McMaster-Smith

One of the smallest and lightest players of his time, "Hyphen" Smith was just 169 cm tall and 61 kg when fully dressed and wringing wet. Nevertheless, he managed over 50 games of VFL football - including a Grand Final - at three clubs from 1960 to 1965. From Greensborough in the Diamond Valley League, he was first attracted to Fitzroy, where he played 13 games and kicked a solitary goal in two seasons.

Carlton were quietly impressed by the diminutive, clever wingman, so when their neighbouring club showed Bruce the door, he was made welcome at Princes Park. In three years with the Blues in guernsey number 40, he turned out on 26 occasions and booted 6 goals - despite an unfortunate accident that left him almost blind in one eye, and the first indications of a chronic hamstring injury that would eventually force him out of the game.

Bruce was cleared to St Kilda after the 1964 season. In his first game for the Saints against his old team in Round 11 at Moorabbin, he kicked a clever goal to snatch the win in the dying seconds of the match. Thereafter, his 15 games for the Saints culminated in a 35-point loss to Essendon in the 1965 Grand Final. McMaster-Smith retired after that game, ending his short yet eventful VFL career with a total of 54 games and 14 goals.

Career Highlights

1964 - Second in the Gardiner Medal, the VFL reserves best and fairest award
1964 - Murie Medal / Cup (award for players finishing second in the Gardiner Medal Voting, which was the Reserves Competition Best and Fairest Award).