Clen Denning

Clen Denning entered the VFL with one of the most startling debuts in league history, recruited from VFA club Oakleigh alongside his coach Frank Maher who had taken the reins at Carlton. In his first senior match against South Melbourne in 1935, Denning booted six goals with his first six kicks, setting a record for efficiency that remains a peculiar piece of football folklore. Despite this explosive start, he struggled to cement a regular spot in a Blues forward line dominated by the legendary Harry "Soapy" Vallence. Unable to dislodge the star full-forward and seeking greater opportunity, he crossed to Fitzroy for the 1938 season.

At Fitzroy, Denning reinvented himself from a opportunistic forward into a reliable defender. While he topped the club's goalkicking in 1939, he played his best football in the back pocket, where his pace and reading of the play made him a key component of the Lions' defensive unit. His career highlight came during the war years when he featured in Fitzroy's 1944 premiership side, helping defeat Richmond in the Grand Final. He served the club with distinction for a decade, retiring as a highly respected premiership player rather than just a statistical oddity from his debut season.