Mick Grace

A foundation player for Fitzroy, Mick Grace established himself as one of the competition's premier followers during the league's infancy. Playing alongside his older brother Jim, he was instrumental in the Maroons' back-to-back premierships in 1898 and 1899, playing with a flair and high-marking ability that captivated crowds. After the 1900 Grand Final loss, he departed the VFL to play in the West Australian Goldfields—a lucrative path for many Victorian footballers of the era—before being coaxed back to Melbourne by his former Fitzroy captain turned Carlton coach, Jack Worrall.

Grace’s arrival at Princes Park in 1903 was a catalyst for Carlton’s first golden era. Under Worrall’s guidance, he added goal-kicking potency to his ruck and roving work, becoming the first VFL player to boot 50 goals in a season during the Blues' dominant 1906 campaign. He secured two more flags with Carlton in 1906 and 1907, cementing his status as a "champion of the colony" who could perform on the biggest stage. He finished his career with a single season at St Kilda in 1908 as a playing coach, retiring as a four-time premiership player and one of the rare stars to achieve ultimate success at two different clubs.