 His leadership role expanded to captain and coach for the latter part of 1942 and the entire 1943 season.During this time Findlay found himself resting in the forward pocket and was North's leading goal kicker in 1943, 1944 and 1945.In 1946 he joined Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and started with 88 goals in his first season, including winning the Best and Fairest, and kicking 107 in his next.