Lou Richards

Born into the formidable Pannam football dynasty, Lou Richards entered the VFL with the weight of expectation as the grandson of Charlie Pannam Sr and nephew of Magpie greats Alby and Charlie Jr. He debuted for Collingwood in 1941 and quickly established himself as a distinct talent, serving the club with unwavering loyalty for 15 seasons. A rover who combined physical toughness with innate goal sense, Richards was never the quickest player on the ground but compensated with fearlessness and football smarts. He became a prolific avenue to goal for a midfielder, topping the club's goalkicking list three times and finishing his career with a formidable strike rate.

Richards was appointed captain in 1952, leading with a rugged, vocal style that demanded commitment from his teammates. His crowning moment arrived in 1953 when he skippered the Magpies to a premiership victory over Geelong, ending a 17-year flag drought for the club. He retired in 1955 after exactly 250 games, leaving the field as a revered figure at Victoria Park. While he later became known as a ubiquitous personality in football media, his on-field legacy remains that of a fierce competitor and a premiership-winning captain who was eventually named in the Collingwood Team of the Century.