Alec Eason

Born into a prominent local footballing family as the younger brother of Geelong captain Bill Eason, Alec Eason established himself as one of the premier rovers of his era. Nicknamed "Bunny" for his electric pace and elusive running style, he was a distinctive figure on the field, famous for maintaining a constant stream of banter with opponents and teammates alike. Remarkably, he played his entire career with two fingers missing from his right hand, a disability that failed to hamper his elite ball-handling or his reputation for precise stab-kicking and creative handballs.

Eason's tenure at Corio Oval was interrupted by the First World War, which saw Geelong withdraw from the competition in 1916 for patriotic reasons. He briefly crossed to Richmond to continue playing that season before enlisting for active service in France. He returned to Geelong in 1919 to resume his role as a key playmaker, eventually serving as playing coach in 1920. A club Best and Fairest winner and a member of Geelong's Team of the Century, his VFL career ended when he accepted a lucrative offer to captain-coach Footscray in the VFA, confirming his status as one of the most sought-after talents of the time.