Warren Dean

Recruited from Subiaco after a premiership campaign in the WAFL, Warren Dean was a mercurial talent who burned bright but briefly for the Demons during their late-80s resurgence. A highly sought-after signature with offers from nine VFL clubs, the West Australian forward snubbed Footscray to join Melbourne, making an immediate impact with his deceptive pace, strong overhead marking, and booming left foot. He became a cult hero during the fairytale 1987 season, starring with three goals in the Night Series Grand Final victory over Essendon and another three in the Elimination Final demolition of North Melbourne. However, his career was defined by a mix of brilliance and bad luck; while he played in the heartbreaking 1987 Preliminary Final loss, he was cruelly sidelined by stress fractures in his kneecap during the club's run to the 1988 Grand Final. Contract disputes and persistent knee issues saw him drafted by West Coast in the 1990 pre-season, but he failed to add to his senior tally, remaining one of the great "what if" stories of the John Northey era.