The great Algie Sweeney was an outstanding trainer during the golden days of the 1920s who was awarded with life membership in 1934. He continued to be a trainer right up until the late 1940s where he was particularly known for his work with the young Reserves. Evidence suggests that he was instrumental in cultivating local youngsters into awesome talents, such as the Nottle brothers, Ted Alwood, Eddie Mahoney and a reliable key defender and tall by the name of Charlie Riggs.

Between the ninetten thirties and forties, of Algie's protogees Eddie Mahoney and Howard Abbott emerged as probably South's greatest players, indeed Mahoney arguably ever. However, teammate and good friend Charlie Riggs was also a super footballer during this time, even though his exploits have been somewhat overshadowed perhaps by his more famous contemporaries.

The Riggs family were fantastic supporters of the club and Charlie was the most visible of them, playing key roles in the 1930, 1931 and 1934 premierships and representing the GFA regularly throughout this time. History records that he was one of a few great clubmen who helped keep the club afloat throughout the Great Depression, the 1926 controversy and the
so-called Rovers conspiracy.

So naturally, Charlie's family name became entrenched in South folklore, with sons Ron and Don playing good footy for the Lions throughout the fifties and sixties, and his grandsons, Dale, Brett, Shane, Darren and Scott all carrying on the family tradition at the end of the century.