Max Rippon

Recruited from Heatherton, Max Rippon was a persistent wingman who navigated a journeyman’s path during the war years before finally establishing himself as a premier player at St Kilda. He initially struggled to cement a senior spot, managing just a handful of unmemorable appearances for Fitzroy and South Melbourne across 1943 and 1944. However, he found his true home at the Junction Oval, where he became a regular fixture in the Saints' lineup immediately upon his arrival in 1945—a season notable for the rare family distinction of playing alongside his own uncle, Ted Rippon. His dash and skill on the wing were highly regarded, culminating in selection for Victoria against South Australia in 1946, a prestigious honour that cemented his status as one of the competition's quality midfielders of the era before he eventually departed to join Brighton in the VFA.