Vic Thorp

Recruited from local junior club Beverley after being initially overlooked by St Kilda, Vic Thorp wasted no time establishing himself as the premier full-back of his generation. Debuting for Richmond as a teenager in 1910, he quickly became the anchor of the Tigers' defence, holding the post for 16 seasons. Nicknamed "Flippa," Thorp was renowned not just for his close-checking defensive work, but for his constructive play; he famously used magnificent long drop kicks to turn defence into attack, clearing the ball well beyond the danger zone. Unlike many defenders of the era who relied on brute force, Thorp was scrupulously fair, relying on superior judgement, strong marking, and an uncanny ability to read the play to intercept opposition attacks.

Thorp was a pivotal figure in Richmond’s first golden era, playing a crucial role in the club's back-to-back premierships in 1920 and 1921. His standing in the game was such that he was twice named "Champion of the Colony" (in 1916 and 1919), an accolade regarded as the pre-Brownlow Medal equivalent of the league's highest individual honour. He enjoyed legendary duels with Collingwood’s champion goalkicker Dick Lee, who later declared Thorp the greatest defender he ever faced. His legacy at Punt Road is absolute; he was named full-back in Richmond's Team of the Century, was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and holds the elevated status of a club "Immortal."