Reg Ryan

Recruited from the Victoria Brewery side, Reg "Dodger" Ryan endured a winding path to VFL prominence that began with a faltering initial stint at North Melbourne where he managed just three games in two seasons. He found his footing in the VFA with Williamstown and made a brief wartime cameo for Collingwood in 1942 when the Association suspended competition, but his career truly ignited when he controversially crossed back to North Melbourne without a clearance in 1946. A rugged, no-nonsense key defender who relished physical contests, Ryan became the anchor of a feared Kangaroos backline that helped propel the club out of the cellar. His defensive steel at centre half-back was instrumental during the club's rise, culminating in his selection for North Melbourne's historic first-ever Grand Final side in 1950.