Herb Howson

Hailing from the Victorian country town of Newstead, Herb Howson was a fleet-footed wingman who bridged the gap between the VFA and the newly formed VFL. He established himself at South Melbourne in the early 1890s, quickly becoming known for his blistering speed and clever ball use, and he engaged in a famous, scrupulously fair rivalry with Collingwood star Charlie Pannam. Howson was a fixture of the club's inaugural VFL side in 1897 and remained one of the competition's premier outside runners for over a decade, eventually shifting to the half-back line to captain the team in 1906.

His playing achievements, which included becoming the first South Melbourne player to reach 150 VFL games, were arguably eclipsed by his immense off-field contribution. A talented dual sportsman who also played first-class cricket for Victoria, Howson served as the club's secretary for 17 years—often while still playing—and later returned as a non-playing coach. He cemented his legacy by guiding the club to the 1918 premiership, famously making the match-winning move to swing veteran Vic Belcher into the ruck during the Grand Final.