Peter McKenna

Recruited from West Heidelberg, Peter McKenna became one of the VFL's first true superstars, balancing a prolific on-field record with immense off-field popularity. Unlike the brute-strength full-forwards of his era, McKenna was a technician who relied on blistering speed to separate from defenders and safe hands to mark on the lead. He was a pioneer in kicking mechanics, almost exclusively favouring the drop punt over the then-standard torpedo or flat punt, which resulted in extraordinary accuracy. This reliability helped him post consecutive seasons of 130-plus goals in the early 1970s, making him the absolute focal point of the Collingwood attack.

Despite his legendary status at Victoria Park, McKenna's exit was acrimonious. Following a serious kidney injury and a deterioration in his relationship with the club administration, he sat out the entire 1976 season. In a transfer that rattled the Magpie Army, he crossed to arch-rivals Carlton for the 1977 season. While his time with the Blues was restricted to just 11 games, it marked a quiet end to a dazzling career. He retired with a remarkable average of 4.6 goals per game, leaving a legacy as one of the most consistent and dangerous forwards to ever play the game.