Bob Briggs

A prolific forward who established himself as a genuine star in the VFA before testing his mettle at the highest level, Bob Briggs arrived at Fitzroy as a mature-age recruit with a fearsome reputation. Originally from Port Rovers, he became a Williamstown legend in the pre-war era, spearheading their attack in the 1907 premiership victory and becoming the first Seagulls player to boot 10 goals in a single match. He brought that goal-kicking prowess to the VFL in 1909, quickly adapting to the standard to become a key focal point in Fitzroy’s forward line. His crowning achievement came in 1910, where he played every match and topped the club’s goalkicking table, proving his VFA heroics were no fluke. Briggs concluded his brief but impactful VFL career with a single season at St Kilda in 1911, leaving the game as a player who had successfully bridged the gap between the two major Victorian competitions.