Dave Smith

Born into a devout footballing family, Dave "Soaker" Smith was a Richmond native who was forced to look elsewhere to start his VFL career, as the Tigers were still competing in the VFA at the time. He joined Essendon in 1903 and established himself as one of the era's most versatile players, capable of lining up anywhere from full-back to full-forward. A pioneer of the modern "ruck-rover" role, Smith was renowned for his blistering speed, strong marking hands, and a kicking action so technically perfect that The Argus photographed it to use as an instructional guide for schools across Australia. His leadership at Windy Hill was absolute, culminating in his captaincy of the 1911 premiership side.

Smith's football resume might have been even more decorated had he not been a dual-code star; he missed Essendon's 1912 flag to tour England with the Australian Test cricket team. After more than a decade in the red and black, he finally secured a clearance to his home club, Richmond, in 1914. However, the homecoming was short-lived. Hampered by knee issues that required surgery, the veteran managed just a single senior appearance for the Tigers before hanging up his boots, leaving behind a legacy as Essendon's first-ever centurion goalkicker and one of the club's finest pre-war leaders.