Australian Football

Ted Potter joined Collingwood from Greensborough, playing a handful of thirds games in 1961, and then an entire season at that level the following year. He made his senior VFL debut in the fifth round of the 1963 season against Melbourne, and thereafter, other than when injured, was an ever-present in the side for 10 years. He quickly developed into one of the finest defenders in the league, being particularly renowned for his ability to shut down some of the biggest names in the game.

St Kilda champion Darrel Baldock, for example, probably lowered his colours to Potter more often than against any other VFL defender. Equally at home in either key defensive position, Potter was strong overhead and tenacious and powerful at ground level. He boasted considerable pace, and his distribution skills were first rate - dual legacies, perhaps, of his many games as a rover while growing up in Rutherglen. He had the misfortune to play in three losing Grand Final teams with the Magpies - against Melbourne in 1964, St Kilda in 1966 and Carlton in 1970. When he retired at the end of the 1972 season he had played a total of 182 VFL games. He also made four interstate appearances for the VFL.

Author - John Devaney