Kevin Wylie

Recruited from the Alphington Amateurs, Kevin Wylie was a clever, goal-kicking rover whose VFL career was defined by a cruel stroke of misfortune just as he was establishing himself. After a brief stint in the reserves in 1953, he broke into the senior side in 1954 and immediately turned heads with a four-goal haul against Footscray in just his second match, prompting the media to label him a potential recruit of the year. However, his momentum was shattered the very next week when he suffered a broken leg that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Although he returned to play sporadically over the next two years, he struggled to recapture his pre-injury form and found it difficult to command a regular spot in a powerhouse Collingwood lineup that contested back-to-back Grand Finals. Wylie remained a prolific scorer at the lower level, winning the reserves goalkicking in 1955, but finished his senior career with 12 goals from 12 games, leaving fans to wonder what might have been had he stayed fit.