Jack Symons

Recruited from Nhill in the Wimmera district, Jack Symons was a tenacious rover and half-forward who carved out a unique place in VFL history through a mid-career transfer. He arrived at Richmond in 1934 and became a consistent goal-kicking option for the Tigers, utilising his pace and anticipation to impact the scoreboard regularly. His decade-long service at Punt Road culminated in the 1943 premiership victory, where he helped the Tigers overcome Essendon to secure the flag. However, despite being a premiership player, a dispute with the Richmond committee midway through the 1944 season saw him controversially cleared to Fitzroy.

Symons' move to Brunswick Street resulted in an extraordinary historical statistical quirk. Upon joining Fitzroy, he immediately bolstered their lineup and faced his former teammates in the 1944 Grand Final. When Fitzroy triumphed over Richmond by 15 points, Symons achieved the rare distinction of winning back-to-back premierships with two different clubs, defeating the team he had won a flag with just 12 months prior. He played two more seasons with the Maroons before retiring, remembered as a serviceable utility whose career was defined by its remarkable and triumphant second act.