Ken Carlon

Recruited from Greensborough, Ken Carlon was a mature-age debutant whose entry into VFL football was delayed by his service in the Australian Army during World War II. He first trained with the Demons in 1946 but had to wait until 1949 to earn his senior guernsey, eventually breaking into the side as a utility player. Despite managing 30 games over two seasons, Carlon often found himself on the fringe of the starting lineup and was named as the 19th man on 11 separate occasions during his final year. His leadership qualities were nonetheless highly regarded at the club; he captained the Melbourne reserves for two seasons after his senior opportunities dried up, before moving on to coach Rennie in New South Wales and Cornwall in Tasmania. Carlon established a lasting legacy off the field, returning to the Demons as a recruiting officer and serving as a committeeman for nearly a decade during the 1970s.