Johnny Francis Lewis

A colossus of his era, Johnny Lewis was a towering ruckman who bridged North Melbourne’s transition from the VFA to the VFL. Standing 191cm and weighing nearly 100kg—immense proportions for the 1920s—he was a foundation player for the Kangaroos, famously booting the match-winning goal in the club’s historic first VFL victory against Geelong in 1925. Far more than just a brute force in the ruck, Lewis possessed surprising mobility and goal sense, topping North’s goalkicking list twice and serving as captain-coach in 1930. His journey was as rugged as his playstyle; he famously took a hiatus in the late 1920s to work as a shearer in New South Wales before returning to dominate the competition, culminating in a Best and Fairest award in 1935.

Despite winning the club champion award at age 34, Lewis was deemed past his prime by North Melbourne, prompting a move to the Melbourne Football Club in 1936. The Demons saw value in the veteran, and he rewarded their faith by becoming the oldest debutant in the club's history—a record that still stands. He played three serviceable seasons in the red and blue, adding grit to their lineup before a broken arm forced his retirement in 1938. Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, Lewis remains an iconic figure as one of the original "Shinboners" and a dedicated trade unionist in his post-football life.