IN THE final week of the two-week player review, melbournefc.com.au looks back on Melbourne's 2008 playing list. Although the team had a disappointing on-field season, claiming its first wooden spoon since 1997, several youngsters impressed. Working through the list alphabetically, five players will be reviewed each day (four in the final edition), starting with Clint Bartram and ending with Trent Zomer.
On Friday, we look at Jeff White, Austin Wonaeamirri, Adem Yze and Trent Zomer.
Jeff White – After 11 seasons with Melbourne, White's outstanding career in the red and blue has come to an end. He played 236 matches with the Demons – 268 overall – but with Melbourne's youth push, White will be looking to reignite his AFL career elsewhere in 2009. He produced some handy performances early in the season – and was the only Melbourne player in the initial Victorian squad. But White played just three matches after round 13, as the club opted to push Mark Jamar's development in the ruck.
Austin Wonaeamirri – The goalsneak became one of the stories of the season – not just at Melbourne, but in the AFL. Wonaeamirri was Melbourne's second selection in last December's NAB AFL Rookie Draft – No.19 overall – yet by round three he was playing his first AFL match. In round seven, he produced a match-winning performance against Fremantle, earning a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination. By season's end, he had played 18 matches. He is one of Melbourne's brightest young prospects.
Adem Yze – Only David Neitz and Robbie Flower have played more matches for Melbourne than Yze. But like White, the silky-skilled star has ended his career in the red and blue after 271 matches, including five this season, since 1995. The versatile Yze is now looking to extend his career elsewhere in the AFL, as Melbourne reshapes its list. Still, Yze finishes as one of the club's all-time greats, having arguably been Melbourne's most consistent performer under former coach Neale Daniher's reign from 1998-07.
Trent Zomer – The third player selected in last December's NAB AFL Rookie Draft – Melbourne's first pick overall – Zomer is an emerging tall forward, who led the Eastern Ranges goalkicking in the TAC Cup in 2007. The 196cm tall spent most of the season in the Sandringham reserves, but he also had a taste in the Sandy seniors in 2008 and played in a NAB Cup match against Geelong. Hailing from a basketball background – he represented Victoria at junior level – Zomer is a long-term option.
