Terry Gleeson

Recruited from St Patrick's Ballarat with a background in New South Wales, Terry Gleeson was a towering ruckman whose selfless work ethic made him a cult hero during Melbourne's golden era. While his younger brother Brian went on to win a Brownlow Medal at St Kilda, Terry became the ultimate team man under Norm Smith, famously adhering to the coach's demand to "ruck 'til your nose bleeds." Lacking the silken skills of some teammates, he compensated with brute stamina and resilience, often doing the heavy lifting in the ruck contests to allow the likes of Ron Barassi—with whom he formed a potent early partnership in the reserves—to rove effectively.

Gleeson’s career was a constant battle for selection amidst a legendary squad, yet he managed to secure premiership medallions as the 19th man in both 1955 and 1956. His journey was not without drama, notably a 1958 transfer dispute with South Melbourne regarding residential zones, but he remained a Demon to see out a decade of service. Often fighting injury and the dominance of 'Big Bob' Johnson for a spot in the starting 18, Gleeson’s persistence was rewarded when he reached his 100-game milestone in the penultimate round of 1962, retiring immediately after as a Life Member and two-time premiership player.