Don Grossman

Recruited from Port Melbourne in the VFA, Don Grossman was a formidable ruckman and defender whose uncompromising style was underpinned by his background as an amateur boxer. His VFL career was interrupted by RAAF service during World War II, causing him to miss the entire 1943 season, but he returned to become a central figure in South Melbourne's 1945 campaign. Grossman is best remembered for his involvement in the infamous "Bloodbath" Grand Final against Carlton, where the rugged utility was reported for striking and subsequently served an eight-week suspension. Despite establishing himself as a key physical presence for the Swans, he turned his back on the VFL while still in his prime, departing the Lakeside Oval at age 26 to accept a lucrative captain-coaching role in Warrnambool, where he went on to forge a lasting legacy as a country football icon.