Jack Crane

Recruited from Preston after a stint with the South Melbourne seconds, "Storky" Crane had one of the most unusual starts to a VFL career on record. He made an immediate impact for Essendon in 1936, booting five goals on debut as a full-forward, but managed just one more senior game for the club before a heated dispute with a teammate saw him clear out to Richmond. The move proved decisive, as Crane settled at Punt Road to become a fixture of the Tigers' lineup, stringing together 68 consecutive appearances during his prime.

While he arrived as a forward, Crane made his name as a versatile key position player, using his height, strong marking hands, and long kick to anchor the Tigers' defence. He played at centre half-back in Richmond's losing 1940 Grand Final side, though he had spent much of that season swinging forward to kick 21 goals. His career was interrupted by World War II army service in 1943, but he returned to the VFL in 1945 for a final two-year stint with North Melbourne, where he played alongside his brother Tom before eventually moving into coaching with Caulfield.