Matt Paternoster

Recruited to Fitzroy in 1901 as one half of a package deal, Matt Paternoster arrived from the VFA ranks at Richmond alongside his older brother, Jim. While Jim was the more experienced campaigner at the lower level, it was the uncapped Berwick native who made the greater impact in the VFL, earning a debut in the season opener against Carlton and holding his spot in the senior side for 12 matches. Standing 179cm—a solid height for the era—Paternoster was a consistent contributor during the first half of the season, booting four goals for a Maroons outfit that was fresh off a dominant era. Despite his reliability during the home-and-away rounds, his career ended abruptly after July; he did not feature in Fitzroy's semi-final campaign and left the league after a single season, leaving behind a brief legacy as a first-year regular who outlasted his sibling at the elite level.