George Gibbs

Although born in Carlton, George Gibbs was a Collingwood local at heart who worked in the suburb's boot factories before eventually finding his way to Victoria Park following a short stint at Fitzroy. Regarded by some as a "Fitzroy reject" upon his arrival in 1929, the vigorous follower and forward immediately silenced critics, winning the club's best first-year player award with his heavy shepherding and boxing prowess. However, Gibbs’ career became defined by agonizing misfortune during the Magpies' famous "Machine" era. In 1929, he played in the Semi-Final loss to Richmond but was sensationally dropped for the Grand Final—allegedly for failing to retaliate when skipper Syd Coventry was felled in the previous match. History repeated itself in 1930; after fighting back from a broken wrist sustained in a motorcycle accident to play in the preliminary Final against Geelong, he was again omitted from the premiership-deciding Challenge Match. He never played another VFL game, leaving him as a pivotal contributor to two dominant campaigns who was cruelly denied a place in both premiership sides.