 2004. The midfielder-defender played just three games in 2010 for a total of 101 career matches. Murphy, a key forward, also debuted in 2004, but managed just 48 games in six seasons. Hall was drafted in 2008 but failed to play any senior games for the Dockers after missing most of 2009 due to hip surgery. O'Brien debuted in 2007 but played just three games for the Dockers. He missed 2009 with a shoulder injury. Ruffles debuted in 2009 and played three senior games. He injured his knee late last season and required a knee reconstruction. He played just three games in 2010. Bucovaz was drafted in 2008 but required hip surgery last year and failed to play any senior games.

Source: Luke Morfesse, Club Media Release

Geelong's Max Rooke has been forced to retire due to knee tendonitis which restricted him to just one game in 2010. He was advised by medical staff that the injury would not allow him to play football. Rooke played a total of 135 games including the Cats' 2007 and 2009 Premierships. Rooke, 28, said he was "shattered" at having to call it quits but thanked the club for the opportunity to play saying he was proud of what the team had achieved. General Manager Neale Balme said it was sad day losing a player of Rooke's caliber and described Rooke's playing style as fearless and inspiring.

Rooke was rookie-listed in 2001 and elevated to the senior list in 2002. He soon developed a reputation as courageous and fearless. He also played in the Cats' 2006 and 2009 preseason Premierships.

Source: Tom Peeters, Club Media Release

North Melbourne's Leigh Harding has retired after 10 years and 141 games. In making the announcement, he said he felt it was time to step aside to give younger players more opportunities. Elevated from the rookie list in 2001, Harding made an immediate impact. He kicked 33 goals in 2002 and followed up with another 33 in 2003, establishing himself as a small, quick forward. He was the club's leading goalkicker in 2003. Later in his career he played in the midfield and defense.

This past season, he played 12 senior games and was also a key player in the VFL team North Ballarat's third straight Premiership. He was awarded life membership to the Kangaroos. He said one of the highlights of his career was playing in Jason McCartney's last game and having a hand in the winning goal in that match.

Club official Donald McDonald said Harding's decision to retire in order to allow younger players more chances was truly selfless. He said Harding always adapted well to his changing roles within the team and paid tribute to Harding's ability to come back from several serious injuries and play well. Harding plans to complete his degree in Exercise Science and will continue his work with the Victoria Spirit women's' cricket team.

Source: Heath O'Loughlin, Club Media Release

Ahead of the recently completed trade period, Port delisted senior players Scott Harding and Wade Thompson and rookies Cameron Cloke, Glenn Dawson and Jordan Johns. Harding was rookie-listed in 2005 by Brisbane and elevated to the senior list in 2006. He played 48 games for the Lions and was delisted at the end of 2009. Port selected him in the preseason draft this year but he managed just two senior games. Thompson was elevated from the rookie list at the end of 2009 and played two games last year. He did not play any senior games in 2010. Cloke (brother to Collingwood's Travis), played 21 games for the Magpies 2004-2006 and 36 games with the Blues 2006-2009. He was rookie-listed by Port this year after being delisted by Carlton at the end of 2009. Dawson was drafted in 2008, delisted at the end of 2009, and then rookie-listed by Port. Johns was rookie-listed under the NSW scholarship plan this year. Neither played any senior games in their time at Port.

Source: Daniel Norton, Club Media Release

The Bombers have delisted Jason Laycock and rookie John Williams. Laycock, who had a wretched run of injuries, played just 58 games in seven seasons with Essendon. Williams played only one game in 2008. Also delisted were Christian Bock, Tyson Slattery and Michael Still. Bock spent the past two seasons on the rookie list without playing any senior games. Still was drafted in 2008 but did not pay any senior games. Slattery was drafted in 2008 and played just one game for the Bombers. That single game came this past season. Ben Howlett, rookie listed in 2010, has been elevated to the senior list.

Source: afl.com.au

Carlton midfielder Richard Hadley has retired after just 66 games with Brisbane and Carlton. Hadley played 41 games for Brisbane 2001-2007 and was a member of the Lions' 2003 premiership team. He missed the 2005 and 2006 seasons due to knee reconstructions and was traded to the Blues at the end of 2007. He played 25 games for Carlton. Operations manager Steven Icke said Hadley was a quality player, popular with his teammates and fantastic for the club, despite an injury-interrupted three seasons. Hadley said his injuries had been frustrating but he felt fortunate to have played AFL football.

The Blues have delisted senior Joe Anderson, Steven Browne, Brad Fisher, Chris Johnson, Rhys O'Keefe, Caleb Tiller and rookie Josh Donaldson. Anderson, a defender also capable of playing in the midfield, was drafted in 2008, played three games in 2009 and two in 2010. Defender-midfielder Browne was drafted in 2007 and played 23 games in three seasons. Fisher was drafted in 2002 and played 99 games. He missed most of 2005 due to a knee reconstruction late in 2004. He was sidelined with hamstring and shoulder injuries for part of the next two seasons. He had solid seasons in 2007-2008 but managed just seven games in 2009. He suffered a recurrence of his knee troubles early in 2010 which required further surgery. He opted for the LARS (Ligament Augmentation Repair System) and played just one game in 2010.

Johnson played 31 games with Melbourne 2005-2008. He was delisted and picked by the Blues in the 2009 preseason draft but was hampered by injury and played just 10 games in 2009 and only five games in 2010. O'Keefe and Tiller were both drafted in 2008 but never played any senior games. Donaldson was rookie listed for the 2010 season.

Source: Ian Coutts, Club Media Release

Adelaide has delisted Jarrhan Jacky. He was drafted in 2007 and played three games in his debut season of 2008. He spent most of 2009 in the SANFL but was sidelined for the second half of the season with a hamstring injury and played no senior games in 2010. Irish recruit Brian Donnelly, who has been on the rookie list for two seasons, has opted to return home.

With the retirements of Trent Hentschel, Simon Goodwin, Andrew McLeod, Brett Burton and Tyson Edwards, the club had room under the salary cap to elevate several players from the rookie list to the seniors. They are Ricky Henderson, Matthew Jaensch and Luke Thompson. Henderson was rookie-listed in 2009 and the other two were rookie-drafted this year. Henderson played 12 games this year and Jaensch 11 games while Henderson has yet to debut. The Crows have re-listed Chris Schmidt and Matthew Wright as rookies. Schmidt was originally drafted by Brisbane but played just 2 games 2007-2008 before being delisted at the end of 2008. He was drafted as a rookie by Adelaide in 2009. Scholarship rookie Aidan Riley has been retained on the rookie list. Another NSW scholarshp holder, Sam Martyn, will be added to the rookie list in 2011.

Source: Calum Young, Club Media Release

Richmond has delisted senior players Tom Hislop, Jordan McMahon, Dean Polo, Adam Thomson, Relton Roberts and rookie Alroy Gilligan. Hislop was drafted by Essendon but played only seven games 2007-2008, was then delisted and subsequently drafted by the Tigers. McMahon played 114 games for the Western Bulldogs 2001-2007 before being traded to the Tigers. Polo debuted in 2006 and played 56 games. His debut was a stunning one, coming in Round 6, the "Dreamtime at the G" match against Essendon. He had 28 possessions, won best on ground for the match and a Rising Star nomination for his performance.

Source: Adrian Ceddia, Club Media Release

Sydney has delisted senior players Ed Barlow, Matthew O'Dwyer and Kristin Thornton. Barlow was elevated from the rookie and debuted in 2007. He played 46 games. O'Dwyer was elevated from the rookie list in 2008 and played seven games. Thornton was drafted in 2005 and spent his first two seasons in the reserves. He missed 2008 due to a knee reconstruction and was delisted at the end of the season. The Swans redrafted him to the rookie list for 2009 and he played eight games that year. He played no senior games in 2010. Rookies Taylor Gilchrist and Jake Orreal have also been delisted. Gilchrist was rookie listed in 2009 and Orreal in 2008. Neither played any senior games.

Source: Jenny McAsey, Club Media Release

Hawthorn has cleared out a raft of players to make room on their list for the upcoming draft. Beau Muston, Beau Dowler, Simon Taylor, Rhan Hooper, Wayde Skipper and Travis Tuck have all been delisted. Also gone are rookies Carl Peterson, Cameron Stokes, Garry Moss, Jarrod Kayler-Thomson and Michael Johnston.

Muston and Dowler were both drafted in 2005 but were plagued by injuries. Muston required three knee reconstructions and did not debut until 2009. He played a total of 13 games. Dowler also had injury problems and did not debut until 2008, playing just 16 games. Ruckman Simon Taylor missed most of 2010 due to a badly broken leg during the preseason. He played just one game this season for a total of 85 since his debut in 2005. Skipper played 45 games for the Western Bulldogs 2003-2009 and was rookie-listed by the Hawks after the Bulldogs delisted him. He missed two months due to a tendon injury but managed 15 games for the Hawks. Hooper played 48 games with Brisbane 2006-2009 but was then delisted. He played just six games in his one season with Hawthorn. Tuck will continue to train with the Hawks and be placed on the rookie list for 2011. Under AFL rules, he must be cut from the senior list in order to be rookie-listed.

Peterson spent one season on Richmond's list in 2007 but played no senior games. He played 17 games for Hawthorn in 2010. Stokes played nine games in his 2008 debut season but 2009 was ruined by injuries and he played just five games. He missed most of 2010 after injuring his knee late in 2009 and played just one game in 2010 for a total of 20 matches. Moss debuted in 2007 and played 14 games. Kayler-Thomson debuted this season but played just three games. Michael Johnston (who spent three years on the club's New South Wales scholarship scheme before being rookie listed) played no senior games.

Source: theage.com.au

Additional Information Sources: Encyclopedia of League Footballers, AFL Record Season Guides, AFL Grand Final Record 2010