Tony Lockett, Australian footballer
Anthony Howard Lockett (born 9 March 1966) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club and Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). Nicknamed “Plugger”, Lockett is considered one of the greatest full forwards in the game's history. Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and upgraded to Legend status in 2015, he is the most prolific goal kicker in VFL/AFL history, breaking Gordon Coventry's record in 1999 and eventually finishing with 1,360 goals in 281 games. He became the first full-forward to be awarded the Brownlow Medal in 1987, won the Coleman Medal four times, and kicked more than 100 goals in a season on six occasions (an AFL record he shares with Jason Dunstall of Hawthorn).
While Lockett's statistics and accolades justify his standing as a legend of Australian football, equally significant was his almost single-handed impact at both St Kilda and Sydney. He arrived at St Kilda when the club was in the doldrums and became the man on whose shoulders the club's fortunes depended. Similarly, when he moved to Sydney in 1995, the Swans were struggling both on and off the field; they had finished bottom of the ladder in 1994 and were battling to stay relevant in the heart of rugby league territory. After kicking more than 100 goals three times in four seasons and famously booting a point to send Sydney into the 1996 AFL Grand Final, Lockett helped to ensure Australian rules football would have a lasting future in the Harbour City.
Lockett's achievements are all the more remarkable given the significant chunks of time he missed through injury and suspension. Besides suffering from chronic asthma, he struggled to maintain his weight (which ranged from 95 to 112 kg according to listings in AFL Records over the years) and required painkillers to manage the ongoing effects of a torn groin muscle. Lockett was not afraid to use his size and strength to unsettle opponents, but his aggression also resulted in him being frequently reported for striking and rough conduct. He appeared before the Tribunal 16 times over his career and was suspended for 23 matches.