Noel Lovell

Recruited from Preston RSL after his childhood friend Peter Daicos badgered Collingwood officials to give him a trial, Noel Lovell owns one of the most unique debut stories in VFL history. A courageous and speedy utility capable of playing on the wing or in the back pocket, Lovell was plucked from obscurity to make his senior debut in the high-stakes cauldron of the 1981 Preliminary Final—the first player to debut in a penultimate final since 1965. He held his spot for the Grand Final a week later, playing on his 20th birthday, and performed well enough in those two solitary games to win the club's Best First Year Player award. Unfortunately, his career failed to launch from that extraordinary platform, as a broken collarbone in 1982 and persistent shoulder issues severely limited his continuity. He eventually crossed to Richmond in 1985 as part of the mid-80s player exchange between the two struggling powerhouses, but managed only a handful of appearances before injuries forced his early retirement.