On January 14th, The AFL announced changes to the eligibility rules for total games which now means that where previously only games played were counted in a players tally, now coaching and umpiring will be included in the overall tally. The league said that since total games counted toward life membership, total games should apply to the 200 game club.
This has had the effect of boosting several players past the 200 games mark including greats like Darrel Baldock (St Kilda), Barry Cable (Nth Melbourne), Charlie Sutton (Footscray) and many more. Current coaches including Ross Lyon and Brad Scott are now included in the pretigious club.
The full list of newly promoted 200 gamers: Jack Baggott, Darrel Baldock, Neil Balme, John Beckwith, Gerald Brosnan, Gary Buckenara, Barry Cable, John Coleman, Chris Connolly, Bill Cubbins, Graham Donaldson, Eddie Drohan, Keith Forbes, Fred Froude, Jack Hale, Arthur Hiskins, Ern Jenkins, Tony Jewell, Alan Joyce, Ken Judge, Joe Kelly, Alan Killigrew, Allan La Fontaine, Dean Laidley, Ross Lyon, Frank Maher, Neil Mann, Herbie Matthews, Ivan McAlpine, Jock McCorkell, Keith McKenzie, Noel McMahen, Rod Olsson, Max Oppy, Alby Pannam, Charlie E Pannam, Charlie H Pannam, Percy Parratt, Michael Patterson, Peter Pianto, Matthew Primus, Ricky Quade, Tommy Quinn, Ian Ridley, Peter Rohde, Kevin Rose, Des Rowe, Ted Rowell, Paddy Scanlan, Peter Schwab, Brad Scott, Robert Shaw, Jimmy Smith, Len Smith, Charlie Sutton, Grant Thomas, Murray Weideman, Terry Wheeler, Col Williamson.
It should be noted that unlike the WAFL and SANFL, the VFL and AFL did/does not include preseason/night games in match totals.
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On the preseason injury front, and Sydneys Tommy Walsh is apparently struggling with injury, with the Irishman saying the seriousness of his hamstring injury leaves him unsure of his future in Australia. Walsh has managed just five games in two years at the Swans.
- Lewis Jetta (Sydney) has had minor knee surgery to release the Illitibiol Band (ITB) in his right knee. He is expected to miss the preseason, and is aiming for round one.
- Tom Bellchambers (Essendon) is expect to miss a month after suffering ligament damage when he injured his ankle during training.
- Nathan Van Berlo (Adelaide) has had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon and is expected to miss at least three months.
- Jonathon Brown (Brisbane) is expected to return from a foot injury next week when he joins preseason training.
- Dale Thomas, Mathew Kreuzer and Andrew Carazzo are expected to join the full Carlton list for full training after Australia Day.
- Zac Clarke is expected to return from injury in time for Round 1, while Kepler Bradley, Anthony Morabito and Jonathon Griffen are all returning from knee reconstructions.
- Jesse Hogan (Melbourne) has apparently escaped serious injury on his knee.
- Liam McBean (Richmond) is on the verge of returning to training from his ankle injury
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Bigfooty has done a number of historical items in recent times, including Carltons 150th year, how the state associations were formed in the late 1800s and a look at East Fremantles history. Now AFL clubs are getting in on the action as North Melbourne takes a look at how it came to join the VFL and its Essendon rivalry, and Adelaide takes a look at the original Adelaide football clubs history.
