Frank Curcio

Recruited from the Christian Young Men's Society in 1931, Frank Curcio was a pioneering figure in VFL history as the first player of Italian heritage to become a genuine star of the competition. He was a player of remarkable contrast: on the field, he was a "tough as nails" ruckman and defender renowned for physically protecting his smaller teammates; off the field, he was an accomplished professional musician who played the double bass. This dual career famously led him to sit out the entire 1937 season to focus on his music, and he was known to tell opponents, "Hit me as hard as you like, but don't hurt my fingers."

Curcio's career was defined by longevity and loyalty, though he was denied the ultimate success by circumstance. He captained the Gorillas from 1938 to 1941 but missed the club's 1944 premiership triumph while serving in New Guinea during World War II. In a cruel twist, he later broke his fingers in a wartime services match, ending his musical career but allowing him to return to football for several more years. He retired in 1948 as the first Fitzroy player to reach 200 games, setting a club games record that stood for 23 years. His standing as one of the Lions' greats was cemented with his selection in the back pocket of the Fitzroy Team of the Century.