Wally Bristowe

Recruited from East Malvern, Wally Bristowe was a rover who commenced his VFL career with Hawthorn during the early years of the Second World War. He spent three seasons at Glenferrie Oval, showing promise as a rotation player, before his tenure was interrupted by the conflict in 1943. Bristowe returned to league football the following year but switched allegiances to Fitzroy, joining the club amidst their surge toward the 1944 premiership. While he managed to break into the senior lineup for five games during that successful campaign, he could not cement a place in the formidable Gorillas roster and missed selection for the Grand Final victory over Richmond. He made fleeting appearances in 1945 before concluding his brief, war-divided career.