Alan Ruthven

A local product of Falconer Street School, Alan Ruthven was a tenacious rover who became the heartbeat of the Fitzroy side for over a decade. His path to the top tier was nearly derailed early; despite being the nephew of Victoria Cross winner William Ruthven—a Collingwood supporter who arranged a trial for him at Victoria Park—the Magpies rejected him for being too small. Fitzroy happily swept up the local talent, and he wasted little time establishing himself, inheriting Haydn Bunton’s famous number 7 guernsey. Known universally as "The Baron" due to his immaculate dress sense and dapper suits off the field, Ruthven was anything but gentlemanly when the ball was in dispute, renowned for his fierce competitive streak and fearlessness in the pack.

Ruthven's on-field legacy is that of a complete midfielder who could damage opponents both at the contest and on the scoreboard. He was a pivotal member of Fitzroy's 1944 premiership side as a young rover, cementing his status as a big-game player early in his career. His prowess around goal was exceptional for a midfielder, frequently pushing forward to hit the scoreboard with his lethal left foot. This dual threat helped him claim the 1950 Brownlow Medal and five club Best and Fairest awards. He eventually took on the role of captain-coach in his final years, guiding the club with the same fiery determination that characterised his playing style, forever remaining one of the "Gorillas" most decorated and loyal servants.