George Topping

Recruited from Carlton Juniors, George Topping was a lightly framed but dangerous forward who played a vital role in the Blues’ golden era under Jack Worrall. A sharp-witted player with excellent goal sense and strong marking ability for his size, Topping was a permanent fixture in the forward line during Carlton’s historic hat-trick of premierships between 1906 and 1908. He was often the finisher for the club's dominant midfield, topping the club's goalkicking in 1909 and proving himself a consistent threat near the big sticks.

Topping's career took a sensational turn in 1910 following an ugly incident against South Melbourne, where he struck defender Bert Streckfuss behind play. The resulting melee required police intervention to escort Topping from the ground, and the VFL tribunal handed him a massive suspension that ruled him out for the remainder of 1910 and the entire 1911 season. In one of the game's more unusual career pivots, Topping briefly served as a VFL field umpire during his hiatus from playing. He eventually returned to the field for the Blues as a veteran, playing sporadically until his retirement in 1916.