16 Facts About Graham Melrose

Graham Thomas Melrose was born on 20 April 1949 and is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League as well as for the East Fremantle Football Club and the Swan Districts Football Club in the Western Australian Football League.

Graham Melrose later had brief coaching stints at the Sharks and Swans.

Graham Melrose is one of few footballers to be named in the Team of the Century at two different clubs.

Graham Melrose began his career at East Fremantle in the WANFL competition in 1967.

Graham Melrose was awarded the Lynn Medal twice while at the club and won the Sandover Medal in 1974.

Graham Melrose moved East in 1975 to join Victorian Football League club North Melbourne where he settled into the regular lineup in the forward pocket and sharing roving duties with Barry Cable.

North Melbourne won the 1975 VFL Grand Final but Graham Melrose was unable to play because of a hand injury.

In 1976 Graham Melrose had a great season and performed consistently well, including a great game in the 1976 VFL Grand Final which saw Hawthorn beat North Melbourne.

The 1977 VFL season was another outstanding time for North Melbourne in which the club won its second VFL premiership against Collingwood, but Graham Melrose did not take part in this game due to injury.

Graham Melrose played another sound season in 1978 and lined up in the forward pocket for North Melbourne in the Grand Final against Hawthorn which saw North Melbourne lose by 3 goals.

Graham Melrose played out the 1979 VFL season before returning to Western Australia in 1980 where he joined the Swan Districts Football Club under his old mentor John Todd.

Swan Districts had a great season but lost the 1980 grand final to South Fremantle by 58 points and Graham Melrose played on a half forward flank.

Graham Melrose played in the centre on this occasion and was rated as one of the best on ground.

Graham Melrose was awarded the Simpson Medal for his efforts on field where he had played on a half-back flank.

Graham Melrose was captain of the side in 1982 and co-captain with Keith Narkle in 1983.

Graham Melrose was named in Swan Districts Team of the Century and the East Fremantle Team of the Century.