Ken Mulhall

Recruited from East Malvern, Ken Mulhall was a barrel-chested workhorse who became a central figure for St Kilda during a lean era for the club. His path to the Saints was somewhat unusual; he later joked that he only signed with the club because he felt sorry for the recruiter, who tirelessly cycled to his local matches to woo him. While he started his VFL career primarily as a key forward, Mulhall eventually found his niche in the ruck, where he formed a formidable partnership with triple Best and Fairest winner Jim Ross. The two were perfect foils for one another, with Ross famed for his high-flying aerial work and Mulhall operating as the "iron streak" at ground level, physically imposing himself on contests to clear a path for his teammates.

Mulhall was the definition of an honest, club-first footballer, evidenced by his internal club awards for "Most Unselfish" and "Most Determined." Though not a permanent skipper, he provided crucial leadership, captaining the side on seven occasions for a creditable four wins. His career ended on a bittersweet but selfless note in 1957; after recovering from a rib injury, he agreed to drop to the reserves to help the seconds side in their finals campaign, as the seniors had missed out. His sporting legacy extended well beyond his own playing days, as he later captain-coached Bentleigh and became the father of Gael Martin, an Olympic bronze medallist and dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist in track and field.