John Sudholz

Recruited from Rupanyup in the Wimmera, John Sudholz was a colossus of a full-forward who dominated the goal square for South Melbourne in the late 1960s. Standing 193cm and weighing nearly 100kg, "Sudsy" used his imposing physical presence and vice-like grip to control the air, topping the club's goalkicking for four consecutive seasons from 1967 to 1970. A traditionalist in his kicking style, he favored accurate flat punts and torpedoes over the emerging drop punt, a technique that helped him boot a career-high 60 goals during the Swans' 1970 finals campaign. His VFL tenure was cut short at just 25 when family duty called him back to the farm, depriving the league of a forward entering his absolute prime. Post-football, he established a significant legacy off the field as a dedicated mental health advocate for farmers, working with Beyond Blue to destigmatize depression in rural Australia.