Australian Football

Along with wingmen George Bruce and Edward Kennedy, elusive, poised and abundantly skilled centreman Rod McGregor gave Carlton one of the greatest centrelines in the history of the game. In 1906-7-8, with this trio to the fore, the Blues won 51 out of 59 matches contested en route to three consecutive premierships. McGregor actually missed the 1907 premiership triumph over South Melbourne after breaking his nose in the previous week's Semi Final against St Kilda, but overall his impact during those three golden years was probably unequalled.

McGregor joined Carlton in 1905 after commencing his senior career with Essendon Association, and over the ensuing decade and a half he went on to amass an incredible total, for the period, of 236 VFL games, which remained a club record until broken by John Nicholls. In addition to the 1906 and 1908 premierships, McGregor was a driving force in 1914-15 when Carlton went 'back to back'. His omission from the club's official 'Team of the Century' seems, on the face of it, completely inexplicable.

Author - John Devaney