AFTER 14 seasons with Melbourne, Mark Jamar’s career in the red and blue has come to an end.

Whether he plays in the AFL again remains to be seen.

But the fact he’s been at the club since he was selected at No.6 in the 2002 AFL Rookie Draft – held back in December 2001 – and been at Melbourne for almost 15 years is an outstanding achievement in anyone’s language.

He leaves the Demons with 155 games to his name, an All-Australian honour and life membership among his achievements. It’s a testament to his character, commitment and love of the club.

‘Russian’, as he’s affectionately known, wasn’t Melbourne’s equivalent to Jimmy Stynes (but who was?) or Dean Cox, but he was a bloody good ruckman.

His tap work was excellent, he was able to clunk a mark and kick a goal. And he gave his all.

In 2010, his finest AFL season, Jamar was not only named in the All-Australian team (he was selected on the interchange, as Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands was picked in the ruck – no shame there), but he also finished third in Melbourne’s best and fairest award – a fine effort.

He had 643 hit outs that year at an average of 29.22 per match.

Although an All-Australian at under-18 level in 2001, Jamar was initially overlooked in the draft, before then Melbourne recruiting manager Craig Cameron selected him with the club’s first pick in the rookie draft.

Although Jamar didn’t play a match in his first AFL-listed season, he was promoted from the rookie to senior list, as Melbourne’s battled injuries.

It was in the opening round of 2003 that Jamar made his senior debut against Hawthorn at the MCG.

Playing second fiddle to another fine Melbourne ruckman Jeff White for the early part of his career, Jamar had to wait a while before he got the No.1 ruck role. He also had to contend with injuries – something that interrupted his career.

From 2002 until his final season at Melbourne, Jamar averaged 11.07 matches per season. He twice played 22 matches for the Demons in a season – 2006 and 2010. But in 2006, he missed two matches, including Melbourne’s most recent finals match against Fremantle at Subiaco, due to injury.

He tasted just two finals matches in his career, having joined the club in late 2001 – a year after Melbourne’s most recent Grand Final appearance. And although Jamar was at the club when Melbourne played finals in the early 2000s, he only played two finals matches, given he was in the early stages of his career.

His first final was in 2004. It was just one of three matches for the season, when he was part of Melbourne’s first elimination final loss to Essendon. His only other final was the club’s most recent finals win in 2006, when it defeated St Kilda in the second semi-final.

In 2009, Jamar came close to leaving Melbourne for Port Adelaide, but he remained to have his best AFL season. He also started the 2011 in fine form, before a posterior cruciate ligament interrupted his year.

From 2011-15, Jamar played 60 matches as injuries again played their part, along with form, which ultimately saw Jake Spencer and more recently Max Gawn claim the No.1 ruck position.

Still, Jamar’s impact on Gawn and Spencer will continue to remain.

Jamar’s legacy also extends from playing with the likes of Cameron Bruce, Aaron Davey, Brad Green, James McDonald, David Neitz, Russell Robertson, Jeff White and Adem Yze through to the likes of Angus Brayshaw, Max Gawn, Jesse Hogan, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem, Dom Tyson, Aaron vandenBerg and Jack Viney today.

He has been coached by Neale Daniher, Mark Riley, Dean Bailey, Todd Viney, Mark Neeld, Neil Craig and Paul Roos and been exposed to Simon Goodwin – the club’s successor at the end of the 2016 season.  

It’s been a significant journey for Jamar and emphasises the resilience, perseverance and willingness to keep at it in exciting, testing and difficult times.

He’s been a top clubman and servant for Melbourne – there’s no doubt about that.

When I reflect on Jamar’s career, it’s funny, because I can still remember meeting him for the first time, when he was at the Draft Camp (now Combine) at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra back in 2001 and I was with afl.com.au.

I remember bumping into him in the stairwell in the old AIS accommodation block and having a really good chat to him back then. He was yet to be on an AFL list, but was an impressive youngster.

I can remember taking an interest in him after that and was really pleased when he got selected after originally being overlooked.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure to interview him and get to know him better at Melbourne. He’s a great fella.

He’s given his all and made the most of his opportunities. It hasn’t all been easy, with injuries, form and battling other ruckmen along the way – both at the club and on the field – but the fact he leaves with more than 150 matches with the oldest football club in the competition is a mighty effort. For the record, Jamar is one of 57 players to have played 150 games or more for Melbourne from 1321 players who have donned the red and blue since 1897.

Whatever path he takes next or whether he bobs up at another AFL club next year, he can leave Melbourne with a career he can be proud of.

Well done Russian!