Ron Nalder

Recruited from the Maryborough Football Club in central Victoria, Ron Nalder arrived at Glenferrie Oval as a teenager and quickly established himself as a durable and versatile utility. Capable of playing effectively across the centre, half-forward, and half-back lines, he became a fixture of the Hawthorn side during the club's transformative years under John Kennedy Snr. After initially wearing number 33, his growing standing within the team saw him inherit the number 3 guernsey, which he wore with distinction during the Hawks' first golden era.

Nalder cemented his place in club history as a member of Hawthorn's breakthrough 1961 premiership team. Selected as the 19th man for the Grand Final against Footscray, he came off the bench to kick a goal, helping the club secure its maiden VFL flag. He remained a vital contributor in the seasons that followed, producing perhaps his finest individual campaign in 1963, where he was named among the Hawks' best players in their Grand Final loss to Geelong. He retired in 1966 as a respected figure who helped bridge the gap between Hawthorn’s early struggles and its emergence as a league powerhouse.