Gil Hendrie

Recruited from nearby Camberwell, Gil Hendrie secured his place in history as a member of Hawthorn's inaugural VFL side in 1925. Standing tall for the era, he played as a centre half-forward and was a key fixture in the club's first-ever match against Richmond, battling hard during the Mayblooms' difficult induction into the major league. His senior tenure was brief and interrupted, spanning just two active seasons over a three-year period, but he remained a notable local figure who later operated a bakery in the suburb. While his own tally of 17 games was modest, Hendrie’s legacy at Glenferrie Oval was cemented decades later when his grandson, John Hendrie, emerged as a dual premiership star for the club in the 1970s.