Pre-AFL career

Born March 13, 1981 in Launceston, Tasmania, Green was a natural sportsperson from an early age. He was an outstanding cricketer and soccer player, before switching to Australian Football in his mid-late teens. Green played cricket and soccer for Tasmania, representing under 14s, 15s, 16s and 17s. He also captained the under 15 Australian cricket team, representing his country at the under 15 World Cup in England. Green also played senior state league soccer against men at 15 years old,  playing for both Launceston and Georgetown. A talent scout from Manchester United asked Green to trial with the football giant. As a 15 year-old in January 1996, Green headed for the United Kingdom. Green trained with Manchester United’s youth team for roughly two months. Manchester United offered Green a youth contract, but he turned it down and returned to Tasmania to focus on his year 11 and 12 studies. He then turned his attention to Australian football, after schoolmates wooed him to play that instead of soccer. Green then played with Northern Bombers/Tassie Mariners, before embarking on his AFL career.

1999: Green represents Tassie Mariners in the TAC Cup and Tasmania in the AFL under 18 championships. He wins the Hunter Harrison Medal for the best division two player in the AFL under 18 championships. He also wins the Tassie Mariners best and fairest. During the season, Green plays three matches as a top-up player for Essendon in the last year of the AFL reserves. He boots four goals. Green is then drafted by Melbourne at No. 19 in the AFL Draft.

2000: In just his fourth season of playing Australian football, Green makes his AFL debut against the Kanagaroos in round two. He boots two goals in Melbourne’s 25 point win. During the season, he gains an AFL Rising Star nomination. In his first of nine finals for the club, Green boots four second half goals against Carlton to help Melbourne win a memorable qualifying final against Carlton. Green boots 28 goals from 20 matches in his first AFL season. He plays in Melbourne’s first grand final since 1988 and just its second since 1964, when the Demons take on the Bombers. But his day - like Melbourne’s - turns to disappointment when he suffers a serious blow to his windpipe just before quarter time. It’s a sour note to an otherwise fine debut season. 

2001: In his second season, Green plays 21 of a possible 22 matches, missing round two through illness. He boots 37 goals, including seven bags of three or four goals.

2002: Green produces a solid year, booting 29 goals in 21 matches, including his first bag of five goals against St Kilda in round 22.

2003: Green has a mixed season, but still finishes seventh in Melbourne’s best and fairest. He is dropped for one match in round 19, but still manages 35 goals from 21 matches.

2004: Named in Melbourne’s leadership group, Green finishes seventh in the best and fairest after pushing into the midfield. He represents Australia in International Rules for the first time. 

2005: Green has a strong season, booting 28 goals in 21 matches, including two bags of four. Green finishes fifth in the best and fairest.

2006: Green plays all but one match, missing a game through suspension. He finishes fifth in Melbourne’s best and fairest for the second successive season. He averages almost 22 disposals per match - his best effort in a season - and accumulates a career best 499 possessions. Green spends greater time in the midfield. He also plays in Melbourne’s most recent finals series. Green is one of Melbourne’s best in its most recent finals win against St Kilda in the second elimination final.

2007: Finishing fourth in the best and fairest. Green registers a career best 37 disposals and 18 marks against Adelaide in Melbourne’s round 10 win. He averages 21 disposals.

2008: Green comes third in the best and fairest. He signs a new three year deal, after being strongly sounded out by Collingwood. He averages 22 disposals and seven marks per match, and is also named in Melbourne’s 150 Heroes.

2009: Green suffers two nasty injuries, which restricts him to just 12 matches. He misses four weeks with a jaw injury, suffered in Melbourne’s win over Richmond, then breaks his wrist in round 16 and misses the last six rounds.

2010: Producing his finest AFL season, Green wins the Keith ‘Bluey’ Memorial Trophy - Melbourne’s best and fairest. He leads the club’s goal kicking with 55 goals, including three hauls of five. Green spends the season playing on the wing and up forward. He manages a goal in every match, except the drawn clash against Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday. Green leads Melbourne in kicks (295) and marks (153). He is also an All-Australian nominee and is widely regarded as an unlucky omission. He represents Australia in the International Rules series.

2011: Green is named Melbourne captain, taking over from James McDonald. He also captains Australia in the International Rules series at the end of the season. Playing mainly as a deep forward, Green kicks 37 goals in a tough season for the club, given the departure of coach Dean Bailey.

2012: Green endures a frustrating season. He is replaced as skipper by youngsters Jack Grimes and Jack Trengove, who are named co-captains. He is dropped for the first time since 2003, when he is named an emergency for round three.  Green returns to Casey in the VFL and breaks a finger, missing the next three matches. He is later sidelined for another three games in the middle part of the season with a groin injury, then returns in round 16 and kicks 13 goals in his next four matches. This includes an equal career best five goals against the Gold Coast Suns in round 19. It is the sixth time he has achieved this feat. Green also has 15 hauls of four goals to his name. In round 18, Green notches up his 250th AFL match. He becomes just the eighth Melbourne player to achieve this feat. On the back of his effort against the Suns, Green announces he will be retiring at the end of the season. But, in round 20, he will equal Brian Dixon’s 252 game record for Melbourne. By season’s end, he will have 255 matches to his name. Only David Neitz (306 games, 1993-2008), Robert Flower (272 games, 1973-87), Adem Yze (271 games, 1995-2008), Jim Stynes (264 games, 1987-98) and Steven Febey (258 games, 1988-2001) will have played more matches for Melbourne.