Jim Shanahan

Recruited from Horsham while serving as a police constable, Western Australian-born Jim Shanahan established himself as a tough, aggressive defender at Collingwood. A solid back pocket and half-back flanker, he was known for his willingness to crunch into packs and his ability to clear the ball long out of defence. He became a fixture in the Magpies' backline, playing in the losing 1925 and 1926 Grand Finals, but his career took a bizarre turn in 1927 when he was unexpectedly cleared to Carlton just days before the season began. He managed only two senior games for the Blues before returning to Victoria Park midway through the year to play in the reserves' finals series. After concluding his VFL career with two seasons at Fitzroy, Shanahan's football journey met a final administrative hurdle in 1931 when he was appointed coach of Williamstown, only to be forced to resign when the Chief Commissioner ruled that serving police officers were forbidden from holding coaching positions.