Russell Jessop

Recruited from local club Thornbury, Russell Jessop arrived at Victoria Park as a teenager and quickly found success in the lower grades, playing on the wing in the 1974 Under-19s premiership side alongside his brother, Gary. A mobile utility with strong hands and a fantastic vertical leap, Jessop had the ability to "play tall" despite standing just 180cm, a trait that saw him utilised across the ground from the forward flank to the back pocket. He broke into the senior side late in the 1976 season, playing three games and featuring in the Reserves premiership that same year, making him one of the rare footballers to win flags in two lower grades. Despite his versatility and promise, Jessop struggled to cement a regular senior spot in the powerful 1977 squad, adding just two more games before transferring to the VFA in 1978. He went on to forge a stellar career outside the VFL, becoming a representative star for Preston and a centurion goalkicker for Lalor in the Diamond Valley League.