as the years moved on, easts rugby saw glory on many occasions. the club was helped along by a raft of talent that included such luminaries as h.h. (dally) messenger, g.c. (wakka) walker, sports star harald baker, and victorian cross winner bede kenny. easts also had a touch of glamour in the backline when stanley r. rowley – australia's first olympic sprint medalist – graced the team in the early 1900s. other noted players included dr alex ross, robert westfield, colin j. sefton, wallaby murray tate, famous goal-kicker john cox, world cup winners tony daly and jason little, the world's best number 8 in his era tim gavin and h.r. (perc) newton who played a record 264 grade games for easts.