Christopher Mayne

Recruited from the Perth Football Club with pick 40 in the 2007 National Draft, Chris Mayne made his name at Fremantle as a high-pressure forward whose defensive application set the standard for his teammates. While he was a capable goalkicker, notably topping the Dockers' goalkicking in 2011, his value lay in his elite tackling and forward-half pressure, traits that were instrumental during Fremantle's rise under Ross Lyon and their 2013 Grand Final campaign. After 172 games in purple, Mayne departed as a free agent at the end of 2016, signing a high-profile deal with Collingwood that initially drew significant scrutiny.

His start at the Magpies was difficult, managing just three senior games in 2017 while spending the majority of the year in the VFL. Facing an uncertain future, Mayne produced a career-defining reinvention in 2018, transforming from a pressure forward into a disciplined defensive winger. This positional shift revitalised his career, and he became a fixture in the Collingwood lineup that came within a kick of the premiership that season. Mayne retired in 2021 having played 248 games, remembered as a selfless professional who successfully adapted his game to remain relevant at the elite level.