Ken Turner

Born into a family with deep Magpie heritage, Ken Turner was a local product from Collingwood Tech who overcame a significant early hurdle to reach the VFL. After chronic heel injuries forced him to abandon football for tennis at age 14, his career was effectively over until a stint of National Service at Puckapunyal reignited his path. While stationed there, he impressed Carlton champion John James during casual kick-to-kick sessions, and with that vote of confidence, Turner returned to Victoria Park. Although he faced the axe early in his tenure, he fought his way back to become a permanent fixture in the senior side, famously saving his best performances for the biggest stages.

A high-flying wingman and half-forward, Turner was renowned as a "big game player" who thrived in wet conditions. His reputation was cemented during the famous 1958 finals series, where he completely eclipsed North Melbourne star Laurie Dwyer in the Preliminary Final before being named among the best afield in the muddy Grand Final upset over Melbourne. A reliable mark for his size and a raking left-foot kick, he went on to represent Victoria seven times and serve as the club's deputy vice-captain. His legacy was further enshrined decades later when his son, Jamie Turner, played in the 1990 premiership, making them the only father-son duo in history to feature in successive Collingwood flag-winning sides.