Ted Fay

Recruited from West Coburg, Ted Fay was a sturdy key defender capable of holding down both full-back and centre half-back with his strong marking and reliable kicking. While he showed early promise at Essendon—even slotting his lone career goal on debut against Melbourne—a nagging foot injury in 1933 hampered his continuity at League level. Fay eventually departed for the VFA, establishing himself as a star at Brunswick where he claimed the 1941 Recorder Cup (the precursor to the J.J. Liston Trophy) as the competition's best and fairest player. His relationship with the Bombers remained complicated after his exit, as the club repeatedly refused his clearance requests to join Melbourne and South Melbourne in the late 1930s. Following service with the RAAF during World War II, Fay briefly trained with Melbourne's senior list without playing a game before returning to Brunswick to close out his football journey.