Reg Gibson

Recruited from Kilsyth, Reg Gibson was a tall forward who faced the daunting task of breaking into Collingwood’s powerhouse lineup during the 1930s. Standing 184cm, he possessed the physical attributes of a key position player, but with the legendary Gordon Coventry occupying the goal square, Gibson found senior opportunities scarce. He was a consistent performer in the reserves, eventually forcing his way into the senior side for sporadic appearances across three seasons—including the premiership years of 1935 and 1936—though he could never quite cement a permanent spot in the starting XVIII. After departing Victoria Park, he spent nearly five years out of the league before making a solitary cameo for South Melbourne in 1941, a brief return that occurred just before he joined the Royal Australian Navy to serve in World War II.