Gil Langley

Best known to the wider sporting public as Australia’s Test wicketkeeper in the 1950s, Gil Langley was arguably an even better footballer who stands as a legend of the Sturt Football Club in the SANFL. A prolific goal-kicking rover described as a "pocket battleship" for his sturdy build and combative nature, Langley’s brief VFL cameo occurred solely due to World War II service; while stationed in Melbourne for munitions work, he joined Essendon for four games in 1943, famously featuring as a reserve in that year's Grand Final loss to Richmond. He eventually returned to South Australia where he captained Sturt, won two Best and Fairest awards, and booted over 300 goals, achieving the rare distinction of captaining his club in both senior football and cricket before embarking on a long post-sporting career as the Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly.