Ron Cabble

Recruited from Caulfield Grammar, Ron Cabble was a handy forward pocket and half-forward flanker who played a specific but memorable role in Hawthorn’s emergence as a VFL powerhouse. He etched his name into club folklore during the Hawks’ historic first-ever finals appearance—the 1957 First Semi-Final against Carlton—where he was named among the best players and booted three crucial goals in a famous hailstorm-affected victory. Despite that breakout performance, Cabble struggled to cement a permanent spot in John Kennedy Sr’s rapidly improving lineup, often finding himself on the fringes as the club marched toward its maiden 1961 premiership. While he missed out on senior flag glory, he remained a vital contributor to the club’s depth, featuring in back-to-back Reserves premierships in 1958 and 1959 before a chronic knee injury forced his premature retirement in 1962.