Vic Chanter

Vic Chanter was a stout and unyielding full-back who became a cult hero at Fitzroy during the immediate post-war era. Arriving at the Brunswick Street Oval in 1946 from the Alphington Amateurs, he had to wait until his mid-20s to make his VFL debut, likely delayed by the Second World War. Once established in the side, "Big Vic" became the anchor of the Lions' defence, known for his physical strength, close checking, and refusal to be intimidated by the League's most dangerous forwards. He was a pillar of consistency in a team that often struggled, rarely missing a game and providing a sense of security in the last line of defence.

Chanter’s place in football folklore is secured by a singular, legendary performance against Essendon's John Coleman. In Round 10 of the 1952 season, on a muddy Fitzroy ground, Chanter became the only full-back in VFL history to keep the prolific Coleman goalless in a completed match. It was a defensive masterclass that remains one of the club's most celebrated individual feats. His standing at Fitzroy was further cemented when he won the club's Best and Fairest award in 1951, a rare honour for a full-back and a testament to his value as a reliable, contested beast in an era dominated by high-scoring forwards.