George 'Tich' Shorten was an Australian rules football

Australian rules football

Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...

er who played for Essendon

Essendon Football Club

The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...

 in the VFL

Australian Football League

The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...

 during the 1920s.

Shorten was the lightest player in Essendon's famed 'Mosquito Fleet', with estimates on his weight ranging from 47 to 51 kg. Although primarily a rover he was also seen on the half forward flanks, where he played the 1923 VFL Grand Final

1923 VFL Grand Final

The 1923 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 20 October 1923. It was the 26th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the...

 and was named 'Best on Ground'. He also participated in Essendon's premiership the following season and in 1925 represented Victoria in three interstate matches. Shorten finished equal second in the 1924 Brownlow Medal, one vote behind the inaugural winner Edward Greeves

Edward Greeves

Edward Goderich "Carji" Greeves, Junior was an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League...

.