Wally Culpitt

Born in Western Australia but recruited locally from East Hawthorn, Wally Culpitt became one of Hawthorn's most versatile key position players during the 1940s. While he commenced his VFL career in the backline, the club swung him forward in 1943 with immediate success. Culpitt reinvented himself as a formidable spearhead, topping the club's goalkicking for two consecutive seasons with 43 goals in 1943 and 57 in 1944. His ability to hold down key posts at either end of the ground made him an invaluable asset for the side during the disruptive war years.

Despite his prowess in front of goal, Culpitt arguably played his finest football after returning to defence. He developed into one of the league's premier full-backs, a transformation that saw him selected to represent Victoria at the 1947 Hobart Carnival. His dominance in the back half was further recognised that same season when he won Hawthorn's Best and Fairest award and finished equal third in the Brownlow Medal count. Culpitt left the club in 1949 to pursue captain-coaching opportunities in country Victoria, leaving a legacy as a high-quality swingman who excelled wherever he was magneted.