Jim Cameron

Hailing from Frankston, Jim "Joker" Cameron was a versatile utility who became a central figure in South Melbourne's first golden era. Arriving at the Lake Oval in 1903, he quickly established himself as a player capable of plugging holes anywhere on the ground, alternating between duties as a dashing defender, a follower in the ruck contests, and a damaging half-forward. His flexibility made him a "Mr Fix-it" for the Southerners, allowing the coaching staff to deploy him wherever the contest was hottest.

Cameron’s career defined the club's rise from contender to champion. After tasting the bitterness of defeat in the 1907 Grand Final against Carlton, he was instrumental in South Melbourne's historic breakthrough two years later. Playing on a half-forward flank in the 1909 decider, he was part of the famous third-quarter chain of play—alongside club legends like Vic Belcher and Charlie Ricketts—that turned the tide against the Blues to secure the club's first VFL premiership. He remained a consistent performer until his retirement in 1911, finishing his career as a centenary player and a premiership hero.