Alex Lang

Recruited from local side Parkville Presbyterians, Alex "Bongo" Lang established himself as the premier rover of his era during Carlton's golden age. A tenacious small man with elite ball-winning ability and goal sense, he was instrumental in the Blues' historic premiership hat-trick between 1906 and 1908. His standing in the game was such that The Australasian named him the league's outstanding player in 1909, and he seemed destined to retire as one of the club's greatest icons.

Lang's career was irrevocably altered by one of the most significant controversies in league history during the 1910 finals series. Amidst rumours of match-fixing, Lang and two teammates were withdrawn from the semi-final side against South Melbourne and subsequently charged with accepting bribes to play poorly. While Lang admitted to receiving an offer but maintained he had no intention of accepting it, the league found him guilty and handed down a massive five-year suspension (99 matches). He eventually returned to Princes Park in 1916 to notch his 100th game during the war-interrupted seasons, retiring shortly after as a triple premiership player whose on-field brilliance was forever shadowed by the tribunal's severe judgment.