1. Bob Skilton
Skilton was South Melbourne's best player for most of his 237 games. But he never came close to being part of a premiership. The triple Brownlow medallist won nine club best and fairests yet did not appear in a final until 1970, his second last season with the club. South Melbourne lost that game and Skilton's career ended in round 22, 1971. Became a Hall of Fame Legend in 1996.

2. Nathan Buckley
A Norm Smith Medal and two Grand Final appearances shows how close the Collingwood champion came to playing in a premiership but he finished his 280-game career with that dream unfulfilled. It must have been even more disappointing when both Grand Final losses happened against Buckley's first club Brisbane, with whom he played 20 games in his first season. The brilliant midfielder won a Brownlow Medal and six best and fairests at Collingwood and became a great captain but he would not be involved in a premiership until 2010 when he was an assistant coach at Collingwood.

3. Gary Ablett snr
Four losing Grand Finals and one of the greatest individual performances ever in a Grand Final make Gary Ablett snr one of the unluckiest champions to never play in a premiership. His nine-goal, Norm Smith Medal winning performance in 1989 was the closest he came to being a premiership player. The Cats lost that game by six points, and then lost in 1992 by 28 points, 1994 by 80 points and in 1995 by 61 points. Some argue the individual nature of Ablett was part of the Cats' problem while others passionately defend his role in bringing the Cats close on more than one occasion.

4. Tony Lockett
That the game's greatest ever goalkicker never played in a premiership may lend weight to those who argue multiple avenues to goal are essential if premierships are to be won. However Lockett was unlucky, playing brilliantly in big games, including six goals in his only Grand Final appearance in 1996 while playing for the Sydney Swans. A Brownlow Medal, three club best and fairests and four Coleman Medals plus a games record 1360 goals from 281 games (183 games/898 goals with St Kilda and 98/462 with Sydney) show his individual brilliance and it's impossible to think of his presence as anything but a positive when it comes to premiership aspirations. Alas it was not to be, the champ revered at both St Kilda and the Swans but not a premiership player at either.

5. Len Thompson
Made his debut in the 1965 preliminary final aged just 18 and played in four Grand Finals, including a draw, without being a premiership player. In 1966 he rucked in a team that lost by a point. In 1970 he watched a 44-point half-time lead turn into a 10-point loss then he was part of the draw (followed by a loss) in 1977. He won the 1972 Brownlow Medal and five best and fairests to be the number one ruckman in the competition in the early '70s, his mobility around the ground revolutionising the role.

6. Robert Harvey
The dual Brownlow medallist and four-time best and fairest winner was an uncomplaining soul who just kept running and running as he tried to land an elusive flag for the Saints. He was the only player in history to play for 21 seasons, the possibilities always apparent but the premiership never landing. Three times he won an EJ Whitten Medal, his performances during State of Origin reflecting his ability, yet only once had the chance to perform in a Grand Final. That was in 1997, the year of his first Brownlow Medal and despite being battered in the decider he performed well. He played in four preliminary finals but no flags.

7. Bernie Quinlan
Quinlan did not play in a Grand Final in 18 seasons and 366 games with Footscray and Fitzroy, the closest 'Superboot' came was in his last game when Fitzroy lost the 1986 preliminary final by 56 points to Hawthorn. Quinlan won the 1981 Brownlow Medal (tied with Barry Round) and was Coleman medallist twice, kicking 100 goals in a season twice. He never won a club best and fairest, runner-up to other unlucky non-premiership players Garry Wilson, Ron Alexander, Matt Rendell and Paul Roos. 

8. Haydn Bunton snr
On the basis that triple Brownlow medallists without premierships gain automatic entry to such a list, Haydn Bunton senior is included. He played 119 games over eight seasons without playing in a final and earned 122 Brownlow votes along the way. The closest his Fitzroy teams came to making the finals was in 1933 when the club finished fifth, half a game out of the four. Bunton became a Hall of Fame Legend in 1996.

9. Robert Flower
Cruelly denied any chance to play in a Grand Final when Hawthorn kicked a goal after the siren in the 1987 preliminary final to win the game, Flower played in only one finals series during a brilliant 272-game career. The silky-skilled Flower twice finished third in the 1979 and 1984 Brownlow Medals and only won one best and fairest but his loyalty and talent kept Melbourne supporters interested during a bleak period for the club. When the Demons began making their fairytale charge late in 1987, Flower - in his last season and aged 32 - provided the romance.

10. Kevin Murray
After 18 seasons, 333 games and a brilliant career that yielded a Brownlow Medal and nine best and fairest awards at Fitzroy, Murray had to retire in 1974 without a premiership to his name. His two finals matches came in 1960, 97 and 98 games into his career. Fitzroy lost the second semi-final to Melbourne then fell just five points short of Collingwood in the preliminary final. Murray was elevated to Hall of Fame legend status in 2010.

Honourable mentions
Roy Cazaly (St Kilda/South Melbourne)
Jimmy Stynes (Melbourne)
Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
Lenny Hayes (St Kilda)
Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs)
Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
Scott West (Western Bulldogs)
Chris Grant (Western Bulldogs)
Garry Lyon (Melbourne)
Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs)
Peter McKenna (Collingwood/Carlton)
Paul Roos (Fitzroy/Sydney Swans)
Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

Peter Ryan is a senior writer with the Slattery Media Group

The Book of Footy Lists is published by the Slattery Media Group. RRP $25. Available from all good bookstores and AFL Stores.