Percy Parratt

Recruited from Rose of Northcote, Percy Parratt became the tactical heartbeat of Fitzroy’s golden era, renowned more for his sharp football brain than athletic flashiness. Operating primarily across the half-forward line, he possessed an uncanny ability to read the play and lower his eyes, forming a legendary partnership with spearhead Jim Freake. Parratt was the personification of on-field intelligence, often delivering the ball to leading forwards before opponents realised possession had changed hands. His leadership qualities were immediately evident, and he assumed the role of playing coach in 1913, orchestrating the club's premiership victory in his first season at the helm.

Parratt’s career was defined by longevity and resilience, spanning three separate premiership triumphs over a decade. After leading the Maroons to flags in 1913 and the famous 1916 season, he cemented his status as a club icon during the 1922 campaign. With the side depleted by injury late in the year, the veteran answered an SOS to return to the senior lineup, capping his 195-game tenure with a third premiership medallion. A true general of the side, he captained the club in two separate stints and remains one of the few figures in VFL history to win a premiership as a playing coach.