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Showing results for tags 'keilty'.
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The 2016 trade and draft period saw some familiar surnames the club's history, stretching all the way back to our first season in the VFL. Dion Johnstone from Scotch College and Oakleigh Chargers via Warrnambool shares his surname with George Johnstone who played eight games for Melbourne in 1897-98. Then there was also ten year player Travis Johnstone who played 160 games (111 goals) from 1998 before moving to the Brisbane Lions in 2008. Trapper was an AFL Rising Star nominee in 1998 and won the club's best and fairest, the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal in 2005. I don't believe that any of the Johnstones are related. Mitch Hannan comes to the club after spending a season with the Footscray Bulldogs in the VFL but way back in 1927 a little known player named Peter Hannan from Yarraville played 2 games with Melbourne. He ended his career with 6 games at Footscray in 1933. Former North Melbourne champion Johnny Lewis gave Melbourne three good years in the twilight of his career in the 30s and the club will be hoping for the same from Jordan Lewis after he crossed from Hawthorn in the trade period. There is no record of a Hibberd, McKenna (a bit of a surprise actually), Filipovic or a Keilty at the club before Lachlan and Declan were drafted in the recent rookie draft but the Smith name is legend at the club and Tim Smith now joins Joel, son of Shaun, in illustrious company. Norm Smith played in four premierships in a playing career that spanned 1935 to 1948 and coached the club to six flags between 1952 and 1967. His brother Len also played with the club and played and coached at Fitzroy and later for a short period at Richmond during which his innovative approach laid the foundation for the Tigers' golden era of the late 60s through to 1980. Norm's son Peter also played with the club for a short period in the 60s. Current MCC President and former captain Steven Smith was one of the Demons' best players in the 70s and 80s and captained the club. At least a dozen Smiths have represented the club. Included are Ray Smith, a defender from Essendon in the mid 70s, Shaun Smith (father of Joel) who took the mark of the century in a game in the 90s at Carrara and tall forward Nick Smith who was listed on the injured list as being out for "four to six" weeks so often that he earned the monicker "426". On balance, having a Smith at the club must be good because a Smith has been associated with the club for ten of its 12 premierships - 11 if you count dual Brownlow Medallist Ivor Warne-Smith who played in the 1926 team. Having two Smiths at the club will therefore be even better!