Redheads get a rough go of things in this country. Bullied in the schoolyard, the butt of jokes in pubs, and all for something they cannae control.
It's time they get some love.
I've taken a look at some of the very best bloodnuts to play our great game, and had a crack at ranking them.
Honourable Mentions: Lance Whitnall, Robert 'Scratcher' Neal, Nick Vlastuin
Two cult figures of their respective clubs, Whitnall and Neal occupy places in the hearts of Blues and Cats fans across the country.
"Big Red" Whitnall overcame multiple weight and injury concerns in his career to finish with a fine CV. Whitnall was an All-Australian, three-time Blues' leading goalkicker, club captain and a best and fairest winner, all inside a career that was cut short at just 28 years of age.
A fixture of the Geelong Cats in the '70s and '80s, Neal sported a red bowl cut while holding shape on a wing. A member of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, Neal could more than hold his own, finishing inside the top 10 in the 1976 Brownlow Medal count, tied with arguably the league's best ever player, 'Lethal' Leigh Matthews.
Richmond's resident redhead Nick Vlastuin is a three-time premiership star. A backman often overlooked in conversations about the league's best, it is perhaps fitting that his importance has only been truly recognised in the lean period that has followed the Tiger's breathtaking recent dynasty. The man the faithful call 'Tigger' has been an exceptional clubman for Richmond, and was granted life membership in 2017.
4Justin Leppitsch
The man they call 'Leppa' revolutionised the way key backs go about their business.
As a full-forward in his early years, Leppitsch claimed back-to-back leading goalkicker gongs at the Lions, before making the move down back, where he became a mainstay in All-Australian sides of that era.
A pivotal member of arguably the greatest team in modern history, the three-peat Lions of the early 2000s, Justin Leppitsch was initially reluctant to undertake the positional move that was the making of him as an AFL footballer. However, his instincts as a forward helped him down back, with his offensive style of play complementing his close-checking ability perfectly. An absolute handful for opposing coaches.
Three flags, three All-Australians, two-time leading goalkicker, a best and fairest and a Lions Team of the Decade member, all in just 227 games. Star.
