Noel Rayson

Recruited from local club Newtown & Chilwell, Noel Rayson was a prolific left-footed full-forward who had to bide his time before becoming a VFL star. The son of former Geelong player Arthur Rayson, he joined the Cats as a teenager but found his early opportunities limited by the club’s incredible depth during their 1951 and 1952 premiership era. Blocked by established champion George Goninon, Rayson played sporadically in his first few seasons, often performing well in the reserves while waiting for a permanent opening in the senior lineup.

When he finally secured the full-forward spot, Rayson wasted no time establishing himself as one of the league's most dangerous sharpshooters. His breakout season came in 1955, where he booted 77 goals to win the VFL Leading Goalkicker award (later retrospectively awarded as a Coleman Medal). Known for his speed on the lead and accuracy on his left boot, he topped Geelong's goalkicking for two consecutive years before crossing to South Melbourne for a brief stint at the end of his career. While he missed out on premiership glory, his 1955 campaign remains a highlight in Geelong's history.