Bert Clay

Recruited from the New South Wales town of Henty, Bert Clay arrived at Fitzroy with a unique backstory, having initially trialled with North Melbourne alongside his identical twin brother, Ivor. While the Kangaroos passed on the pair, the Maroons secured their services, gaining a ruckman who would become a cornerstone of their pack for over a decade. Standing at 193cm—a giant for the era—Clay was renowned not for flashy brilliance but for his immense strength, reliability, and work ethic. He was the definition of a "solid" footballer, often doing the heavy lifting in the contests to allow the smaller players to thrive.

Clay's crowning moment came during Fitzroy's famous 1944 Premiership campaign. In the Grand Final against Richmond, he played the game of his life, largely nullifying the legendary Jack Dyer. Dyer himself later credited Clay as the best player on the ground, acknowledging that the big Maroon's dominance in the ruck was the deciding factor in the upset victory. While his brother Ivor eventually moved on to cricket and coaching in Tasmania, Bert remained a fixture at Brunswick Street until he was 36, retiring as a beloved premiership hero who had given his all for the club during its last golden era.