Lynden Dunn Biography

Lynden Dunn retires from AFL football after 198 games with Collingwood and Melbourne across 16 years in the AFL.

Steele Sidebottom is hit with a hefty four-match ban for breaching the League's COVID-19 protocols.

Sidebottom's suspension also took into account his weekend conduct, which concluded with police transporting him home on Sunday morning in a heavily intoxicated state.

Fellow Pie Lynden Dunn has received a one-game ban for his involvement.

"Our disappointment over Steele's suspension is no greater than it is over the fact that two senior players breached the return to play protocols," Magpies football boss Geoff Walsh said.

"Everyone knows Steele and Lynden started out with the best of intentions, to console an injured team-mate, but our players and staff have been well educated on the protocols and we take our social responsibilities seriously."

Steele Sidebottom and Lynden Dunn are under investigation for breaching the AFL's strict COVID-19 protocols.

Sidebottom and Dunn, who was part of the club's leadership group last year, shared an Uber on Saturday evening and Sidebottom later visited a staff member who is not living under the game's protocols.

They were earlier at Magpies teammate Jeremy Howe's home to console him after his serious knee injury the previous night.

"Steele's a bit flummoxed by the events of the evening. He's very embarrassed and very contrite. He's been really forward with giving us any information that he has," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

"He understands that he's made some poor decisions, in terms of his alcohol intake and then also with the COVID-19 restrictions as they sit. He understands that it's penalised his teammates in some shape or form."

Lynden Dunn is re-signed by Collingwood as a rookie via the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP).

Dunn is nearing full fitness again after recovering from ACL injuries that have sidelined him for the last year and a half.

Lynden Dunn is still in shock as he comes to terms with spending another season on the sidelines after rupturing the ACL in his left knee in his comeback game at VFL level.

"I couldn’t have done anything more with my rehab, we didn’t cut any corners. I wouldn’t change anything , it’s just one of those things," Dunn said.

"There’s people in the world with bigger problems. It’s not ideal for me, but the sun came up this morning, I’ve got other things in my life going on. It’s certainly not ideal but I’ll have to deal with it, move on and hopefully rehab it right and get back out there."

Lynden Dunn's season hangs under a cloud after the key defender limped from the field in the VFL in his return from a knee injury.

Scott Pendlebury will captain Collingwood for a sixth season with Collingwood announcing an unchanged leadership group for 2019.

Pendlebury, the third longest serving Magpies skipper, will again be supported by Steele Sidebottom as vice-captain and fellow leaders Taylor Adams, Jeremy Howe and Lynden Dunn.

Lynden Dunn says he is uncertain when he will return to the field.

"I'm confident I'll be able to get back ASAP and I feel as good as I felt. I feel like I'm 22 at the moment and fingers crossed it can stay that way," Dunn said.

"When I come back ... I can't really set a target at the moment, it's basically on feel. If I'm not ready, I'm not ready. I'd certainly rather play the back half of the year rather than the front half of the year like last year."

Lynden Dunn signs a new one-year to play on with Collingwood in 2019.

Lynden Dunn will miss the rest of the 2018 season after scans confirmed he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The 31-year-old left the field in the third term of Collingwood's win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium after landing awkwardly in a marking contest with Sun Nick Holman.

Taylor Adams is expecting his accidental sledge at Melbourne to result in the heat being ramped up for the Queen's Birthday clash at the MCG.

Demons star Bernie Vince took offence to Adams' comments that Magpies defender, and former Demon, Lynden Dunn, hadn't been part of a successful club before.

"It's a pretty fiery game as it is, so it probably adds a bit of fuel to an already big-burning fire," Adams told RSN927.

"I'd like to see more of it, to be honest. Like the NBA, I like how honest and raw the players are.

"It's almost cocky, but it's just confidence."

Taylor Adams' comments about Collingwood recruit Lynden Dunn finally being at a "successful club" have caused a stir, with Melbourne midfielder Bernie Vince saying the team would use them as extra motivation for the Queen's Birthday clash.

In an interview following the Magpies' 20-point win over Fremantle in Perth on Sunday, the midfielder was asked to describe the impact former Demon Dunn had made since joining Collingwood.

"[Lynden] hasn't been part of a real successful club and I just get the feeling he loves being here at Collingwood," Adams told ABC Radio.

"It's just given him a spring in his step and the way he leads around the footy club and out on the field, it's crucial to our back six and our 18 out there."

Despite not being aware of Adams' comments, at his press conference Vince added extra spice to the clash between the traditional rivals.

"It might be (used as a motivating factor)," Vince said.

"What is he (Dunn) at a successful club now, is he?

"That's the first I've heard of it but we might be able to use that one as a bit of motivation.

"Not sure what he's done at Collingwood yet though."

Lynden Dunn has played enough football to know there was no point moping after he was overlooked for selection by Collingwood in the first five rounds of the season.

Dunn went back to the VFL and tried to display the on-field leadership and cool head under pressure that has been a key part of his AFL career.

Dunn, 29, knew that if he bided his time, eventually an opportunity would present itself, and he made the most of it in a 29-point win over Geelong.

"I've been around the traps long enough. I was disappointed not to play the first five rounds but I know how footy works," Dunn said.

"Dragging your carcass around the club and the changerooms doesn't do anyone any good. I've been waiting for my opportunity and it came today and I'm just stoked to be part of a win."

Lynden Dunn will be asked to fill a key need for Collingwood in defence in 2017 after the veteran backman was traded from Melbourne.

The 29-year-old has been swapped along with the Demons' pick 51 for Collingwood's pick 47.

"The reason this trade eventuated was due to our end of year discussions, where Lynden's management came to the club seeking clarification on his future, after having limited opportunities in 2016," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"Following on from those discussions, Lynden was keen to pursue his options and continue his career at another AFL club.

"When an opportunity presented to join Collingwood during this trade period, we were happy to facilitate that opportunity for Lynden, who will continue his career there."

Melbourne has overhauled its leadership group with captain Nathan Jones the only survivor from last year.

Vice-captain Lynden Dunn, former co-captain Jack Grimes, key forward Chris Dawes and Heritier Lumumba have all been axed from the 2015 group, while Daniel Cross has already retired.

The new group features reigning best and fairest winner Bernie Vince, veteran Colin Garland, defender Tom McDonald and emerging stars Jack Viney and Max Gawn.

Jones will be Melbourne's sole captain in 2015 and he will be supported by three recycled players in the club's leadership group.

Jones, 27, will handle the responsibility on his own after sharing the captaincy duties with Jack Grimes in 2014.

Former Collingwood defender Heritier Lumumba is a surprise choice for the Demons' leadership group, which also includes Grimes, Lynden Dunn, ex-Dog Daniel Cross and former Magpie Chris Dawes.

"I think it's a really good mix of guys that understand how difficult it has been, but also some guys who have had some real success who can continue to raise standards around here," Melbourne coach Paul Roos said.

Lynden Dunn has turned his back on free agency and says he wants to continue leading the Demons' revival after signing a three-year contract extension.

"I'm going to be an old man by the time I've finished playing here now, which is good," Dunn said.

"I've got my footy now to a level where I've bridged the gap with my consistency. As a younger player, I struggled between my best and my worst footy.

"I've worked hard to bridge that gap and I think now I know myself better as a person and as a player. That's part of reason why I'm playing consistent footy at the moment."

Melbourne Demons players, including Jeremy Howe, James Frawley and Lynden Dunn, involved in an ugly spat with fans at the Boxing Day Test at the MCG get the all clear by the club.

"They weren't evicted from the MCG, there was a discussion taken place with security with the suggestion stay in the spot if you want to guys, or move to another area or go," Demons coaching director Neil Craig said.

"And they decided to leave in the end, so there is a different connotation to leaving versus being evicted."

Melbourne players Jeremy Howe, James Frawley and Lynden Dunn will reportedly have to explain themselves to the club in the new year after a boozy Boxing Day at the MCG.

Howe was asked to leave by the ground's security staff after a confrontation with fans during the opening day of the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka.

Melbourne has re-signed an experienced trio of players including Lynden Dunn, Joel MacDonald and James Sellar.

All three were consistent in the second half of the season and played a role in steadying the ship," Melbourne list manager Tim Harrington said.

"They played a particular role at different times that was valuable for the team."

Port Adelaide won't contest suspensions to Dom Cassisi and Peter Burgoyne.

Cassisi was offered a one-match ban for striking Melbourne's Lynden Dunn while Burgoyne was given a two-match suspension for kneeing Demon Aaron Davey during the Power's victory at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

Cassisi and Burgoyne were each given three-match bans, reduced by early guilty pleas.