Carji Greeves

Edward "Carji" Greeves holds an immortal place in Australian football history as the inaugural winner of the Brownlow Medal in 1924. Born in Warragul and educated at Geelong College, Greeves was a polished midfielder who followed his father, Ted, into the Geelong side. He made an immediate impact, claiming the League's highest individual honour in just his first full season at the senior level. Unlike many of the rough-and-tumble players of his era, Greeves was renowned for his elegance and anticipation rather than brute speed. He possessed exquisite skills on both sides of the body and was famous for wearing soft leather boots, allowing him greater feel and control when delivering the ball.

Despite his individual accolades, Greeves was a pivotal figure in Geelong’s golden era, steering the club to its first VFL premiership in 1925 and a second flag in 1931. His career included a fascinating interlude in 1928 when he travelled to the United States to coach kicking techniques at the University of Southern California, a testament to his reputation as a supreme technician of the drop kick. He finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal on three separate occasions, underscoring his consistency as one of the premier centremen of the 1920s. Today, his standing at the club is permanent, with the Geelong best and fairest award named the Carji Greeves Medal in his honour.