Jack Deas

Recruited from Leopold, Jack Deas initially struggled to establish himself at South Melbourne during the VFL's inaugural 1897 season, managing just two appearances before spending the following year out of the league. His fortunes changed drastically after a clearance to Fitzroy in 1899, where he reinvented himself as a dependable half-back flanker. Deas became a fixture in the Maroons' lineup, playing 15 consecutive games in his debut season there, culminating in the 1899 Grand Final where he tasted the ultimate success with a one-point victory over his former club. He spent two more seasons at Brunswick Street before closing out his career with a brief stint at Essendon in 1902, but he remains best remembered as a premiership defender who seized his second chance at the top level.