Rod Austin

Recruited from the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Rod "Curly" Austin became a cult hero at Carlton for his disciplined defensive work and distinctively unorthodox kicking style. A durable backman capable of playing on both tall and small forwards, Austin relied on superior concentration and spoiling ability to nullify the opposition's most dangerous targets. He tasted the ultimate success as a key member of the 1979 premiership side, though his career narrative also carries the bittersweet note of missing the club’s back-to-back flag triumphs in 1981 and 1982 due to untimely injuries.

Austin’s most celebrated individual performance occurred in 1977, when he accomplished one of the toughest tasks in football history: keeping Hawthorn goal-kicking machine Peter Hudson goalless for an entire match. This defensive masterclass cemented his reputation as a premier stopper of his era. After playing over 200 games for the Blues, he extended his football life as a senior coach at Fitzroy during the late 1980s, while the Austin family legacy continued at Princes Park decades later when his son, Nick, was appointed to a list management role at the club.