No. 17
Position: Ruck rover
Career: 1972-91
Games: 426. Goals: 320
Captain: 1986-91
Premierships: 1976, 78, 83, 86, 88, 89, 91. Night premierships: 1977, 85, 86, 88. Finals appearances: 39.
Awards: 11-times interstate representative: 1979, 83, 84, All Australian representative.
Holds the VFL/AFL record for the most senior games played after amassing a total of 426 matches throughout his 19-year career. He started off slowly and took several years to secure a place in the senior side and found his niche as a ruck rover. Lean and wiry, Tuck’s phenomenal endurance and deceptive strength made him one of the most valuable players in history. David Parkin was once quoted as having said that Tuck was “one of the best run-on type of player he had ever seen”. Despite his epic career he received few individual accolades – more a reflection of his commitment as a team player than personal ability. Hawthorn’s most successful captain, leading the club to four premierships.
Michael Tuck