The AFL Players’ Association is pleased to announce the names of 2008 season retiring AFL players to be nominated for Madden Medal award categories.

The end of the 2008 season saw the retirement of some of the AFL’s much loved and admired stars.

At a gala lunch on Friday December 5 at Peninsula in the Docklands, the AFL Players’ Association and the broader football public will pay tribute to the retiring greats of our game.

Presented by AMP, the AFLPA Madden Medal Awards celebrate the contributions of all retired players across a number of on and off-field categories.

The awards culminate in the presentation of the 2008 Madden Medal, to the player who over his career demonstrated on-field excellence, off-field football achievements, personal growth, and community spirit.

The inaugural 2007 Madden Medal was taken out by Glenn Archer.

This year the Madden Medal will be hotly contested with the likes of Crawford, Harvey, and Bell all meeting the criteria for the award.

The award is named in honour of former AFLPA Presidents and champion Essendon and Carlton players, Simon and Justin Madden.

Four awards in total are presented on the day including:

The GNC Live Well Football Achievement Award
The Open Universities Australia Personal Development Award
The Steel Blue Community Spirit Award

These three awards culminate in

The Madden Medal - presented by AMP

The recipient of the Madden Medal will be the 2008 season retiring player, who in the selection committee’s view has achieved excellence across the above categories.

The Madden Medal selection committee consists of the AFLPA Executive;
Joel Bowden (President), Brett Burton (Vice-President), Luke Ball, Adam Goodes, Tom Harley, Nick Maxwell, Robert Murphy, Luke Power, Ashley Hansen AFLPA CEO Brendon Gale, and past player representative Simon Madden.

MADDEN MEDAL NOMINEES

Presented by AMP

Criteria: Outstanding on-field football achievements, a high level of off-field football achievements, a display of great personal growth over their career, community and charity endeavours.

Peter Bell

Fremantle

Shane Crawford

Hawthorn

Robert Harvey

St Kilda

Nigel Lappin

Brisbane Lions

Mal Michael

Essendon

David Neitz

Melbourne

Scott West

Western Bulldogs

STEEL BLUE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD NOMINEES

Criteria: Involvement / work for charitable organisations, participation in community development initiatives, demonstrated empathy & support for disadvantaged people, leadership in tackling social issues.

Peter Bell

Fremantle

Shane Crawford

Hawthorn

Fraser Gehrig

St Kilda

Robert Harvey

St Kilda

Jason Johnson

Essendon

Ryan Lonie

Port Adelaide

Mal Michael

Essendon

Adam Ramanauskas

Essendon

Nathan Thompson

North Melbourne

Shane Wakelin

Collingwood

OPEN UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD NOMINEES

Criteria: Personal development, business achievements, education and training, family support, hardship / recovery from long term injury.

Peter Bell

Fremantle

Shane Crawford

Hawthorn

Robert Harvey

St Kilda

Ben Holland

Melbourne

Ken McGregor

Adelaide

David Neitz

Melbourne

Shane Wakelin

Collingwood

Michael Wilson

Port Adelaide

GNC LIVEWELL FOOTBALL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD NOMINEES

Criteria: Games played, premierships, awards / medals, style of play, professionalism, leadership, development of game, advocacy on behalf of players, legacy to the game.

Peter Bell

Fremantle

Michael Braun

West Coast

Scott Burns

Collingwood

Shane Crawford

Hawthorn

Peter Everitt

Sydney Swans

Jeff Farmer

Fremantle

Fraser Gehrig

St Kilda

Shannon Grant

North Melbourne

Robert Harvey

St Kilda

Jason Johnson

Essendon

Nigel Lappin

Brisbane Lions

Shaun McManus

Fremantle

Mal Michael

Essendon

David Neitz

Melbourne

Scott West

Western Bulldogs

To secure your place at this special end of year event, call Stride Sports on 03 8623 2810.