Bert Thornley

Arriving at Carlton as a mature-age recruit from East Fremantle, Bert Thornley was already a decorated WAFL player with a best and fairest award and state representative honours to his name. A versatile operator capable of playing as a defender or resting rover, he was known for his dual-sided kicking and solid tackling pressure. However, his VFL career is defined by a single, pivotal moment during the 1970 Grand Final. With the Blues staring down a 44-point half-time deficit against Collingwood, Thornley was the player substituted off by coach Ron Barassi to unleash 19th man Ted Hopkins. While the tactical gamble inspired the greatest comeback in Grand Final history, it served as a harsh conclusion to Thornley’s time at Princes Park, as he never played another VFL game and finished his career in the VFA with Preston.