Tom Hafey

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The 66-year coaching record of perhaps Collingwood's greatest ever coach Jock McHale will be equaled in Round Four and surpassed in Round Five. Carlton Coach Mick Malthouse will coach his 714th match, putting him equal with McHale. While McHale played and coached only at Collingwood, Mick's record includes 135 games coaching Footscray (now Western Bulldogs), 243 games coaching West Coast, 286 games with Collingwood and 50 games (through Round Four) at Carlton.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Sydney may have lost the Grand Final to Hawthorn, but Coach John Longmire enjoyed an individual victory over opposition Coach Alistair Clarkson when he was named Coach of the Year, winning the Allan Jeans award by one vote over Clarkson just a few days before the Grand Final. It is the second win for Longmire, the previous award coming in 2012. Port Coach Ken Hinkley won in 2013.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Round Nine was tinged with sadness as the football community mourned the passing of four-time Premiership coach Tom Hafey, aged 82, after a brief battle with cancer. While Hafey was a serviceable player in 67 games for Richmond1953-58, it was his coaching career which elevated him to legendary status. Hafey was appointed senior coach of the Tigers in 1966 after a successful stint in the VFL with Shepperton. He set up a rigorous and grueling training regimen which helped the Tigers become a force and went on to coach them to numerous Finals series and four Grand Final victories. Hafey also had coaching stints with Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA

Shaun Burgoyne (HAW, traded from PA) became the 29th player in League history to win a Premiership with two different clubs after the Hawks won the Grand Final. Most recent players to reach this milestone are Darren Jolly (SYD and COL), Stuart Dew (PA and HAW), Cameron Mooney (NM and GEEL), Jason Ball (WCE and SYD), Byron Pickett (NM and PA), Damian Hardwick (ESS and PA), Gavin Wanganeen (ESS and PA), Martin Pike (NM and BRIS) and Blake Caracella (ESS and BRIS).

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Growing up in Perth, Brian Peake's hero was a pro surfer named Ian Cairns. He spent much of his time hitching rides to the beaches and the waves. He credits his surfing days for the body strength needed for AFL football. That strength also saw him avoid hamstring and groin injuries. “I believe that's where it set me up with the strength and for recovery. I never had a hamstring, didn't even know what they were. Knees, groins, it never happened. So the saltwater must do something for you.'' Two weeks after a failed tryout with Perth in an intra-club game, Peake was recruited to East Fremantle. As his career took off, he had to fend off offers from VFL (now AFL) teams. In 1981, at the age of 27, he finally decided to give the VFL a try to test himself and believes he would have regretted it if he had not. He chose Geelong thinking the lifestyle there would be the closest to that of Perth. Officials met him at the airport with a helicopter to fly him to his first training session. After just 13 games with the Cats, he was appointed captain.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Just after Round Ten, the AFL held its Hall of Fame Function in Canberra to induct six new members and elevate a current member to Legend status. Richmond champion Royce Hart, one of the original inductees in 1996, was elevated to Legend status. He is the 25th player to receive the honor. Hart played 188 games and kicked 371 goals 1967-1977. He was a star center half forward and played in the club's 1967, 1969, 1973 and 1974 Premierships. He captained the club 1972-1975 and led the goal kicking in 1967 and 1971. He won the club Best and Fairest 1969 and 1972. Other honors: Victorian representative in 11 games, All-Australian 1969, AFL Team of the Century (1996), Richmond Team of the Century and Tasmanian Team of the Century. He also coached Footscray (now Western Bulldogs) 1980-1982.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

It is 1981 and a proposition is on the VFL table to relocate the financially strapped club South Melbourne to Sydney. They had previously played a handful of games there but now it would be a permanent move. There was great angst among South fans at the prospect. A "Keep South at South" movement was started and they fought to keep their beloved club in Melbourne. However, it was a case of move or fold and in 1982 the club moved to Sydney. Unlike Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney today, there was no detailed planning, no draft concessions for the South players who refused to move, little financial backing or publicity to boost their profile once the move was made.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Kevin Sheedy took part in his 900th career match as a player and coach. This is a first in League history. Sheedy played 251 games with Richmond and coached Essendon in 635 games. This was his 14th game as coach at GWS.

The 2010 Grand Final is only the third drawn Grand Final in League history. Ironically, Collingwood was involved in that one as well. In a good omen for St Kilda, Collingwood lost the replay to their opponent North Melbourne who won just their second Premiership since entering the competition in 1925.

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.