Lindsay Bristow

A young farmer recruited from Allansford in the country’s west, Lindsay Bristow arrived at Victoria Park in 1909 showing immediate potential as a versatile swingman capable of impacting contests at both ends of the ground. He made his debut in Round 2 and held his spot for the following week against Carlton, where observers noted his ability to play both as a defender and forward. However, his promising start was abruptly derailed during that clash with the Blues when he suffered a severe ankle injury; an attempt to train on the damaged instep the following week caused it to give way entirely, ending his VFL career after just two appearances. While his time in black and white was fleeting, Bristow later distinguished himself on a different field, serving with the 13th Light Horse Regiment during World War I—where he was awarded a Military Cross for bravery—before serving his country again during the Second World War.