Chester Read

Recruited from Carisbrook in the central Victorian goldfields, Chester Read was a solidly built utility who added physical presence to South Melbourne’s lineup in the late 1940s. Standing 183cm and weighing 86kg, he possessed the size to play key defensive roles or support the followers, though he struggled to cement a permanent spot in the senior side over his three seasons at the Lakeside Oval. After departing South Melbourne at the end of 1950 and spending two years out of the VFL system, Read earned a brief lifeline with St Kilda in 1953. He donned the number 11 guernsey for the Saints’ season opener against North Melbourne but was omitted the following week, leaving him as a one-game player for the club and concluding his league career as a hard-working journeyman who fought for every opportunity.