Peter Paterson

Recruited from Rochester via Barham, Peter Paterson was a follower and forward who arrived at Windy Hill with a glowing country reputation that he struggled to replicate consistently at the elite level. Standing 185cm, he was a tall utility for his era, capable of pinch-hitting in the ruck or drifting forward to hit the scoreboard, yet he found it difficult to cement a permanent spot in the senior lineup. His VFL career was defined by its fragmented nature, consisting of a brief stint in the late 1930s followed by a six-year hiatus before a short-lived return in 1945. Paterson's time at Essendon ended controversially during that final season when he crossed to VFA club Coburg without obtaining a clearance, abruptly closing the book on his league career after just nine games.