Chris Lethbridge

Recruited from Sydney YMCA in New South Wales, Chris Lethbridge holds the rare and enviable distinction of bookending his VFL career with premiership triumphs. He made an immediate impact upon his arrival at Fitzroy in 1913, slotting into the defence and tasting premiership success in his very first season. While many interstate recruits struggled to adapt to the Victorian game, Lethbridge was a natural competitor who became a fixture of the side for a decade, serving as a pillar of stability during the club's successful World War I era.

On the field, Lethbridge was defined by his fearless play across the half-back line, earning a reputation as one of the toughest operators in the league. He was a combative defender who attacked the ball with little regard for his own safety, providing the grit required in Fitzroy's backline. His leadership qualities were formally recognised when he succeeded club legend Percy Parratt as captain in 1921. He capped off his 149-game tenure in fairytale fashion, skippering the Maroons to the 1922 premiership in his final match before hanging up the boots.