Jock Fahey

Recruited from Numurkah in the Murray Football League, Jock Fahey arrived at South Melbourne in 1932 just as the club was assembling its formidable "Foreign Legion." A solid utility capable of playing key roles at both ends of the ground, he later proved his quality as a dominant centre half-back in country leagues. Fahey played regular senior football but struggled to cement a permanent place in a star-studded lineup that included legends like Bob Pratt and Laurie Nash. His timing was luckless; he featured six times during the 1933 premiership season without making the Grand Final side, and a workplace accident where he scalded his foot forced him out of the 1934 finals campaign. He departed the VFL to captain-coach Warrnambool to a maiden premiership in 1935 before returning to helm Numurkah the following season. His promising life was cut short in tragic circumstances in 1936 when he was killed in a collision with a car while cycling home, aged just 24.