Thorold Merrett

Recruited from Cobden, Thorold Merrett arrived at Victoria Park as a teenager and quickly overcame his diminutive stature to become one of the premier wingmen of the 1950s. Renowned for his electric pace and exceptional ball use, he was widely regarded as a master of the drop kick and the stab pass, capable of hitting leading forwards with lace-out precision. While primarily a wingman, his ability to read the play and deliver the ball effectively made him a versatile threat who could rotate through the forward line or rove with equal impact.

Merrett's decade-long tenure at Collingwood yielded significant team success, seeing him play pivotal roles in both the 1953 and 1958 premiership sides. His individual brilliance was recognised late in his career with back-to-back E.W. Copeland Trophies as the club's best and fairest in 1958 and 1959, alongside regular selection for the Victorian state team. His standing at the club was cemented when he was named on the wing in Collingwood's Team of the Century and inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, remembered as one of the finest kicks the game has ever seen.