-------------------------------------------------------
Video: Tuddenham: a fearless Magpie leader
-------------------------------------------------------

Des Tuddenham
Played 251 games, kicking 317 goals for Collingwood and Essendon, 1962-1977
Played in 15 finals, kicking 23 goals
53 career Brownlow Medal votes
Collingwood best and fairest 1963
Collingwood captain 1966-69, 1976
Essendon captain 1972-75
State representative on five occasions
Coached Essendon 1972-1975
Coached South Melbourne 1978
Collingwood Team of the Century

PREMIERSHIP glory was one of the few things to elude Des Tuddenham in an illustrious playing career spanning 16 years.

While 'Tuddy' spent time at Collingwood, Essendon and even a season coaching at South Melbourne in 1978 once he had retired, it was with his beloved Magpies where the courageous ballwinner forged his name.

Tuddenham arrived at Collingwood in 1962 and won a Copeland Trophy the following year. The fearless little man was appointed captain at Victoria Park in 1966 but, despite his inspirational leadership, the Magpies would go down in the Grand Final that year to St Kilda by the smallest possible margin in one of the game's most memorable Grand Finals.

Tuddenham's own career continued to blossom, as the skipper set about building a formidable partnership with champion Magpies ruckman Len Thompson.

He eventually left Collingwood at the end of 1971 – following three heartbreaking Grand Final losses – to captain-coach Essendon.

However, after four years in the red and black, he returned to captain the Magpies in 1976 and would eventually hang up his boots the following season.