When Harry Vivian ‘Vic’ Cumberland returned for his fourth and final stint at St Kilda in 1920 he must have felt his age.

Of the 36 players on the field for his comeback match, 29 weren’t even born back when Cumberland started in the VFL in 1898.

Although just 182cm, Cumberland made his name as a long-kicking ruckman in a remarkable career that began in Tasmania. Upon making his move to the mainland, he appeared in 50 games with Melbourne, played 39 games and won a Magarey Medal while at Sturt in South Australia, and suited up in 126 games for the Saints. He also enjoyed a stint playing in New Zealand.

His was aged 43 years and 48 days when he lined up for his final match with St Kilda in round 16, 1920, making him the oldest ever VFL/AFL player.

Cumberland was twice named as 'Outstanding Footballer of the Year' by Melbourne's football writers. And in 1911, the year Cumberland won his Magarey, he was pivotal in his adopted state's victory at the national championships.

He was wounded three times in service in World War I, but his luck ran out just seven years after retiring as a player when he was killed in a motorcycle crash.