Bill Tymms

After an unconvincing start at St Kilda where he struggled to break into the senior side, Bill Tymms revitalised his career via a stint in the VFA with Prahran before becoming a defensive pillar for Melbourne. Invited to the Demons in 1925, he quickly transformed from a fringe player into one of the competition's premier backmen, playing a vital role on the half-back flank during the club's 1926 Premiership triumph. A reliable and disciplined defender who eventually earned Victorian state selection five times, Tymms' career is often remembered for a famous moment of hubris in 1930; he requested a week off to get married prior to the final home-and-away match, assuming Melbourne would easily account for Hawthorn. The Demons unexpectedly lost and subsequently missed the finals, a cautionary tale that lingered long after his retirement. Despite later having clearance requests for coaching roles rejected, he remained loyal to Melbourne until hanging up the boots, later serving a significant tenure as the secretary of the Richmond Football Club.