Vic Castles

Recruited from Benalla in country Victoria, Vic Castles established himself as a dynamic goal-kicking rover for South Melbourne during the turbulent years of the Second World War. Possessing exceptional pace and a natural instinct for the goals, he was much more than a standard follower, often drifting forward to finish with a strike rate superior to many full-time forwards of the era. His time at the Lakeside Oval was highlighted by his selection for Victoria and his participation in the infamous 1945 "Bloodbath" Grand Final against Carlton, a match defined by its extreme physicality where the Swans ultimately fell short.

Castles proved to be a consistent servant for the club, rarely missing matches and providing a spark through the midfield and half-forward line. He reached exactly 100 games in his final season in 1947, opting to leave the VFL shortly after to continue his career in Western Australia with West Perth. While his time in the league was relatively brief by modern standards, he departed as a representative player and a highly respected small man who carried a significant portion of South Melbourne's attacking load in the mid-1940s.