Ross William Glendinning

PLAYER: 1974-88

GAMES: 302: North Melbourne 190; East Perth 56; West Coast 40; WA 14, Vic 2.

HONOURS: Brownlow Medal 1983; All-Australian 1983-84; VFL team of the year 1982-84, 87; North Melbourne fairest and best 1982-83; West Coast captain 1987-88; WA coach 1996-97; WAFC Commissioner 1998

A recruiting coup for North Melbourne when it finally secured Ross Glendinning from East Perth for 1978 and another one for West Coast when he returned to captain the team in its first VFL season 1987.  One of the best key position players in the VFL and during his time, arguably the competition’s dominant player.  Glendinning was built to dominate football at 188cm and 89kg.  Tall and strong for a key position player, he was fast, able to use his body brilliantly in one-on-one contests and blessed with sublime skills.

He finished second in the Sandover Medal in 1975 and by the time he crossed the borer after a controversial clearance row, was the most sought after player in Australia.  Equally dominant at centre half-forward or centre half-back, he was also best equipped to stop a dominant opposition forward at full back and finished his career kicking 73 goals at full forward for West Coast in 1988.