Don Rainsford

A towering ruckman hailing from Tasmania, Don Rainsford arrived at Princes Park in 1959 with a reputation forged at Burnie and Scottsdale. His recruitment was heavily influenced by former Blue Fred Davies and facilitated by coach Ken Hands, who enticed the 189cm talent to cross Bass Strait with the promise of a radio career at 3UZ, a station owned by Carlton benefactor Oliver J. Nilsen. While Rainsford managed to break into the senior side for three games in his debut season, the demands of his dual life quickly became untenable; he was famously known to change into his playing kit at the studio before racing to the ground. Ultimately, his employer issued an ultimatum between the microphone and the guernsey, and Rainsford chose the former, retiring from VFL football to forge a successful media career as a prominent voice-over artist for the Seven Network.