Harry Herbert

Recruited from Warrnambool as a highly touted teenager, Harry Herbert was a versatile utility capable of playing as a second ruck or pushing forward to hit the scoreboard. He made an immediate impact upon his debut as a 17-year-old in 1952, featuring prominently during Geelong's historic record-breaking unbeaten run. However, his time at Kardinia Park was defined by wretched luck; he was forced to withdraw from the 1952 Grand Final side due to a severe bout of dermatitis, an ailment reportedly exacerbated by his occupation as a wool classer. Although he returned to play consistent football over the next few seasons, a broken leg sustained in the final round of 1955 effectively curtailed his prime, leaving him as a valuable contributor to a golden era who was cruelly denied a premiership medallion.