No. 3
Position: Rover
Career: 1969-85
Games: 332. Goals: 915
Captain: 1981-85
Premierships: 1971, 76, 78, 83. Night premierships: 1969, 77. Finals appearances: 29.
Awards: 14-time interstate representative; six-time leading goalkicker; 1971, 72, 74, 76, 77, 78, 80, 82 Club Champion.

Nicknamed ‘Lethal’ in his career because of his absolute lack of fear as well as his goal scoring ability. Built like a tank, he was an unusual physique for a rover but became something of a pocket dynamo with excellent judgement and anticipation. Towards the end of his playing career he shifted to the forward line with telling effect, with his 915 goals placing him fourth on the VFL’s all-time goalkicking list. His calibre as a player is demonstrated by his eight Club Champion awards received at a time when Hawthorn was a powerful team boasting some of the competition’s greatest players.

Matthews went on to enjoy further success off-field, coaching Collingwood to a flag in 1990. After leaving his coaching position he won acclaim as a television commentator before being coaxed back to the coach’s box again, this time with the Brisbane Lions winning three premierships in 2001, 2002 and 2003.