Les Fairbairn

Born into a family with unique literary connections—his grandfather was a cousin of the famous Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle—Les Fairbairn was a product of the prestigious Geelong Grammar football nursery. He made his senior debut for the Pivotonians as a fresh-faced 17-year-old in 1906, but his initial taste of VFL action was brief; he stepped away from the league for three seasons, likely to complete his education or attend to family business. Returning to Corio Oval in 1910, Fairbairn established himself as a versatile and durable utility who, despite standing just 177cm, frequently battled in the follower division and even pinch-hit in the ruck against larger opponents. He became a consistent figure in the Geelong lineup during the pre-war era, playing his final game in the last round of 1914 just as the competition faced the upheaval of the First World War.