Terry Waters

Recruited from Dandenong in the VFA, Terry Waters' arrival at Collingwood was anything but straightforward, requiring a Supreme Court writ to clear his clearance after his original club refused to release him. The legal battle proved worth it when he made an immediate impact, topping the Magpies' goalkicking in his first two seasons. While he began as a high-flying key forward, Waters was arguably most effective as a versatile follower and defender. Recognisable by his premature baldness and prominent ankle bandages, he was renowned for his safe hands and vertical leap, eventually settling into a role as a commanding intercept marker who could read the play better than most.

Waters' leadership qualities saw him appointed captain in 1970, a tenure that unfortunately coincided with one of the club's most famous heartbreaks—the 1970 Grand Final loss to Carlton. Despite his on-field brilliance, which earned him the 1966 Copeland Trophy and All-Australian selection in 1969, he found the burden of captaincy heavy, famously resigning the role mid-season in 1971 to focus on his form. He retired early the following year after just 163 games, leaving a legacy as a brilliant, multifaceted utility who was later inducted into the Collingwood Hall of Fame.