Allan Lynch

Recruited from Launceston in Tasmania, Allan Lynch was a towering 191cm utility who balanced his VFL career with his duties as a serving policeman. While he was capable of pinch-hitting in the ruck, he played his most consistent football as a key defender, using his height and strength to patrol the last line of defence. He holds a unique place in the club's lineage as a cousin of Alastair Lynch’s father, foreshadowing the future champion's career by wearing the same number 11 guernsey that Alastair would later make famous at both Fitzroy and Brisbane.

Lynch’s tenure at Brunswick Street was a tale of two eras; he broke into a competitive side that reached the 1960 Preliminary Final, but spent the majority of his career battling in a team that often struggled near the foot of the ladder. A reliable anchor during a lean decade for the Lions, his standout moment came in the 1963 "Miracle Match," where he manned the full-back position in Fitzroy's stunning upset over the eventual premiers, Geelong. He retired at just 28 years of age, remembered as a steadfast defender who held the backline together during a challenging period for the club.