AFL 1998 – Twenty Years On: Melbourne Demons (4th)

The Deeees had a new coach Neale Daniher and roared up the ladder in 1998 accordingly.

Melbourne threw away any chance they had of gaining a Quit sponsorship when they introduced Craig Smoker. Travis Johnstone(d), also shared a bonding session with Nathan Brown on the morning of this photo shoot (allegedly).

This legendary squad had names that stood the test of Demon time like Stynes, Lyon, Schwarz, Neitz, Yze, Farmer and Lamaro. There was even a surprise future Brownlow winner in there (he still looks ageless). Look at those young McDonalds too.

Todd Viney and Shaun Smith’s progeny are now leaping around for the current fourth placegetters – how’s that for symmetry?

Which of these names sustained you through the up-down years of the 00s? Which one has become your favourite voice on the airwaves? Caught up with any of them lately?

 

AFL Debuts 1998: Matthew Bishop, Mark Bradly, Nathan Brown, Travis Johnstone, Hayden Lamaro, Troy Longmuir, Guy Rigoni, Craig Smoker, Daniel Ward

Kept Under Wraps 1998: Ben Beames, Matthew Blake, Jamie Cann, Craig Nettelbeck, Leigh Newton, Alistair Nicholson, Luke Ottens, Peter Walsh, Brent Williams, Luke Williams

Never Heard of Him: Mark Bradly

Delisted at end of 1998: Matthew Blake, David Cockatoo-Collins, Damien Gaspar, Hayden Lamaro, Craig Nettelbeck, Brent Williams, Jamie Cann

Traded at end of 1998: nil

Retirements at end of 1998: Shaun Smith, Jim Stynes

Thanks to australianfootball.com , draftguru.com.au , afltables.com

The entire 1998 club series is available here

The Almanac has lots more Melbourne stories here

 

 

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