Chris Kiernan

A local product who featured in Fitzroy’s inaugural VFL side, Chris Kiernan was a clever and opportunistic forward who quickly established himself as one of the league’s first genuine goalkicking threats. He topped the Maroons’ goalkicking in the competition’s first two seasons and played a pivotal role in the club's 1898 premiership victory. Despite his on-field brilliance, Kiernan is perhaps best remembered for a bizarre piece of football folklore involving the 1899 Grand Final; selected to play, he reportedly failed to arrive at the ground on time due to a mix-up regarding the match date, forcing Fitzroy to field a replacement in a game they ultimately won by a single point.

Kiernan's career was as controversial as it was talented, often drawing ire for his questionable physical tactics, including allegations of tripping opponents. His time at Fitzroy initially ended in acrimony after a fallout with the committee in 1904; his subsequent request for a clearance to arch-rival Collingwood was blocked by VFL delegates, leading him to cross to the VFA with Brighton. He eventually returned to the Maroons for a brief cameo in 1911 to close out his VFL career. A gifted all-round sportsman, Kiernan later found success as a first-class cricketer for Victoria, further cementing his status as a versatile, albeit enigmatic, figure in early Melbourne sport.