Jim Stynes

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The late Jim Stynes will join other great Australian sports people on the MCG's Australia Post Avenue of Legends. Recently, Richmond petitioned to have a bronze statue of Tiger great Kevin Bartlett, second to Michael Tuck on the AFL's games record list, commissioned for the avenue. However the selection committee said they could not overlook Stynes, not only for his incredible football career but also for his selflessness in the enormous contributions he made to his beloved Melbourne Demons and the wider community through his youth program Reach.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chcago

In late May, a Melbourne board meeting led to media speculation that Coach Mark Neeld was going be sacked. That rumor was quashed with Neeld himself saying it was simply a routine meeting. However, at a meeting on June 14, the board decided to tell Neeld his services were no longer required. Recently appointed CEO Peter Jackson held off on delivering the news to Neeld until the Monday following the completion of Round 12 due to concerns that the information would be leaked to the media before Neeld could be told.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Less than two weeks ago, Melbourne Coach Mark Neeld quashed media speculation that his meeting with the board was for his dismissal as senior coach. However, media speculation has been rife regarding how long he would stay in the job. Neeld may have survived, but club president Don McLardy announced his resignation just ahead of the Round 12 games. He cited personal business interests and the team's poor performances as the reasons for stepping down. He has also relinquished his position on the board. He referred to a speech he made the previous Monday in which he recognized that the club needed to move forward with new leadership, direction and energy.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

In July, former Demon Brock McLean (now with Carlton), appeared on a Melbourne football show and inferred that the Demons had deliberately lost games in 2009 to gain

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The AFL and the Reach Foundation has honored the late Jim Stynes with a community award in his name. The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award will be presented on Brownlow Night to a player for his community work and who "demonstrates the values of Jim Stynes in his commitment to the community and understanding the value of helping others". The announcement was made by Jim Stynes’ widow, Sam Stynes, Reach chairman and Melbourne president Don McLardy and AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou. The League was considering a presentation on Grand Final Day but opted to present it on Brownlow Night as Stynes won the prestigious award in 1991.

Former Melbourne star Jim Stynes passed away several weeks ago after losing a long battle with cancer. His ashes were taken to Ireland and scattered in a favorite place by his family.

Most Club Finals Played:
Sydney's Jude Bolton, Adam Goodes and Brett Kirk will play their 18th Finals games in the Semi-Final, equaling the record set by former teammate Michael O'Loughlin.

Demon captain James McDonald has announced that he will retire after Melbourne's Round 22 game. It was a mutual decision reached between McDonald, Coach Dean Bailey and club president Jim Stynes. McDonald said he felt he could have gone on for another season but that he was comfortable with the club's decision to give younger players more game time.

Round 21 represents the 550th game for Bulldog Coach Rodney Eade as a player or coach. Eade played 229 games with Hawthorn and 30 games for the Brisbane Bears. He coached Sydney in 152 games before joining the Bulldogs. Eade becomes just the 13th person in the history of the League to reach this mark.

After the win over Carlton in Round 18, Collingwood Coach Mick Malthouse is equal third for most wins in League history. The victory was the 358th for Malthouse, who began his coaching career with Footscray (now the Western Bulldogs) before taking the helm at West Coast. He is tied with Allan Jeans (St Kilda, Hawthorn and Richmond).