George Lenne

Arriving at the Demons via a complicated recruitment saga that involved clearance disputes between the VFL and VFA, George Lenne eventually secured his spot at Melbourne during the tumultuous World War II era. Originally hailing from the Camberwell ranks, he broke into the senior side in 1941 as a medium-sized utility who settled primarily into a defensive role. His football journey was heavily interrupted by global conflict, with Lenne putting his career on hold to serve with the RAAF for two seasons before returning for a final handful of appearances in 1945. While his playing tally remained modest, his impact on the club was profound and long-lasting; Lenne became a dedicated administrator, serving as chairman of the reserves and a board member during the 1970s, eventually becoming one of the club's oldest living life members and a revered link to the wartime generation.