Keith Batchelor

Recruited from Murrumbeena, Keith Batchelor was the son of former Magpie Vin Batchelor and endured a stilted initiation to VFL football that included a brief, game-less stint on Carlton's list before returning to Victoria Park. A physically imposing key-position swingman, he famously made his senior debut in the 1952 Grand Final at full-back, where he was tasked with stopping Geelong star George Goninon. While the Pies lost that day, Batchelor redeemed himself the following season by shifting to the other end of the ground, booting four goals from full-forward in Collingwood’s 1953 Premiership victory. Defined by his vigorous aerial contests and ability to play at either end of the spine, injury woes eventually saw him cross to North Melbourne in 1956. He managed another 21 games at Arden Street—equaling his tally at Victoria Park—mostly in defence before retiring as a Premiership player who packed a career's worth of highs into a brief tenure.