Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott - Best and Fairest
- Guernsey No. 5
- Heritage No. 557
- 1937 - 1940, 1942
- 50 games, 31 goals
- Premierships 1939, 1940
Keith William ‘Bluey’ Truscott. It is a name that has not faded since his death more than six decades ago. Remembered and commemorated in so many ways, the strength of character and colour that ‘Bluey’ gave to all still lives on in the honouring of his spirit and achievements.
The sturdy redhead came to the Melbourne Football Club from Melbourne High School. He was a fine all-round sportsman, excelling in cricket and athletics, as well as football. He debuted for the Club in 1937, and went on to play as a half forward flanker in the 1939 and 1940 premiership sides. He was not the grandest or most skilful player, but he gave everything he had with enjoyment and great spirit, reaching the pinnacle of the game before enlisting in the RAAF towards the end of 1940.
It was from here that the Truscott legend grew. After training in Canada, he went to England as part of 452 Squadron, and fought in the Battle of Britain. It was a long way from the troubles he had with his early training, where problems with depth perception and peripheral vision threatened to ground him before he even began flying.
It was always courtesy of his enthusiasm and determination that Truscott was remembered. Posted back to Australia in 1942, he played his final game for Melbourne. Wearing No. 1 instead of his customary No. 5, he lined up as captain of the side against Richmond at Punt Road Oval. It was the last time he would wear a Melbourne guernsey.
Ultimately placed in command of No. 76 Squadron, Truscott flew at Milne Bay, in Papua, and in defence of Darwin. He was appointed Squadron Leader, and was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, as well as being Mentioned In Dispatches.
It all ended on 28 March 1943. Escorting a Catalina flying boat off Western Australia, Truscott was blinded by the glassy surface of the water, misjudged his height, and crashed. He was killed instantly. Back in England, his fiancé, Margaret, was told the news even as she planned to join ‘Bluey’ in Australia.
But he is still remembered today. Melbourne’s coach, ‘Checker’ Hughes, ensured that the Best and Fairest award was named after Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott, a character larger than life who took all that life had to offer him, with good humour and acceptance. More than sixty years on, his name is recalled with the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy, given to the best Melbourne player of the season, and the perpetual shield, also commemorating him, that is engraved with the winner’s name each season, as it has been since 1943.
Keith William ‘Bluey’ Truscott lives on as part of Melbourne forever, named as one of the Club’s 150 Playing ‘Heroes’ in June 2008.
Sid Anderson - Second Best and Fairest
- Guernsey No. 36
- Heritage No. 575
- 1939 - 1941
- 52 games, 12 goals
- Premierships 1939, 1940, 1941
An RAAF navigator, Anderson - who was also a brilliant cricketer - was a wingman who had the agility to match his height, although his light frame was sometimes a concern. Among the best at Grand Final time, playing in a memorable hattrick of flags for Melbourne, Anderson lost his life in the air over New Guinea in 1944. His fate was not known for some time, as he was listed as ‘missing, believed killed’. Anderson was named as one of the Club’s ‘150 Heroes’ in 2008.
Ron Barassi Snr - Third Best and Fairest
- Guernsey No. 31
- Heritage No. 551
- 1936 - 1940
- 58 games, 84 goals
- Premiership 1940
A courageous rover, Barassi was nineteenth man in the 1940 premiership side. Tragically, he was killed at Tobruk when he took over driving an ambulance from an ill colleague. Melbourne went on to foster the talents of his son, Ronald Junior, with the entire family at the heart of the Club. One of the central documents at the Club is the Coterie supporter group’s ‘pledge’, committing to assist the Barassi family following Ron Snr’s death. Ronald Jnr then came to Melbourne as the first example of the father-son rule, and became a legend of the game.
Ivor Warne-Smith - Fourth Best and Fairest
- Guernsey No. 14
- Heritage No. 355
- 1919, 1925 - 1932
- 146 games, 110 goals
- Premiership 1926
- Brownlow Medallist 1926, 1928
A quiet achiever who could ‘play anywhere’, Warne-Smith dominated his era, winning Brownlows in 1926 and 1928, later ruling supreme in a different role, working with the likes of Norm Smith, Albert Chadwick and Jim Cardwell to construct the Melbourne brilliance of the 1950s and 1960s. Ivor did not have a straightforward path into the game, however. He was a Gallipoli veteran, who was gassed under fire, but who also served in World War Two. Ivor went to play in Tasmania and run an apple farm after his first season with Melbourne - which included an episode during which the first year player was pelted with stones by opposition supporters. He was only persuaded to continue his career after a number of VFL clubs expressed an interest due to his starring role at the Latrobe Football Club. In 2008, he was named as a ‘150 Hero’ of the Club.
Dick Taylor - Fifth Best and Fairest
- Guernsey No. 35
- Heritage No. 404
- 1922 - 1931, 1935
- 164 games, 100 goals
- Premiership 1926
One of the finest centremen of his day, Taylor played a major part in Melbourne’s 1926 premiership success, and went on to serve as a Committee member after his retirement. A model of consistency, he played over 100 consecutive games. He wass best known for his ground skills, and during that era, his partnership with teammate Stan ‘Bunny’ Wittman heading down the MCG wing was legendary. Taylor played 15 times for Victoria, and went on to coach North Melbourne in 1932 and 1933, before heading back to resume his involvement with Melbourne. Taylor was recognised as a ‘150 Hero’ of the Club in 2008.
Norm Smith - Coach’s Award
- Guernsey No. 4
- Heritage No. 543
- 1935 - 1948
- 210 games, 546 goals
- Premierships 1939, 1940, 1941, 1948
Before he coached the Club to six premierships in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1964, ‘Smithy’ ruled supreme in Melbourne’s forward line, playing in the premierships of 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1948. The Club’s all-time leading goalkicker until surpassed by David Neitz, he dominated the game for four decades as coach, player and larger than life personality. However, when he first came to the Club, he was renowned for being unobtrusive, gradually growing into a force to be reckoned with as he made his way in the game. This extended into his seasons as coach, in which he confirmed himself as one of the most intense competitors ever seen. He is the coach of both the AFL and MFC Teams of the Century. In the ultimate recognition, the award for the best player on the ground on Grand Final Day is named in his honour - the Norm Smith Medal. Smith is a Legend in both the AFL and MFC Halls of Fame, and was recognised as one of the Club’s ‘150 Heroes’ in 2008.
Ron Barassi Jnr - Leadership Award
- Guernsey No. 31
- Heritage No. 741
- 1953 - 1964
- 204 games, 295 goals
- Premierships 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964
A true legend of the game, Barassi is integral to Melbourne, and was part of the Club from his childhood, with his father having played a generation before. Barassi Jnr revolutionised the role of ruck rover, and his natural leadership skills proved instrumental to his success as both player and coach. He also had the mixed blessing of living with coach Norm Smith during his youth, with Smith being harder on Barassi than any other player. However, Barassi was up to the challenge - a fierce competitor who captained the Club to two flags out of the six premiership sides in which he played. He went on to cement his fame as a master coach at both Carlton and North Melbourne, and an innovator of the game, particularly in fostering the ‘Irish Experiment’ that brought Jim Stynes and Sean Wight to the Melbourne Football Club. Barassi is a Legend in both the AFL and MFC Halls of Fame, and was recognised as one of the Club’s ‘150 Heroes’ in 2008.
Harold Ball - Best First Year Player
- Guernsey No. 11
- Heritage No. 569
- 1939 - 1940
- 33 games, 33 goals
- Premierships 1939, 1940
An emerging ruckman, Ball was fundamental to the premiership successes of the Club in 1939 and 1940, before losing his life during World War Two. He originally hailed from Merbein, in the north of Victoria, and like other ruckmen who followed him, wore the No. 11 guernsey with great pride. Ball worked at the MCG as a groundsman when he first came to Melbourne, and was instrumental in the team’s success in 1939 and 1940. He was shaping up as an inspiring defender, and in his first year, was named as the team’s Best First Year player. The award was named in his honour as of 1946. Ball was just 21 when he was killed on an expedition to collect and transport the wounded, and was buried at Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore. Ball was recognised as a ‘150 Hero’ of the Club in 2008.
Ian Ridley - Club Ambassador Award
- Guernsey No. 24
- Heritage No. 755
- 1954 - 1961
- 130 games, 228 goals
- Premierships 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960
One of the most gritty, tenacious rovers of his day, and rated as the best since the war, Ian ‘Tiger’ Ridley - originally from Jeparit in the Mallee - was widely known for his selflessness and enthusiasm, and for overcoming bad eyesight and lack of height to become a legend of the game. Jim Cardwell (Club Secretary and recruiting guru) summed up Ridley when he described him - ‘Small in inches but very big in heart.’ Ridley was the first to ever play wearing contact lenses, and was a key figure in five Melbourne premierships. In 1958, when Melbourne was defeated by Collingwood in a shock loss, he had his nose badly broken, but played on regardless. After retirement, Ridley coached the Club between 1971 and 1973. He also went on to serve in a number of wider V/AFL and administrative posts, particularly as Melbourne’s Club President between 1992 and 1996. A legend in the Club’s Hall of Fame, Ridley was recognised as a ‘150 Hero’ in 2008.
