player. Ruthven responded by winning the Brownlow medal with 21 votes, 3 clear of the next player. In 1952, Ruthven was appointed captain/coach, taking Fitzroy to the preliminary final. One of the highlights of Ruthven's career as captain/coach was when he steered the side to a 1-point victory over Carlton in the 1952 first semi-final. Fitzroy won the game despite having 9 fewer scoring shots at goal than the Blues, with Ruthven snapping the match-winning behind in the dying seconds of the game, in a best on ground performance. In 1953 Fitzroy scored their lowest ever score against Footscray , Ruthven late snap at goal was the team's only score for the game. He retired at the end of the 1954 season after 222 games over 15 seasons, finishing second on the club's all-time games list behind Frank Curcio, at the time of his retirement. Ruthven's 97 career Brownlow votes ranks in the top 5 of Fitzroy's all-time playing list. Career highlights Playing career Fitzroy: 1940–1941, 1943–1954 (Games 222; Goals 442; Brownlow votes 97). Player honors Brownlow Medal: 1950. Fitzroy best and fairest: 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949. Fitzroy club leading goalkicker: 1944, 1945, 1954. Fitzroy captain: 1948, 1950–1954. Fitzroy premiership: 1944 Victorian representative: (17 games, 47 goals) Coaching record Fitzroy 1952–1954 (57 games, 28 wins, 28 losses, 1 draw). Post-career recognition 1998: Ruthven was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. 3 May 2001: Ruthven was named in Fitzroy's Team of the Century, in the forward line. 2007: Brisbane Lions recognised Ruthven as one of the two greatest Fitzroy players from the era 1927 to 1956. The other player being Haydn Bunton. Post career After retiring as a player, Ruthven became a household name when he appeared as a regular panelist on the Channel 7 television show, World of Sport. In later life, Ruthven retired with his wife to the country life of Yarrawonga, in rural Victoria, where he continued to play his other favourite sport, golf. Ruthven was also a vocal supporter of the Brisbane Lions, after the 1997 merger of Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears. He was involved in the official unfurling ceremony of the Lions' 2001 premiership flag in Melbourne in April 2002, but failing health prevented him from being a part of the Lions' successful national tour with the 2002 premiership cup. Passing On 14 March 2003, 34 days short of his 81st birthday,