Dean Greig

A powerful midfielder who waited years for his opportunity at the top level, Dean Greig is best remembered for producing arguably the greatest statistical debut in VFL/AFL history. After captaining Hawthorn’s under-19s and winning their best and fairest in 1985, Greig was unable to crack the Hawks' senior list and eventually found himself dominating the VFA with Camberwell, where he was a standout in a struggling side. St Kilda offered the 22-year-old a lifeline via the 1991 Pre-Season Draft, and he repaid their faith immediately in Round 21 of that year against Carlton. In a match famous for Tony Lockett’s 13-goal haul, Greig amassed a record-breaking 39 disposals (with some club sources recording 41) to set a new benchmark for a first-game player. A thickset, contested ball-winner who thrived in the pack, Greig looked set for a long career as a midfield engine room operator, but persistent hamstring issues and a severe knee injury forced him into premature retirement after just 33 games.