Gordon Collis

Recruited from Healesville, Gordon Collis arrived at Princes Park under dramatic circumstances, having originally signed with Fitzroy before a Carlton official intervened and tore up the paperwork. Distinctive for his red hair and strong physique, he developed into a premier centre half-back who combined aerial dominance with the agility of a smaller man. His individual zenith came in 1964 when he won the Brownlow Medal, a remarkable achievement given the Blues finished near the bottom of the ladder that season. Collis famously credited his rapid improvement to prescription contact lenses, which fixed undiagnosed vision issues that had previously plagued his timing in marking contests. Unfortunately, his career was curtailed by persistent illness and injury, forcing him to retire at just 26 but leaving him with an indelible legacy as a club Hall of Famer and league best-and-fairest winner.