Vince Coutie

Recruited from Leopold, Vin Coutie arrived at Melbourne in 1901, narrowly missing the club's premiership triumph the previous season. He played his football as a pure amateur and quickly became the focal point of the attack during a lean decade for the Redlegs. While the team struggled to make an impact on the ladder and failed to reach the finals during his tenure, Coutie was a consistent standout, using his prowess as a strong-marking forward to regularly hit the scoreboard in a low-scoring era.

Coutie's individual quality was recognised when he topped the VFL goalkicking list in 1904, becoming the first Melbourne player to achieve the distinction. He led the club's goalkicking three times in total and represented Victoria, eventually earning the club captaincy in 1907 and again for the 1910 and 1911 seasons. A talented all-round athlete who was also a champion swimmer, he retired midway through 1911 just prior to his wedding, leaving a legacy as a rare shining light during one of the club's difficult periods.