On this day in 1956, a match between South Melbourne and Footscray at the Western Oval blooded one of the greatest players in the history of our game: Bob Skilton.

Skilton was just 17 years old when he played his first game in the red and white, running out in the No. 14 jumper now worn by Academy recruit Callum Mills.

Although the Bulldogs won the Round 5 clash by 10 points, Skilton had the first kick of the match and was named in South’s best players.

It marked the beginning of a magnificent career. Skilton played 237 games and kicked 412 goals for South Melbourne from 1956-1971, captaining the club from 1961-69, then again 1970-71.

Affectionately known as “the Chimp”, Skilton played with grit and determination.

He won the South Melbourne best and fairest award nine times in his career and is also one of just four players to have won the Brownlow medal three times: in 1959 (in a tie with Verdun Howell), 1963 and 1968.

A Legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, Skilton was named as rover in the AFL’s Team of the Century.

In 1995, the Swans best and fairest medal was renamed the Bob Skilton Medal in his honour.