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BIOGRAPHIES [I-J]

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Go straight to the biography of your choice by clicking on the appropriate link:

[John Ibrahim] [Stephen Icke] [Len Incigneri] [John Incoll] [Ken Inman] [Frederick Ion] [Graham Ion] [Andrew Ireland] [John Ironmonger] [Warwick Irwin] [Gerry Iseger] [Peter Ives] [Dick Jackson] [Edward Jackson] [James Jackson] [Keith Jackson] [Syd Jackson] [Lindsay Jacob] [Graham Jacobs] [Stanley Jaffer] [Ben Jager] [Basil Jaggard] [Glen Jakovich] [Brett James] [Charles James] [Hugh James] [Jack James] [John James] [Max James] [Roger James] [Ernie Jamieson] [Andrew Jarman] [Darren Jarman] [Bruce Jarrett] [Carlisle 'Bub' Jarvis] [Noel Jarvis] [Bohdan Jaworskyj] [Allan Jeans] [Harold Jefferys] [Horrie Jenkin] [Ernest Jenkins] [Frank Jenkins] [Thomas Jenkins] [Geoff Jennings] [Graham Jenzen] [Alex Jesaulenko] [Jim Jess] [Charles Jessop] [Graham Jewell] [Fred Jinks] [Graeme John] [Ernest Johns] [Harvey Johns] [Michael Johns] [Rex Johns] [Bert Johnson] [Bob 'Tassie' Johnson] [Edward H. Johnson] [Eric Johnson] [Frank Johnson] [Len Johnson] [Maurice Johnson] [Robbie Johnson] [Robert B. Johnson] [Robert C. Johnson] [Victor Johnson] [Wally Johnson] [George 'Blue' Johnston] [Russell Johnston] [Terry Johnston] [Norman Johnstone] [David Jonas] [Peter Jonas] [Austinn Jones] [Bernie Jones] [Bill Jones] [Ernest Jones] [Jack Jones] [Lloyd Jones] [Malcolm 'Emmy' Jones] [Peter 'Percy' Jones] [Warren Jones] [John Judd] [Ken Judge] [Stan Judkins] [Jack Julian] [Shane Junker]

John Ibrahim (North Melbourne & Sunshine)

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Quick, wholehearted and powerful, John Ibrahim may not have been the most graceful player in the VFL, particularly when kicking, but he was nevertheless highly effective, particularly early in his career. Ibrahim debuted with North Melbourne as an eighteen year old in 1962, and was a VFL representative two years later. He played in numerous positions with the 'Roos in an 81 game, 41 goal VFL career that ended, somewhat prematurely perhaps, in 1968. Ibrahim then crossed to VFA club Sunshine, where he spent the 1970 season as captain-coach.

Stephen Icke (North Melbourne & Melbourne)

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Stephen Icke was the son of former North Melbourne defender Laurie Icke. He too commenced his league career with North, for whom he played 120 VFL games between 1975 and 1981. Versatile, useful overhead, and abundantly skilled, he played in numerous positions during his time with the Kangas, but like his father he appeared to display his best form when stationed on the half back line. When North overcame Collingwood in the replayed 1977 grand final Icke lined up on a half forward flank, as he had in the original drawn grand final.

In 1982 Icke, who was still only twenty-six and at the height of his prowess as a player was somewhat surprisingly sold to Melbourne where he continued to display consistently good form in a final 78 VFL games over half a dozen seasons. He won the Demons' best and fairest player award in 1982. Another career highlight was his selection in several Victorian interstate teams.

Len Incigneri (South Melbourne, Richmond, Melbourne)

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A tough, astute footballer, Len Incigneri overcame a faltering start to his league career with South Melbourne to do justice to his ability with his two subsequent clubs. He played just 2 VFL games with South, 1 in 1903 and the other two years later. He reappeared in the VFL with Richmond in 1908 when it made its league bows, and he ended up playing 63 games in four seasons for he club. In his final season he was the side's captain coach. He also achieved selection in the VFL interstate team which competed in the 1911 Adelaide carnival.

Incigneri's final stint in league football came in 1914-15 when he added another 28 VFL games for Melbourne. His career ended in somewhat dramatic fashion when he was suspended for 8 matches after poleaxing a South Melbourne opponent. The incident occurred towards the end of the season, and Incigneri never played again. He had spent the 1914 season as Melbourne's captain.

Len Incigneri was capable of playing in a number of positions but was best known, and probably most effective, as a defender.

John Incoll (South Melbourne & Collingwood)

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After an aborted, 4 game stint at South Melbourne in 1899, John Incoll resurfaced at Collingwood three years later and went on to provide handy service in 61 VFL games over five seasons. Mainly used either on the forward line or in the ruck, he could also do a job in a key defensive role when required. A half forward in the Magpies' 1902 premiership team, Incoll replaced Fred Hailwood, who had gone to Western Australia, as the team's main ruckman the following year, and it was in that position that he made a significant contribution to the club's second consecutive flag.

After leaving Collingwood, John Incoll moved to New South Wales, and in 1911 he represented his adopted state at the Adelaide carnival.

Ken Inman (Perth)

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Ken Inman was an important if sometimes unsung member of Perth's league teams between 1973 and 1980, during which time he played 155 senior games and kicked 4 goals. Nothing he did was particularly ostentatious or flashy, but there were few more fanatically determined and efficient performers, and his kicking to position was superb. Inman was in a back pocket when Perth overcame East Perth by 23 points in the 1976 grand final, while in the following season's play-off he was close to best afield in 73 point annihilation of East Fremantle. The 1978 season saw Inman promoted to the club captaincy, a position he retained for two years. He also represented Western Australia in 1978 in a resounding 69 point win over South Australia in Adelaide.

Frederick Ion (East Fremantle)

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Known, one assumes affectionately, as 'Fat', Fred Ion was, needless to say, a footballer of somewhat substantial build. He was also highly effective, and gave East Fremantle 85 games of sterling service in 1915 and from 1919 to 1923. During the early 1920s he was recognised as one of the pre-eminent ruckmen in West Australian football. He finished runner-up to West Perth's Harold Boyd in the 1922 Sandover Medal count, and he was selected to represent the state on 3 occasions. Included in that tally were both of Western Australia's matches at the 1921 Perth carnival, during which he applied his strength and weight to telling effect in helping his side to a noteworthy series victory.

Graham Ion (Footscray)

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Graham Ion was a useful forward for Footscray in 107 VFL games between 1958 and 1965, during which he kicked 85 goals. Despite being comparatively short and lightweight at 179cm and 77.5kg he played many of those games in key positions, compensating for any physical deficiencies with his superb anticipation skills. Ion played at centre half forward in the Bulldogs' 1961 grand final defeat at the hands of Hawthorn, but endured a quiet day with only 9 disposals. In 1962, he was selected to represent the VFL against Western Australia at the MCG, and kicked 3 goals in a 17 goal win. He retired from VFL football at the age of just twenty-four but continued his playing career with Deniliquin in New South Wales.

Andrew Ireland (Collingwood)

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Hard working, tenacious and dashing, former Ivanhoe footballer Andrew Ireland gave Collingwood solid service, mainly in the backlines, in 110 VFL games between 1975 and 1980. He was on a half back flank, and among his team's best players, in both the tied and lost grand finals of 1977 against North Melbourne as well as in the losing grand final of 1979 against Carlton. His last game for the 'Pies was the 1980 grand final against Richmond when he lined up in a back pocket. It proved to be an ignominious finale as the Tigers won by a then record margin of 81 points. Andrew Ireland played 1 interstate match for the VFL.

John Ironmonger (East Perth, Sydney, Fitzroy)

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Massively built at 200cm and 105kg, John Ironmonger was a tap ruckman par excellence who made his league debut with East Perth in 1980, having been recruited from Margaret River. Less imposing and adept in his general field play than he was when engaged in straight ruck contests, Ironmonger nevertheless caught the eyes of the men in white with sufficient frequency to secure the 1983 Sandover Medal. Widely expected to join Richmond in 1984, he actually ended up in Sydney with the Swans, where he added 54 VFL games over the ensuing three years to the 62 WAFL appearances he had accumulated with the Royals. He finished his career by producing some of his most consistent and telling football during an injury-interrupted four season, 43 game stint with Fitzroy. John Ironmonger represented his state, Western Australia, on 4 occasions.

Warwick Irwin (Fitzroy, Collingwood, Port Melbourne)

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Lightly built and fresh of feature, Warwick Irwin was a prominent and intermittently brilliant rover throughout the 1970s and into the early '80s. Winner of Fitzroy's best and fairest award in 1975, he was a regular interstate representative for both the VFL and, later, for Victorian state of origin sides. In 1981 he became a high-priced Collingwood recruit and was a member of the Magpies' losing grand final team that year. After sustaining a serious injury in 1982, however, he was sacked, and returned home to Fitzroy the following year for one last VFL season. His final port of call was VFL side Port Melbourne where he played a dozen games in 1984.

Gerry Iseger (Perth, Swan Districts, South Adelaide)

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Mercurial and highly talented, but prone to inconsistency, Gerry Iseger was always worth having in your team because of his ability to turn a match with a moment of inspired brilliance. He was a key member of Perth's premiership teams in 1967 and 1968, booting 4 goals in the former grand final, and 3 in the latter, both against East Perth. He occasionally played at full forward, but was better suited to what nowadays would be called a crumbing role either off a half forward flank or in a forward pocket. Between 1966 and 1970 Iseger played a total of 63 WANFL games for the Demons, topping their goal kicking list on three occasions. He moved to Swan Districts in 1971 and added a final 50 WANFL games over three seasons. Iseger's last season in league football was spent with South Adelaide in 1974 where he played 11 games.

Peter Ives (Mayne & Southport)

by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher

Originally from Toowoomba, Peter Ives was a courageous rover who twice won the Clem Ryan under 19s Medal before claiming the Grogan Medal in 1978. He made his name over ten years at Mayne, but had to move to Southport to taste QAFL premiership success in 1983. Peter Ives played 12 State games.

Dick Jackson (South Adelaide)

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Dick Jackson's nickname of 'Stonewall' admirably summed up his approach to the game. Strongly built, obdurate and tenacious, he overcame a tentative start to his nine season, 118 game league career to develop into a real stalwart of the South Adelaide defence, winning a best and fairest award in 1959, and starring at centre half back when the team beat Port Adelaide to claim the 1964 SANFL premiership. He represented South Australia twice at the 1961 Brisbane carnival.

Edward Jackson (Melbourne)

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A tremendous ball handler and ball user, Melbourne's Echuca recruit Eddie Jackson was somewhat unfortunate in that his career occurred, for the most part, during the interval between the club's two finest eras. Nevertheless, he did manage to win a seat on the bench for the 1948 grand final and grand final replay, in which the Demons ultimately overcame Essendon. One of the first indigenous Australians to be permitted to succeed at Australian football's highest level, Jackson played a total of 84 VFL games for Melbourne between 1947 and 1952. He continued to play country football for many years after his retirement from the 'big time'.

James Jackson (St Kilda, Collingwood, Hawthorn)

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After an unconvincing start to his senior league career at St Kilda, Jim Jackson went on to make a name for himself as one of the finest wingmen in the game. His stint at the Saints comprised just one VFL game in 1909, but he then went on to make 93 appearances in the famous black and white of Collingwood between 1910 and 1915 and in 1920. Unfortunately for Jackson, this meant that he failed to play in a premiership team, as when the Woods went top in 1919 he was still on active military service. Four years earlier, he had missed the grand final clash with Carlton because of injury, and was sorely missed as the Magpies went down by 33 points. In 1921 Jackson crossed to Hawthorn in the VFA where he was appointed captain. He was captain during the early part of the 1922 season as well, and when the Mayblooms were admitted to the VFL in 1925 he had the honour of assuming the captaincy once more. He played 22 league games in two seasons with Hawthorn, and returned to the club in 1932 as non-playing coach. It was not a memorable swansong, however, as the brown and golds won just 3 of 18 matches for the year to finish last.

Keith Jackson (Sturt)

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Keith Jackson commenced with Sturt in 1919 when league football in South Australia got underway again after a three year break for the war. Recruited, along with his brother Harold, from Parkside Baptist, he spent the 1920 and 1921 seasons on the sidelines, before resuming in 1922. At first he found it difficult to recapture the promising form he had displayed in his debut season, but under the inspirational leadership of Vic Richardson, who took over as coach in 1923, he gradually blossomed into one of the most commanding and effective centre half forwards in the state. He topped the Double Blues' goal kicking in 1923 with 31 goals, in 1924 (jointly with George Scrutton) with 40, and in 1925 with 51. His 1924 and 1925 tallies were club records at the time. Jackson retired at the end of the 1925 season, but a year later, after Sturt, as minor premier, had meekly succumbed to Norwood in a semi final, he was recalled to add punch to the forward lines in the challenge final against North Adelaide. The move was a success, and Jackson, who had missed the club's previous premiership triumph in 1919, had the satisfaction of appearing in a flag-winning side in the last of his 54 league games. He amassed 135 goals during the course of his league career, and also booted 12 in 4 interstate appearances for South Australia.

Syd Jackson (East Perth, Carlton, Glenelg)

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Originally from South Bunbury, Syd Jackson had already won two Hayward Medals as the fairest and best player in the South West National Football League by the time he arrived at East Perth as a nineteen year old in 1963. Before long, he had acquired a reputations as one of the finest attacking centremen in the game, and, at the end of his debut season with the Royals, he finished joint first in the Sandover Medal voting. However, having incurred a suspension earlier in the season, was ruled ineligible. Voted his club's fairest and best player in 1966, Jackson was in the club's losing grand final teams both that year and in 1967. However, as early as 1965 he had been attracting attention from VFL clubs, most notably North Melbourne and Carlton. In the end it was the persuasive talking of Carlton coach Ron Barassi which settled the issue, and Jackson duly signed for the Blues in time for the 1968 season. Given that Jackson had given them more than 100 games service, the East Perth hierarchy were prepared to clear him, but the WANFL clearance board threw a spanner in the works by refusing to endorse the papers. Jackson was forced to sit out the entire 1968 VFL season and watch as his new side won the premiership; towards the end of the season he busied himself by ferrying out the coach's messages to the players during games, an activity which must have given him useful insights into Barassi's thinking.

Under the rules of the time, a player who sat out an entire season was granted an automatic clearance, and so Jackson finally lined up with the Blues in the opening round of a 1969 season which saw the side again contest a grand final, only to lose to Richmond.

It would be fair to suggest that Victorian - and especially VFL - football in the 1960s was physically a good deal more robust and onerous than that being played elsewhere, and because of this, and particularly in view of Jackson's lightweight build, Carlton tended to use him on a half forward flank rather than in his favoured position of centre. Such was Jackson's flair, however, he would probably have been a star wherever he played. Certainly North Melbourne coach Keith McKenzie, who had come quite close to signing Jackson, felt that, as a centreman, the former East Perth superstar would have been an absolute sensation.

He came close to being an absolute sensation on the half forward line, starring for the Blues in their famous 1970 grand final defeat of Collingwood, and again doing well 2 years later as Carlton racked up a record score against Richmond. With silky skills, the pace of a thoroughbred, and the ability to kick a ball prodigious distances, there have been few more exhilarating sights in football than that of Syd Jackson in full flight.

In 1977 Jackson transferred to Glenelg where, under old team mate and coach John Nicholls, he participated in the Bays' losing grand final team against Port Adelaide. It was clear that the old pace and panache had declined somewhat, however, and at the end of the season he decided to retire.

In June 2006 he was named in the centre in East Perth's official 'Team of the Century 1945 to 2005'.

Lindsay Jacob (North Melbourne, Kedron, Ulverstone, Sherwood)

by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher

Lindsay Jacob was a tough and speedy rover who was an outstanding mark for his size. He joined Kedron as captain-coach in 1970 after playing 2 VFL games the previous year at North Melbourne. Jacob spent the 1975 season at Ulverstone in Tasmania before returning to captain the Redlegs again in 1976-7. He had another stint at the club in 1980-81 after a short spell at Sherwood. Lindsay Jacob played 10 games for Queensland, and captained the Maroons in 1970 under the coaching of Dick Verdon.

Graeme Jacobs (Melbourne & South Melbourne)

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Having worked his way through the ranks at Melbourne, Graeme Jacobs made his senior debut as a twenty year old in 1964. Tall and slimly built, he could play almost anywhere on the forward line or as a follower. He capped a solid debut season by lining up at full forward in the Demons' 8.16 (64) to 8.12 (60) grand final defeat of Collingwood (reviewed here). Thereafter, however, he lost his edge in form, and over the course of his remaining three seasons at Melbourne he was in and out of the senior side. In 1968, he crossed to South Melbourne, where he produced easily the best and most consistent football of his career. In three years with the Swans he played 57 VFL games and kicked 35 goals to add to the 36 games and 49 goals he had managed with the Dees.

Stanley Jaffer (South Adelaide)

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Stan Jaffer was a talented utility (or 'all-rounder', to use the parlance of the day) whose career unfortunately coincided with a bleak era for his club, South Adelaide. He captained the club in 1930, 1931 and 1933, but its best finishing position was 6th (of 8). Jaffer won South's best and fairest award in 1931, and finished second to Max Pontifex of West Torrens in the following year's Magarey Medal count. From 1928 to 1935 he played a total of 98 senior SANFL games and kicked 10 goals for South, and represented South Australia 4 times.

Ben Jager (West Perth)

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An extremely talented ruckman who teamed especially well with rover Les Fong, Ben Jager gave West Perth seven seasons of splendid service, during which he played 135 games. Originally from Osborne Park, he was an excellent palmer of the ball, and typically showed to greatest effect when the going got tough. Frequently mentioned as a likely state ruckman, he could be considered unfortunate never to have earned the selectors' nod.

Basil Jaggard (Port Adelaide)

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Basil Jaggard was solid performer for Port Adelaide in 94 league games between 1952 and 1959, during which time he booted 114 goals. A member of Magpie premiership teams in 1954 and 1958 (as 20th man), he was "neither a rover nor a half forward nor a wingman nor a centreman, but a mixture of all four - a handyman in fact" (see footnote 1). He represented South Australia on 3 occasions.

Footnotes

1. The Pash Papers by Jeff Pash, page 132. Return to Main Text

Glen Jakovich (South Fremantle & West Coast)

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Glen Jakovich commenced his senior league career with South Fremantle, playing in that club's losing grand final team of 1989 against Claremont when just sixteen years of age. However, he is best remembered for his outstanding, fourteen season, 276 game AFL career with West Coast.

An imposing physical specimen at 192cm and 100kg Jakovich was, almost beyond question, one of the greatest centre half backs of all time. Boasting all the assets of the top line defender - strength, mobility, pace, aerial prowess, and an unflappable disposition - Jakovich repeatedly rode rough-shod over even the most talented of opponents. His clashes with Wayne Carey, for example, were the stuff of legend, and common consensus has it that Jakovich had the better of them.

Joint club best and fairest in 1993, Jakovich won the award in his own right on three further occasions. He was at the peak of his game during the mid-1990s, making the AFL All Australian team in 1994 and 1995, before suffering a serious knee injury in 1996 which forced him to adapt his game to the inevitable reduction in mobility and pace which ensued. He did this superbly, becoming one of the game's acknowledged masters at reading the play and maneuvering himself to the fall of the ball.

A member of West Coast premiership teams in 1992 and 1994 Jakovich was still playing excellent football towards the end of his career when he was a role model for a new generation of Eagles footballers.

Brett James (Norwood, Collingwood, Adelaide)

Brett James was a gutsy and effective performer with Norwood, Collingwood and Adelaide in a career encompassing well in excess of 300 senior games. That career began and ended with the Redlegs, whom he joined from Kersbrook, and for whom he made 236 appearances between 1990 and 1993 and from 1997 to 2006. He spent the 1994-5-6 seasons with Collingwood, playing 42 games, before returning home to South Australia where, for the next four seasons, he divided his time between the Crows, for whom he played 76 times, and Norwood. In 1997 he enjoyed the rare distinction of playing in victorious grand final teams for both clubs, with the Redlegs’ triumph over Port Magpies being achieved alongside his younger brother, Roger. Brett James also played in Adelaide’s 1998 flag-winning side. After returning to the Parade full time in 2001 he became a key figure at the club, serving as captain between 2002 and 2006, and claiming best and fairest awards on three occasions.

Charles James (South Melbourne)

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Recruited locally from Albert Park, Charles James made his VFL debut with South Melbourne in 1899. He was on a half forward flank in that year's grand final against Fitzroy, which the southerners lost by a point. Later he developed into one of the best full backs in the league, especially renowned for his superb kicking. By the time he retired in 1904 he had played a total of 78 VFL games and kicked 13 goals.

Hugh James (Essendon Association & Richmond)

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Hugh James affords a classic example of the value of persistence. He began his senior football career with Essendon Association but, after singularly failing to impress, he was released. His second port of call was Richmond, which had just finished its debut season in the VFL. This time, James hit his straps right away, and when he finally retired from football fourteen years and 188 games later it was with the reputation as one the game's finest - and fairest - ever ruckmen.

Never flustered, Hugh James had that rare ability of always managing to be in the vicinity of the ball when it landed. A superb, one grab mark, he was poised and tidy in almost everything he did - with the notable exception of kicking for goal. James often used to joke about his woefully haphazard goal kicking, but given that he spent a large proportion of his career either resting or playing in the backlines, his career tally of 119 goals looks fairly respectable.

After playing for Richmond from 1909 to 1916, James spent the next couple of years on war service, during which time he was instrumental in organising an exhibition match in London featuring prominent footballers from the various armed services. In 1919 he was back at Punt Road as the Tigers embarked on their first sustained period of greatness since joining the VFL. In 1920, when Richmond overcame Collingwood in the grand final by 17 points, James led the 1st ruck, and was one of the best players afield. The following year brought a second consecutive flag as the Tigers held off a stern challenge from Carlton to win by 4 points, with James once again performing brilliantly, this time as support in the ruck to captain-coach Dan Minogue.

Admired by opponents and team mates alike because of his consummate sportsmanship, Hugh James retired at the end of the 1923 season, having just won his second Richmond best and fairest award, in order to concentrate on developing his building business.

Jack James (St Kilda & Richmond)

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A member for a time of Richmond's junior team, Beverley, Jack James was not given the opportunity to join the senior side because it was felt that he was too small. Instead, he moved to South Yarra, but after a short time there he was snapped up by St Kilda, who could obviously see that, despite his diminutive stature, he possessed all the skills and mental attributes necessary to succeed. Between 1915 and 1924 James played 121 VFL games for the Saints and was almost universally regarded as one of the finest rovers in the game. Quick, agile and superbly balanced, he could kick equally well with both feet, and was renowned for his ability to find team mates up to 40 metres distant with low, piercing, 'daisy cutter' style passes. He was also extremely dangerous near goal, especially when resting in a forward pocket, and topped St Kilda's goal kicking list three times. After missing the 1925 season he made a brief, 2 game comeback with St Kilda the following year before crossing, ironically, to Richmond, where he finished both the season and his career. During that career he represented the VFL several times, including the 1924 Hobart carnival, and was perhaps unfortunate that the Brownlow Medal did not commence prior to 1924, as he was the sort of conspicuously energetic player who tends to attract votes.

John James (Carlton)

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Winner of the VFL's top individual award, the Brownlow Medal, in 1961 while playing mainly as a half back flanker, Carlton's John James was invariably the first man the coach called upon to fill in if the team was breaking down in a certain position. During his eleven season, 206 games career with the Blues he played, at some point, in virtually every position on the ground with the exception of ruckman.

Initially recruited from Ballarat as a forward, he ended his debut season of 1953 with the rankly inglorious tally of 8 goals and 43 behinds to his name, and the disbelieving groans of the Princes Park faithful still ringing in his ears.

When playing in the backlines, James was sometimes criticised for 'taking risks', but his superb judgement meant that he was actually a prototype of the more modern, re-bound style of half back or back pocket. For James, there was nothing calculatedly tactical about his style; he was simply playing his natural game, just as he had done from his time as a schoolboy at the renowned football nursery of St Patrick's College, Ballarat.

John James' importance to Carlton was emphasised with best and fairest wins in 1955, 1960 and 1961 making him, somewhat surprisingly, the first player to win the award on three occasions.

Max James (Port Adelaide & South Melbourne)

Combining pace and tremendous aerial prowess to admirable and telling effect, Max James was one of the SANFL's most eye-catching performers of the 1970s. Between 1971 and 1977 he played a total of 148 league games for Port Adelaide, kicking 152 goals, and was a member of the Magpies' 1977 grand final winning team against Glenelg. He transferred to South Melbourne in 1978 but was prevented by persistent recurring injuries from displaying his best form. In all he played 55 games and kicked 58 goals, with his last VFL game being the Swans' first home fixture in Sydney. Max James represented South Australia 8 times, kicking 9 goals.

Roger James (Norwood & Port Adelaide)

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Roger James began his senior league career with Norwood, and was a member of the club's 1997 grand final defeat of Port Adelaide Magpies. By that time he was also playing AFL football for the Magpies' 'big brother', the Power, for whom, after struggling initially to hold down a regular place, he eventually developed into a gritty and highly effective, if frequently under-rated, contributor. Many of James' best games came in finals, with the most memorable being the preliminary final of 2004 against St Kilda when his outstanding all round display was the biggest single factor in the Power's eventual heart-stopping 6 point win. James was also prominent in the following week's grand final when Port overcame Brisbane. He retired at the end of the 2005 season having played 147 AFL games.

Ernie Jamieson (Carlton)

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Ernie Jamieson began his VFL career with Carlton in 1909 as a wingman but before long he had developed into one of the finest full backs in the competition. Particularly renowned for his superb kicking in, Jamieson represented the Big V in 1913, and the following year lined up on the last line of defence as Carlton narrowly overcame South Melbourne in the VFL grand final. He was again at full back the following year as the Blues went 'back to back' with an 11.12 (78) to 6.9 (45) grand final defeat of Collingwood, but he missed the 1916 premiership decider against Fitzroy having broken his arm against the same opposition a week earlier in the final.

After a gap of five years, Ernie Jamieson resumed his VFL career in 1921 in a Carlton side that is often cited as one of the best not to win a VFL pennant. The Blues comfortably secured the minor premiership that year, but somehow conspired to lose both the final and the challenge final to Richmond, despite having more of the play in both games.

Jamieson carried on at Carlton for another season before retiring with a total of 125 VFL games to his credit.

Andrew Jarman (North Adelaide, Norwood, Adelaide)

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Known and indeed revered as 'the Magician of Prospect', Andrew Jarman was without doubt one of the most extravagantly talented footballers of his generation, masking a lack of genuine pace with sure hands, lightning fast reactions, and disposal skills that were second to none. A North Adelaide supporter from an earlier age, he joined the club from Gaza under sixteens in time to play in the 1982 SANFL under seventeen competition. His enormous potential was immediately evident, as was the wide range of his football skills, and he made his league debut the following year. In 1984 he became a regular, and for most of 1985 he enjoyed a dream year, earning state selection and ultimately winning North's best and fairest award. Unfortunately, the dream turned into something of a nightmare at the end, as despite being the dominant team during the minor round, they were well beaten on grand final day by a more resolute and finals-hardened Glenelg side.

During his seven season, 165 game senior career with North Adelaide Andrew Jarman was twice adjudged the club's best and fairest player, won the 1987 Magarey Medal, and was a virtual ever-present in South Australian interstate teams, achieving All Australian selection in 1986 and 1987. He also managed to procure that earnestly sought premiership medallion when the Roosters overcame Glenelg by a resounding 82 margin in the 1987 grand final. However, when North succumbed in embarrassing fashion to Port Adelaide in the premiership deciding match of 1989, Jarman decided it was time to pursue fresh challenges, and the following season saw him lining up with Norwood.

After playing the 1990 season with the Redlegs, Jarman embarked on a new phase of his career in 1991 when he joined South Australia's fledgling AFL club, Adelaide. After 110 games with the Crows, he returned to Norwood in 1997 where he played out what proved to be the final season of his career in spectacular fashion, winning a second Magarey Medal, the Norwood best and fairest award, and, most satisfyingly of all, a second premiership medallion. He also represented South Australia for the last of fifteen times, with his achievement in having won the Fos Williams Medal after five of those appearances speaking volumes as to his ability to 'turn it on' in big games.

In 2001, Jarman was chosen as centreman in North Adelaide's official 'Team of the Century'.

After several years away from active involvement in the game Andrew Jarman took over as coach of an under-achieving North Adelaide team in 2004, and made a promising start by steering his charges to the finals at the first time of asking.

Darren Jarman (North Adelaide, Hawthorn, Adelaide)

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Recruited, like his older brother Andrew, from Gaza, Darren Jarman made his league debut for North Adelaide, aged eighteen, in 1985. After just three games in his inaugural season he became an automatic selection in 1986, and was a key figure as the Roosters made the semi finals of the VFL's night series, beating Melbourne and Collingwood along the way, and reached their second grand final in succession, only to lose to Glenelg.

The following season saw North make amends in spectacular fashion with a crushing 23.7 (145) to 9.9 (63) revenge win over Graham Cornes' Glenelg in the grand final, with 'the Wizard', as he was known (brother Andrew was always 'the Magician) in irrepressible form on the ball and across half forward. Rooster ruckman Mike Parsons won the Jack Oatey Medal as best afield, but most media observers tended to give the nod to Jarman, who was continually in the thick of the action, as well as contributing 3 telling goals.

Jarman made his interstate debut for South Australia in 1987, and would go on to be a regular state league and later state of origin representative for the better part of a decade. He won the Roosters' best and fairest award in 1990 and the following year embarked on a new phase of his career with AFL club Hawthorn. Initially somewhat inconsistent, he went on to give the Hawks excellent service, playing a total of 109 games in 5 seasons, earning AFL All Australian selection twice, and securing the club's best and fairest award in 1995, the same season in which he finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal. In 1996 he returned home to South Australia where he joined an Adelaide team that was on the verge a somewhat overdue emergence as a power. In both 1997 and '98 the Crows achieved magnificent grand final wins over St Kilda and North Melbourne respectively, with Darren Jarman heavily instrumental in both. Equally damaging in the centre, across half forward, or at the goal front, Jarman was an extraordinarily difficult player to contain, as if beaten in one position he could always move to another, with a strong likelihood of then succeeding. In the 1997 grand final, for instance, he seemed out of sorts early when playing in the centre, but when shifted to full forward in the last quarter he responded with 5 immaculate and decisive goals for a match tally of 6.

Darren Jarman retired at the end of the 2001 season after a career total of 390 league games in 16 seasons, which included 144 with North Adelaide and 137 at the Crows. That same year saw him included in North Adelaide's official 'Team of the Century'.

Bruce Jarrett (Sturt)

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An important if often underrated member of the great Sturt side which dominated South Australian football during the second half of the 1960s, Bruce Jarrett was a mean, tenacious, old fashioned style full back who was immensely steady and reliable in everything he did. In many ways, his style of play was in distinct contrast to the smoothly oiled perfection that was felt to characterise the Double Blues during the Oatey era, but there was no doubt that Jarrett's input was invaluable. Recruited from Scotch College, he made his league debut with Sturt in 1959, and had played a total of 171 games by the time he retired twelve years later. A member of the Blues' 1966-7-8-9 premiership teams, he typically did not collect many possessions during the course of a game, but neither did his direct opponents. Less overtly aggressive and explosive than regular South Australian full back Ron Elleway, Jarrett was perhaps sometimes unfairly overlooked when the state selectors got together to choose a team; in any case, he only represented South Australia once. He came from a football family in that his father, Grant Jarrett, played 44 league games for Sturt during the 1930s.

Carlisle Jarvis (East Fremantle)

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Nicknamed 'Bub', Jarvis enjoyed an illustrious twelve season league career with Old Easts during which he gained almost universal recognition as Western Australia's premier defender. A Lynn Medallist in 1934, his last full season, he was runner up in the Sandover Medal the same year. In the highly informed view of Dolph Heinrichs, Jarvis was "beyond any doubt (East Fremantle's) greatest defender" (see footnote 1).

A key member of no fewer than seven blue and white premiership teams, Jarvis surprisingly only represented the state on 8 occasions, in large part because of his reluctance to travel interstate. He also suffered several debilitating injuries, one of which barred him from selection for the 1927 Melbourne carnival (although it is quite likely that he would have refused to go in any case).

1. The South Fremantle Story 1900-1975 Volume 2 by Frank Harrison and Jack Lee, page 177. Return to Main Text

Noel Jarvis (Fitzroy)

Noel Jarvis was a dashingly creative wingman who gave Fitzroy great service in 159 VFL games between 1944 and 1952. In his debut season he was on a wing, opposed to Leo Merrett, when the Roys overcame Richmond in the grand final to secure their last ever premiership. He boasted excellent reflexes, and if an opponent fumbled the ball he was generally onto it in a flash. Highly regarded by team mates and opponents alike, Jarvis represented the VFL at the 1947 Hobart carnival and again during his final league season.

Bohdan Jaworskyj (North Adelaide & Hawthorn)

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Born in Germany to a Russian mother and a Ukrainian father it is doubtful if anyone could have predicted that Bohdan Jaworskyj would go on to excel at the only genuinely Australian sport ever invented. The Jaworskyj family emigrated to Australia in 1950, when Bohdan was three, and eventually settled in Adelaide. His natural sporting talent initially found outlets in soccer and cricket, but when his school established a football team, the young Bohdan quickly found his feet in the unfamiliar game. After an exceptional career as a junior he joined local league side North Adelaide, where he progressed steadily through the ranks before eventually making his senior debut in 1965. The following season saw him struggle with injury before finally and firmly establishing himself in North's league team in 1967 as a hard-hitting, no nonsense half back flanker, in which position he would play out the majority of his fourteen season, 273 game league career in two states. He also represented South Australia 4 times.

Most of his league games - 205 in all - were played with the Roosters, for whom he was a key player in the 1971-2 premiership wins and the 1972 championship of Australia triumph. Solid and efficient rather than spectacular, he was almost certainly one of the first names pencilled in by coach Mike Patterson throughout what was arguably the most illustrious era in the entire history of the club.

Between 1973 and 1975, the blond-haired, chunkily built Jaworskyj played for Hawthorn, where his imperturbability, aggression and indefatigable determination helped him to blend in seamlessly. He returned to North Adelaide in 1976 in order to rack up 200 league games and qualify for SANFL life membership.

In 2001, Bohdan Jaworskyj was selected on a half back flank in North Adelaide's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

Allan Jeans (St Kilda, Hawthorn, Richmond)

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If he probably failed to fulfill his potential as a player - 77 VFL games for St Kilda between 1955 and 1959, plus one representative appearance for the VFL, followed by premature retirement at the age of just twenty-six - the same can most certainly not be said for Allan Jeans' achievements as a coach. Appointed to the St Kilda 'hot seat' in 1961, Jeans was reputed to be one of, if not the, youngest non-playing coaches in VFL history. In an auspicious opening he promptly steered the Saints to their first finals appearance in twenty-two years. Within five years he had taken the perennial underachievers to their first ever senior flag courtesy of a heart-stopping single point grand final win over Collingwood.

More was to follow. Jeans' sixteen season stint at the helm at St Kilda was easily the most auspicious era in that club's history, with two grand final appearances for one premiership, finals participation in a total of nine seasons, and an overall success rate of 58.2%. Jeans, a policeman, whose avowed aim was to help mould his players into "good citizens", spent the period between 1977 and '79 initially in a junior development role at St Kilda, and later as coach of the New South Wales interstate team. In 1980 he returned to the VFL as coach of Hawthorn, and in nine seasons in charge was to enjoy even more spectacular success than with the Saints as he masterminded six grand final appearances for two flags, with a phenomenal overall success rate of 72.2%. Moreover, when Jeans was forced to miss the 1988 season through ill health, his temporary replacement as coach, Allan Joyce, steered a team that was essentially Jeans' to another premiership.

Allan Jeans left Hawthorn at the end of the 1990 season, but returned briefly to coaching a couple of years later at Richmond. However, not even the proven Jeans formula of hard work, meticulous attention to detail and unabashed leadership by example could transform the mediocre Tigers into a premiership challenger, and for only the fourth time in his entire twenty-six season VFL coaching career Jeans suffered the comparative indignity of seeing his charges lose more games than they won. This sting in the tail notwithstanding, however, there can be no denying the fact that Allan Jeans has been among the most successful and influential of post-war VFL coaches; his achievement in steering St Kilda to the first senior premiership in the club's history was alone sufficient to warrant detailed coverage in the annals of the game, but the fact that he went on to achieve much more than that indubitably warrants his inclusion among the game's quintessential elite.

Harold Jefferys (East Fremantle)

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Harold Jefferys made his league debut with East Fremantle in 1946, a season which saw the club procure the premiership unbeaten. The hardest fought match of the year was the grand final, in which Old Easts 11.13 (79) defeated West Perth 10.13 (73), with wingman Jefferys one of the best players afield. The 1947 season saw him make his interstate debut for Western Australia at the Hobart carnival, and he went on to play a total of 6 state games. Robust, sturdy and eminently capable, Jefferys played a total of 155 WANFL games for East Fremantle between 1946 and 1953, excelling initially as a wingman, and later in the back pocket. He won the club's fairest and best award in 1952.

Horrie Jenkin (Fitzroy)

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After playing initially as a full forward, Fitzroy's Horrie Jenkin developed into a combative and highly resilient defender who seemed to get better with each passing year. He was at full forward in the Maroons' 1916 challenge final defeat of Carlton, and at full back, and one of the best players on view, in the 1922 premiership team. Champion full forward Gordon Coventry once described Jenkin as the most vigorous defender of his era. He won the Roys' best and fairest award in 1926, and played a total of 168 VFL games and kicked 22 goals between 1916 and 1928.

Ernest Jenkins (Fitzroy & Richmond)

Renowned as one of the finest followers in Victoria during this career, Ernest Jenkins was a stalwart both of strong Fitzroy sides and VFL representative combinations for much of the first decade of the fledgling league's existence. Quick over the ground, strong in the air, and supremely courageous, he had all the attributes necessary to succeed in what, at the time, was arguably the toughest position on the field. He played 179 games in thirteen seasons with the Maroons, and was one of the best players afield in the winning grand finals of 1899 and 1905, as well as the losing affair of 1906 against Carlton. He was club captain in 1906-7, and three years after his retirement as a player, in 1913, he returned to the VFL as non-playing coach of Richmond, leading the comparative league novices to 7th place on the ladder in a ten team competition.

Frank Jenkins (South Fremantle)

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Over the years Western Australia has arguably produced more of what, for want of a better expression, might be termed 'football artists' than any other state or territory. Players like Farmer, Walker, Michael, Peake, Cable, Marshall, Matera, Hunter, Jackson, Winmar and the Krakouer brothers have elevated the pure skills associated with the greatest of games to unparalleled pinnacles.

Frank 'Scranno' Jenkins of South Fremantle, by contrast, epitomised qualities more traditionally associated with Victoria Park or Glenferrie Oval on a cold, wet, windy afternoon in late July. Put colloquially, he was one tough cookie. In 150 games for the red and whites and numerous others for his state it is doubtful if he ever took a backward step. Every successful team needs players of Jenkins' ilk and it is arguable that South Fremantle's spectacular achievements of the immediate post World War Two period would not have been possible without the contribution of this unspectacular, somewhat dour, but remorselessly effective defender.

Named at centre half back in South Fremantle's 1947 and 1948 premiership winning teams, Jenkins was high on the best player lists both times. Arguably, however, he was at his best when the chips were down, and it is perhaps significant that his Sandover Medal (1937) and three club fairest and best awards were won during the immediate pre-war period, when South Fremantle was not the force it would later become. Jenkins also finished runner-up in the Sandover Medal in this era, to Haydn Bunton in 1938.

Thomas Jenkins (North Melbourne & Essendon)

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Tom Jenkins began his senior career with North Melbourne in the VFA before crossing to Essendon. At 175cm and 95.5kg he was built more like a rugby prop than a footballer, but he proved to be a full forward of considerable aplomb, topping Essendon's goal kicking list with 50 goals in the premiership season of 1924, and 37 goals the following year. He was a member of Dons flag-winning combinations in 1923-4, and represented the VFL in 1922. After 65 senior games and 153 goals for Essendon between 1921 and 1925 he added 3 games and 4 goals during a brief return to league action with North Melbourne in 1927.

Geoff Jennings (Footscray)

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Footscray's Geoff Jennings was a pacy and talented rover whose ten season, 137 game VFL career was frequently interrupted by injury. He joined the Bulldogs from Traralgon and made his league debut, aged nineteen, in 1974. A Victorian representative on 3 occasions, he was appointed Footscray captain in 1979 and held the job for three seasons. Persistent injuries forced his premature retirement prior to the start of the 1984 season.

Graham Jenzen (Perth)

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Graham Jenzen was a speedy and talented rover who saw comparatively little time on the ball as he had the misfortune to play for Perth during the heyday of one of the greatest small men in the history of the game, Barry Cable. Actually, 'misfortune' is not really the right word as Jenzen comprehensively turned the situation to his advantage, becoming one of the most damaging half forwards and forward pockets in the WANFL. Moreover, not many players get to play in three senior league premiership teams, as Jenzen did in 1966-7-8. Perth's top goal kicker with 37 goals in 1965, 63 in 1966 and 68 in 1969, he played a total of 137 games and kicked 325 goals between 1965 and 1971 and in 1974. A clean ball handler who wore his heart on his sleeve, Graham Jenzen was perhaps a touch unfortunate never to gain interstate selection for Western Australia.

Alex Jesaulenko (Eastlake, Carlton, St Kilda, Coburg)

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Born in Salzburg, Austria, of Ukrainian parents, Alex Jesaulenko moved with his family to Australia at the age of three and a half. As a youngster he displayed a prodigious talent for ball games, particularly soccer and rugby. Then, aged fourteen, he was introduced to Australian football by a group of friends and, if the cliché can be forgiven, a legend was born.

Jesaulenko commenced his senior football career with Eastlake and was a member of that club's 1964, '65 and '66 premiership sides. However, even before he made his senior debut he had begun to attract the attention of clubs in the VFL. At first, North Melbourne looked favourites to procure his signature, but in the end, thanks perhaps to some judicious string-pulling behind the scenes (though this has never been conclusively proved), Jesaulenko signed with Carlton, making his League debut as a twenty-one year old against Fitzroy in 1967. Despite only managing a handful of possessions that day 'Jezza', as he was quickly dubbed by the adoring Carlton faithful, gave glimpses of the type of sublime, classy football which would become his trademark.

Equally adept either on the ground or in the air, Jesaulenko was a player opposing coaches found it almost impossible to stifle. If beaten in one position he could simply transfer somewhere else and as likely as not merge as a match winner. Possessed in abundance of all the major football skills, Jesaulenko supplemented his ability with tremendous intelligence and awareness, making him, if you like, a kind of 'Greg Williams with pace'. In terms of pure footballing ability, few players in the history of the game have come close to matching him.

Early in his career Jesaulenko played chiefly on the forward lines, topping Carlton's goal kicking list on three successive occasions between 1969 and 1971. Indeed, in 1970, when he spent a fair amount of time at full forward, he became the only Carlton player in history to 'top the ton'.

A premiership player in 1968, 1970 and 1972, Jesaulenko was personally responsible for one of the most memorable moments ever to occur in a VFL grand final when, in 1970, he used his opponent Graeme Jenkin as a proverbial step ladder in taking what some have termed 'the mark of the century' (shown above).

In 1978 Carlton appointed triple Brownlow Medallist Ian Stewart as coach but ill health forced the former St Kilda and Richmond champion to resign early in the season. After a month or so in which Sergio Silvagni undertook the coaching role on a caretaker basis it was Jesaulenko to whom the club eventually turned, albeit not without a fair degree of hesitancy on the part of club president George Harris. Indeed, it appears that Jezza himself was hesitant as well, for he initially refused the job. However, within weeks of assuming the coaching mantle it seemed that Jesaulenko had been born to the role. He steered the Blues to the finals in 1978, and a year later he took them to a memorable 5 point grand final win over arch rivals Collingwood. A long career as Carlton coach seemingly beckoned, but when George Harris was surprisingly supplanted as club president Jesaulenko decided it was time for him to leave as well.

In 1980 Jesaulenko continued his VFL career with St Kilda, initially just as player, but after coach Mike Patterson was dismissed just two weeks into the season he took up the coaching reins as well. Things were much tougher at Moorabbin, and in two seasons as playing coach and 1 in an off field role the side finished no higher than 10th.

In fifteen seasons of league football Alex Jesaulenko played 283 games (260 of them for Carlton). He was an All Australian in 1969 and 1972, and a VFL representative on 15 occasions. He won the Carlton club champion award in 1975. Midway through the 1989 season he was surprisingly recalled to Princes Park to replace Robert Walls as Carlton's senior coach but in eighteen months at the helm he failed to steer the club to success. In 1993 he had a forgettable season coaching Coburg to a winless wooden spoon in the VFA.

Jim Jess (Richmond)

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An ebullient, larger than life character who played football with verve, persistence and no small amount of 'devil', Jim Jess was a firm favourite among Richmond fans throughout a 223 game VFL career that ran from 1976 to 1988. Known as 'The Ghost', he excelled in both defensive and attacking key positions, often during the course of the same game. Probably his best and certainly his most eventful season was 1980, when he was a major driving force behind a Richmond surge to the premiership that culminated in a 23.21 (159) to 9.24 (78) grand final annihilation of Collingwood. That same year saw Jess make the All Australian side after 3 vibrantly effective performances for the 'Big V'. Powerful overhead, and a prodigious kick, Jess, who was loathed as much by opposition fans as he was loved by Richmond's, was a major draw-card during a period when VFL football was declining in popularity. His loyalty to the Tigers was amply demonstrated late in his career when he agreed to accept reduced match payments in order to help the cash-strapped club.

Charles Jessop (North Adelaide)

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Initially as a player, and later as an administrator, Charlie Jessop gave North Adelaide staunch service of the highest quality for close to forty years. His playing career began in 1901, at a time when North was the pre-eminent force in South Australian football. Pacy, versatile, and with a keen eye for goal, he was a major driving force behind the red and whites' 1902 premiership triumph. In that year's grand final, playing as first rover, he was the best player afield, contributing 4 of his side's 9 goals in a 37 point win over South Adelaide. Three years later, when North overcame Port Adelaide on grand final day by 32 points, he again booted 4 goals in another stirring display. A rover for most of his career, he was used as a goalsneak later on to good effect, topping his club's goal kicking list with 16 goals in 1909, and 14 the following year, which was Jessop's last as a senior player. As the above photograph suggests, like many of his contemporaries, he tended to favour the place kick when taking set shots for goal. In 1907 and 1908, Charlie Jessop served as North Adelaide captain, but his leadership qualities were said not to match his playing ability. There were no perceived problems about his leadership prowess as club president, however; appointed to the role in 1913, he served with distinction until the time of his death in 1939. The precise number of games he played during his ten season league career is uncertain, but it is known that he represented South Australia on 4 occasions.

Graham Jewell (Wilston Grange)

by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher

Graham Jewell grew up in Coburg, where he was coached as a schoolboy by the great John Kennedy. He moved to Queensland to play 250-plus games with Wilston Grange from the late 1960s in a career interrupted only by a short stint as a premiership captain-coach in the Riverina. He was a dominant centre half forward/ruckman, with long arms, who regularly took freakish marks. He was recruited by Hawthorn at the same time as Peter Hudson but chose to return 'home' and represented Queensland 7 times in the late '60s and '70s.

Fred Jinks (Footscray, Carlton, Port Melbourne, North Melbourne)

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After joining Carlton from Eaglehawk in 1906 Fred Jinks, who had previously spent the 1904 season at Footscray, rapidly developed into a key member of a side that was to win a then unprecedented three successive premierships. Along with Fred 'Pompey' Elliot and Jim Flynn he gave the Blues a ruck combination that was second to none in the league. In 1910, however, Carlton coach Jack Worrall fell out with the club hierarchy and was eventually displaced. Jinks, who chose to side with his coach, also left the club, spending the remainder of a colourful career in the VFA. Seldom far from controversy, in 1912, while playing for Port Melbourne, he was reported for charging an opponent with his fists, and suspended for a year. Prior to his stint with Port, Jinks had been captain-coach of North Melbourne.

Graeme John (East Perth, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne)

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Graeme John was a supremely talented centre half forward with a keen football brain who began with East Perth as a sixteen year old in 1959. In five seasons with the Royals he played 67 games and kicked 48 goals, as well as representing Western Australia on 4 occasions. His performances in state football attracted the attention of Victorian clubs, and the 1964 season saw him lining up for South Melbourne in the VFL. After taking a season to find adjust to the faster tempo and unremitting physicality of Melbourne football he developed into one of the most exciting forwards in the league. In 1965 he was chosen to represent the 'Big V' in all four of its games for the season, and the following year he again gained interstate selection for the Hobart carnival, after which he was rewarded with All Australian selection.

John spent six seasons with South, playing 74 games and kicking 90 goals. In 1970 he joined South's near neighbour Port Melbourne, where he played 8 games for the season to see out his playing career. He returned to South Melbourne as non-playing coach in 1973, still aged just thirty, but his three seasons at the helm were inauspicious in the extreme, eliciting two wooden spoons and one 9th place finish. Graeme John later served as president of the club.

Ernest Johns (North Adelaide)

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Ernie Johns was a top quality forward who gave North Adelaide excellent extended service prior to World War One. He was at full forward, and contributed two of North's nine goals, when they overcame the challenge of South Adelaide in the 1902 grand final, and three years later he played in a forward pocket in the grand final win over Port Adelaide. However, arguably his best football came in mediocre North Adelaide sides between 1907 and 1912. That was when he played the majority of his 19 interstate games for South Australia, during which he amassed 59 goals. These interstate appearances included games at the 1908 Melbourne, 1911 Adelaide and 1914 Sydney carnivals. Johns was North's top goal kicker on three occasions, and captained the club to a losing grand final clash with Port Adelaide in 1914.

Harvey Johns (Norwood)

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Christened Harvey, but invariably referred to as 'Harry', Johns played his first game of senior football for Kent Town Ramblers in 1907 when just fourteen years of age. In 1911 he played for Norwood's 'B' team and, after a highly impressive season as a follower, was elevated to the senior side the following year. Between 1912 and 1915 Johns played mainly at centre half back, but it was after the war, when shifted to full back, that he really came into his own. Pre-eminently solid, assured and capable, he made his South Australian interstate debut against the VFL in 1919, and went on play for his state on 4 occasions. When his career was brought to a peremptory end through injury in 1922 he had played a total of precisely 100 senior games, a tally that would doubtless have been considerably higher had three complete seasons not been lost to the war. Tragically for Johns, his retirement came just weeks before the red and blues went top for the first time since 1907.

Michael Johns (Mines Rovers, Subiaco, Swan Districts)

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After playing with Goldfields Football League club Mines Rovers in 1976, ruckman Mick Johns joined Subiaco where he made his league debut in 1978. During his early games he was touted as a ruck star of the future, but thereafter he struggled for consistency, and spent a lot of time in the reserves. At the end of the 1982 season, after playing 64 games and kicking 25 goals for the Lions, he crossed to reigning premiers Swan Districts in a bid to revive his career. His form in 1983 was solid, and he was adjudged unfortunate by many to miss selection in Swans' grand final team. He made amends the following year with a consistent series of performances culminating in a fine display leading the rucks in the grand final win over East Fremantle. A deft palmer of the ball, Johns developed an impressive understanding with the likes of Jon Fogarty, Gerard Neesham and Barry Kimberley, and Swans supremo John Todd rewarded him by giving him greater responsibility during his final few seasons. His form in 1985 was particularly impressive, earning him third place in the voting for the Swan Medal, the club's fairest and best award. Mick Johns spent five years at Bassendean, playing 88 WAFL games, and booting 41 goals.

Rex Johns (Port Adelaide)

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Not only a deadly goal kicker, but a highly accomplished all round footballer as well, Rexie Johns somewhat surprisingly played only 134 league games for Port Adelaide in a ten season career between 1954 and 1963. Those 134 games, however, netted him 451 goals at a per game average of 3.37, which, considering the era in which he played - the 1950s, decade of dour defence, lonely full forwards, and low scores - was highly respectable. Johns topped Port Adelaide's goal kicking list on six occasions, and the SANFL's on four, but at Alberton one sometimes got the impression - at least according to Jeff Pash - that his contribution was not always unequivocally appreciated. His 5 interstate games for South Australia netted him 17 goals.

A member of Port Adelaide premiership teams in 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1962, Johns was a superb and stylish kick who boasted the sort of effortless elegance and poise that only ever seems to characterise left footers.

Bert Johnson (West Adelaide, North Melbourne, Dandenong, Williamstown)

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Bursting to the seams with energy, ingenuity and quixotic brilliance, West Adelaide's Bert Johnson was one of the most exciting footballers to watch of his generation. Similar in style to East Perth and Carlton great Syd Jackson, he did not always fire, but when he did he was irrepressible. Between 1957 and 1964 he played a total of 87 senior games for Westies, kicking 36 goals. He also represented South Australia once. Described by Jeff Pash as "a football tonic" (see footnote 1), Johnson was a wingman in West's 16.13 (109) to 11.7 (73) grand final defeat of Norwood in 1961. He also played many fine games as a centreman.

In 1965 Johnson became one of just a handful of South Australians of his era to try his luck in the VFL when he signed for North Melbourne. He proved an extremely popular acquisition - with the club's fans, at any rate. North's officials were less impressed, as his ebullient, sometimes confrontational personality saw him fall foul of club rules on several occasions. Nevertheless, he produced some spell-binding football at times, with many of his best performances seemingly reserved for the VFL night series, in which North was a dominant force at the time. During his four year stint in the VFL Johnson played 31 senior games and kicked 5 goals; he also played in the 1967 reserves grand final, in which North beat Richmond. He rounded off his senior playing career with brief stints at VFA clubs Dandenong and Williamstown.

Footnotes

1. The Pash Papers, page 134. Return to Main Text

Bob Johnson (North Launceston, Melbourne, Box Hill)

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After two seasons in the NTFA with North Launceston, where he played mostly as a forward, Bob Johnson was forced to stand out of football for the whole of 1958 while seeking a clearance to VFL club Melbourne. Once the clearance formalities were out of the way Johnson was swiftly re-moulded by the Demons into one of the VFL’s top defenders. At full back in Melbourne’s 1959 and 1960 premiership teams, ‘Tassie’ (as he was called to distinguish him from the other two Johnsons at the club, ‘Big Bob’ and Trevor) had moved to the back pocket by the time of the 1964 flag win. His coolness under pressure, strength, good judgement and superb drop kicking made him equally successful in either position. A regular VFL representative between 1960 and 1967, Johnson showed his versatility later in his career when, with Melbourne’s fortunes in decline, he embarked on frequent stints on the ball or in the forward lines in bids to lift his teammates by example. In his final VFL season, 1969, this inspirational quality to his play was formally recognised when he was appointed club captain, only for the Demons to suffer the rare indignity of a wooden spoon, their first since 1951. ‘Tassie’ Johnson’s VFL career thus came to a somewhat ignominious end, but he had accomplished more than enough in earlier seasons to be remembered with affection and esteem as one of Tasmanian football’s greatest exports.

Johnson ended his playing career as captain-coach of VFA 2nd division side Box Hill in 1971.

In 2004 he was selected at full back in the official Tasmanian 'Team of the Century'.

Edward H. Johnson (South Melbourne & Sandringham)

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Originally from Leopold, Ted Johnson entered the VFL with South Melbourne in 1923 and rapidly developed into a top class, if occasionally wayward, key position forward. In nine years with South he played 136 senior games and bagged 386 goals, topping the club's goal kicking list for six consecutive seasons from 1923. Always highly regarded, Johnson (sometimes mis-spelt 'Johnston', as in the above image - see footnote 1) played interstate football for the VFL on 7 occasions, including matches at the 1924 Hobart and 1927 Melbourne carnivals. After leaving South Melbourne he was appointed as captain-coach of lowly VFA club Sandringham, for whom his 67 goals in 1933 remained a club record until the side emerged as an Association power after World War Two.

Footnotes

1. Both The Encyclopedia Of League Footballers by Main and Holmesby, and The Pioneers: 100 Years Of Association Football by Fiddian, give the spelling as 'Johnson'. Return to Main Text

Eric Johnson (Norwood)

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Eric Johnson was a prolifically talented rover who enjoyed an illustrious ten season career with Norwood during which he played 124 league games and booted 92 goals. In 1925, his first season, he was a member of the Redlegs combination which overcame West Torrens by a point in the grand final. He played in a second premiership team four years later. In 1933 he was appointed club captain and steered his side to the grand final from 4th place on the ladder, but West Torrens proved to have the Redlegs measure. After retiring as a player at the end of the 1934 season Johnson was immediately elected to the club committee. Two years later he became Norwood's treasurer, a role he fulfilled for the next thirty-eight years. A room at the Redlegs club is named in his honour.

Frank Johnson (Port Melbourne & South Melbourne)

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Frank Johnson holds the distinction of being the only VFA representative player to achieve selection in two All Australian teams. Johnson was selected after the 1953 Adelaide and 1956 Perth carnivals. He later also represented the VFL with distinction.

Adjudged Port Melbourne's best and fairest player on a record five occasions the high leaping Johnson was also a Liston Trophy winner in 1952. He played in eight consecutive VFA grand finals with the Borough, albeit for just one win. His success continued when, in 1960 at the age of twenty-nine, he moved to South Melbourne and immediately won that club's best and fairest award also, edging out the great Bob Skilton in the process.

Standing just 185cm in height Frank Johnson was by no means the tallest knock ruckman going around, but he more than compensated for this with his excellent judgement, tremendous spring, and all round athletic prowess.

Len Johnson (Essendon & North Melbourne)

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Originally from Ascot Vale CYMS, Len Johnson gave Essendon fine service as a forward, kicking 85 goals in 64 games including 40 in 1929 when he was the club's joint top goal kicker with Keith Forbes. After playing with the Dons between 1929 and 1933, Johnson crossed to North Melbourne midway through the 1933 season and added a final 5 games and 3 goals to his tallies.

Maurice Johnson (Brunswick & Carlton)

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Rugged, determined and resourceful, 'Mocha' Johnson played briefly with Coburg Juniors and Brunswick before joining Carlton in 1927. He had a fair turn of pace for a big man, and was equally effective as a follower or across the half back line. In ten seasons with the Blues he played a total of 109 VFL games and kicked 70 goals. A VFL representative player on two occasions, he was a ruckman in Carlton's losing grand final team of 1932 against Richmond. Johnson captained the Blues in 1934.

Robbie Johnson (South Fremantle & East Fremantle)

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After struggling to make his mark at South Fremantle, where he played 15 senior games in 1976-7, Robbie Johnson developed into a handy on-baller for arch rivals East Fremantle, adding another 46 league appearances over five seasons. In 1979 he had the immense satisfaction of helping Old Easts to a 21.19 (145) to 16.16 (112) grand final triumph over his former club. Robbie Johnson hailed from a footballing family in that his father was Percy Johnson senior, a fine player and colourful personality with East Fremantle during the 1950s and early 1960s, while his brother, Percy Johnson junior, played 10 games for Old Easts in 1976-7.

Robert B. Johnson (Melbourne, East Fremantle, Subiaco, Oakleigh)

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The son of Robert C. Johnson, 'Big Bob' was one of the real characters of 1950s and 1960s football in both Victoria and Western Australia. He was also, at 198cm in height, one of the tallest footballers of his time.

Johnson made his VFL debut with Melbourne as a nineteen year old, in 1954, and went on to play a total of 159 games and boot 228 goals for the club over the course of the next nine seasons. Lanky in build, he was hard to beat in ruck contests as he seemed so readily able to get his angular frame into optimum position against even the strongest of opponents. He was also extremely dangerous near goal when resting on the forward line with the Demons often using him as their principal goal kicking option, leaving full forward Athol Webb to act as a decoy. Bob Johnson played in a total of seven VFL grand finals for flags in 1955-6-7, 1959 and 1960. He often enraged opposition supporters with his often surprisingly effective penchant for 'staging' for free kicks.

In 1962 he was appointed captain-coach of East Fremantle where he enjoyed considerable success, both individual and team-based, over the next five seasons, with the highlight being a premiership in 1965. He played much of his football with Old Easts at full forward, topping the club's goal kicking list on four occasions, and the league's, with 92 goals (including finals) in 1966. He also topped the century with 105 goals in 1965, and won the club's fairest and best award in his debut season.

Johnson moved to Allan Killigrew's Subiaco in 1967 where he added 19 games to the 106 he had played with East Fremantle. He later enjoyed success as captain-coach of Oakleigh, steering the Devils to a 1st division VFA premiership in 1972 when aged thirty-seven. Four years later, during his second coaching stint at the club, he experienced the reverse side of the ledger as the team was relegated.

Robert C. Johnson (Northcote & Melbourne)

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As a youngster, Robert Johnson's favourite sport was tennis, but it was in football that he would make his name. Persuaded to try out with VFA club Northcote he impressed with his superb marking skills, and excellent kicking. After a brief time with the Brickfielders he progressed to league ranks with Melbourne in 1926 and enjoyed a highly memorable season, earning 'Big V' selection (although he ended up having to pull out of the side through injury), and kicking 6 goals from centre half forward in a best afield performance in the grand final win over Collingwood. In addition to centre half forward, Johnson could hold down any key position, or take a turn in ruck. A sensational high flier, he was one of the most spectacular players of his era. he finally got to play for the VFL in 1928, and did so again three years later. He topped Melbourne's goal kicking list on two occasions, in 1928 with 55 goals, and then with 62 goals in 1933, his last season in the VFL. All told, he booted 302 goals in his 113 league games.

Bob Johnson's son, Bob junior, achieved, if anything, even greater notoriety as a footballer, playing in a total of seven premierships teams with three different clubs in two states.

Victor Johnson (Port Adelaide, Lefroy, South Adelaide)

An imposing and inspirational ruckman, Vic Johnson gave Port Adelaide 147 games of great service in 1923 and 1924, between 1926 and 1931, and in 1933 and 1934, booting 32 goals. He was club captain between 1928 and 1931 and again in his final season. Johnson represented South Australia 13 times, which included games at both the 1927 Melbourne and 1930 Adelaide carnivals. He won Port's best and fairest player award in 1930, and was a key contributor to the 15.14 (104) to 7.14 (56) challenge final victory over Norwood in 1928. He spent the 1932 season coaching Lefroy in Tasmania. In 1935 he was appointed non-playing coach of South Adelaide, and had the immediate satisfaction of leading his new club to an 8 point grand final victory over his old.

Wally Johnson (Fitzroy)

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Despite failing to make the grade in his initial stab at league football with Collingwood, Fitzroy's Wally Johnson went on to establish himself as one of the finest half backs in the game. So strong overhead that it was alleged that only Dave McNamara was better, Johnson also possessed great pace and anticipation, and had a leader's temperament. He was a key player for the Roys in the 1913 grand final win over St Kilda, and played even better as captain three years later in the upset victory over Carlton. In all Johnson played 191 VFL games and kicked 65 goals for the Maroons between 1907 and 1916 as well as in 1919. In 1917-18 he worked in munitions manufacturing in the UK. At the outset of his career he played many games on the forward line, and was Fitzroy's top goal kicker in 1908 with 27 goals. He was a joint winner, with Barclay Bailes, of the club's best and fairest award in his debut season, and served as skipper in 1916 and 1919. Hugely respected and admired, Johnson represented the victorious VFL combination at the 1914 Sydney carnival.

George 'Blue' Johnston (Glenelg)

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Invariably, if not particularly originally, known as 'Blue', in testimony to his vibrant shock of red hair, George Johnston was one of the most popular players in Glenelg's history, as well as being one of the most popular footballers to win South Australian football's individual award, the Magarey Medal. In thirteen seasons at the Bay Oval, Johnston played 203 league games (the first Glenelg player to pass the 200 mark) from 1927 to 1940 (he spent the 1931 season as captain coach of Penola), won three best and fairest awards, and put in a best afield performance as the club broke its premiership duck against Port Adelaide in 1934.

Smaller than most opposition ruckmen, "he had the sort of (frightening) steel-spring strength about him that John Coleman had" (see footnote 1). He was also extraordinarily powerful, an asset which inevitably game to the fore during interstate clashes with the VFL. Johnston played a total of 16 interstate games for South Australia, and his predilection for the big game arena ensured he almost invariably featured among the best players.

Characteristically modest, he believed that team mate Len Sallis should have won the 1934 Magarey Medal, but few impartial football supporters doubted that the umpires had got it right.

Footnotes

1. The Pash Papers by Jeff Pash, page 198. Return to Main Text

Russell Johnston (Collingwood & Port Adelaide)

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Originally from Casterton, ruckman Russell Johnston was recruited by Collingwood and played 8 VFL games for the club in 1980. The following year he was somewhat surprisingly cleared to Port Adelaide, where, over the ensuing decade, he consistently produced football of great energy, purpose and skill, albeit that he missed a fair number of games through injury. In his first season in South Australia he had the satisfaction of contributing to a premiership as the Magpies coasted to a 51 point grand final win over Glenelg. It was to be seven years before Port again tasted premiership success, and on that occasion Russell Johnston, who was in his third year as club skipper, had to endure arguably the ultimate frustration in football, and watch from the sidelines while serving a suspension. The following year's grand final saw him making amends in no uncertain terms as he claimed the Jack Oatey Medal for a best afield performance in the 94 point annihilation of North Adelaide. For good measure, Johnston also won that season's Port Adelaide best and fairest award. In 1990, he rounded off his 207 game SANFL career in style by leading the Magpies to a third successive premiership triumph courtesy of a highly dramatic 15 point grand final victory over Glenelg (reviewed here). There seems little doubt that Collingwood deprived themselves of a champion in the making when they off-loaded Russell Johnston to Port Adelaide, but it is even more certain that no-one at Alberton is complaining. In the year 2000, when Port announced its official 'Greatest Team 1870 to 2000', Russell Johnston was a popular choice as first ruckman. After retiring from league football, Johnston, who had also played half a dozen state games for South Australia, headed for the south-east of the state where he carried on playing for several more years.

Terry Johnston (Morningside)

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by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher

Terry Johnston was a giant ruckman who won the Morrish Medal and represented Victoria under 19s as a 17-year-old in 1961, and played exhibition matches for Melbourne against Geelong in North America in 1963. He moved to Queensland in 1965 and was a member of Morningside's first premiership side, playing a key role with rover Terry Devery as the club shed its 'easybeat' tag. Johnston represented Queensland in 1965-66, and won the Grogan Medal in 1969. He settled in Queensland but died tragically at an early age.

Norman Johnstone (Fitzroy)

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Fitzroy recruited Norman Johnstone from Chelsea and he gave the club excellent service in 228 VFL games between 1944 and 1957. Heftily built at 183cm and 92kg he was nevertheless extremely pacy, and was not frightened of using his weight. Always reliable, he won Fitzroy's best and fairest award in 1947, and was a VFL interstate representative. He played for most of his career as a ruckman, while his career tally of 195 goals attests to the fact that he was always dangerous when resting in the forward lines. Indeed, his season's total of 32 goals in 1955 was good enough for him to top the Fitzroy list.

David Jonas (West Adelaide)

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After showing considerable early promise at centre half back, David Jonas was moved to full forward, in which position he topped West Adelaide's goal kicking list in 1969 with 54 goals, 1970 (56) and 1971 (46). Capable of the odd burst of brilliance, he never displayed his best form consistently enough to be regarded as a champion, although he did achieve selection in the state training squad on one occasion. Aged just sixteen years and four months when he made his league debut against Central District in May 1965, he went on to play a total of 124 SANFL games over the ensuing seven seasons, and it is at least arguable that he would have enjoyed a somewhat more memorable career had he been allowed to blossom as a defender, instead of being forced to move to the goal front in order to attempt to address a perceived team deficiency.

Peter Jonas (Central District & North Melbourne)

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After a scintillating start to his senior league career Peter Jonas suffered a succession of injuries which ultimately prevented him from truly fulfilling his potential. Originally from Saddleworth, he worked his way through the junior ranks at Central District before making his senior debut as a seventeen year old in 1977. He played half a dozen games that year before becoming a regular senior player in 1978. In 1979, the season that team mate John Duckworth won the Magarey Medal, he won the Bulldogs' best and fairest award, made his interstate debut for South Australia, and had All Australian status conferred upon him after the Perth state of origin carnival, the first Central District player to be so honoured. Powerful, purposeful and a smooth mover, Jonas played as a forward or half forward for most of his career. A telling mark and useful kick, he seemed to have everything going for him when he crossed to VFL club North Melbourne in 1981, but much of his time there was a nightmare. In eight years in Melbourne he suffered two broken legs, a broken arm, a broken hand, several collar bone injuries, plus numerous incapacitating muscle tears, forcing him to miss, at a conservative estimate, a possible 80 games. As it was, he played a total of 82 VFL games for the Roos, booting 115 goals. He returned to Centrals midway through the 1988 season but injuries continued to beset him, and he only managed to add 19 league appearances in two and a half years. This gave him a final tally of 93 senior games for the Bulldogs; he kicked 109 goals. He was a South Australian interstate representative on 6 occasions, kicking 18 goals. In 1998 he was appointed non-playing coach of Centrals and two years later entered his name forever into the club's hall of fame when he steered the side to its first ever premiership courtesy of an 8.13 (61) to 5.9 (39) grand final defeat of the Eagles. He later undertook assistant coaching duties at St Kilda and Sydney.

Austinn Jones (St Kilda)

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After being rejected by both Collingwood and Melbourne because, at just 66kg, he was considered too lightweight for league football, it proved to be third time lucky for Austinn Jones when he was picked up by St Kilda at number 48 in the 1994 National Draft. He made his AFL debut the following year, playing most of his early football as a crumbing forward, before being tried on a wing in 1996. Boasting good ball skills, scintillating pace, and considerable courage, he proved a decided asset for the Saints as they developed into a competition pace-setter after several seasons of mediocrity. In 1997, St Kilda made the grand final, and during the opening term, with his side well on top, Jones capped a marvellous downfield run with one of the goals of the year, only for opponents Adelaide to hit back after half time to score a comfortable win. His fine grand final performance (he was widely regarded as St Kilda's best player) epitomised a memorable year which saw him named as a wingman in the AFL All Australian team.

In the years after 1997 Jones's form gradually dipped, and indeed he tended to make the headlines more for some questionable off field behaviour than for his football. In 2001, however, he was moved to the half back line with immediate telling effect, as his pace, verve and superb disposal skills made him one of the Saints' most conspicuous performers. He earned selection as an AFL All Australian for the second time in 2004, but the following year, after 226 AFL games and 127 goals in eleven seasons, and having only just turned twenty-nine years of age, he surprisingly elected to retire.

Bernie Jones (Hawthorn & Essendon)

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A product of De La Salle, Bernie Jones was a somewhat cumbersome but robustly effective ruckman who entered VFL ranks with Hawthorn in 1973. In eight seasons at the top level he played a total of 86 senior games and kicked 45 goals, including 13 games and 11 goals with Essendon in 1978. The highlight of his time with the Hawks was participation in the 1976 grand final defeat of North Melbourne. Jones also played in the losing grand final against the same opponent a year earlier.

Bill Jones (Collingwood & Oakleigh)

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Collingwood recruited Bill Jones from Darley and he played serviceably for the 'Pies in 60 VFL games, kicking 58 goals, between 1954 and 1958. In the 1955 grand final, which Collingwood lost to Melbourne, Jones played on a half forward flank, while in the following year's premiership play-off he was among his side's best players as first rover, but could not prevent the Demons from winning again.

Midway through the 1959 season he crossed to Oakleigh in the VFA where he would round off his career in style, playing 110 senior games in five and a half seasons. A premiership player when the Purple and Golds trounced Sandringham by 10 goals in the 1960 grand final, Jones went on to win club best and fairest awards in 1963 and 1964 as well as a Liston Trophy in the latter year. He was club captain in 1963, captain-coach in 1964, and non-playing coach in 1965. His all-round contribution to the club was such that he would be a near certainty for inclusion in any official Oakleigh 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

Ernest Jones (South Adelaide, North Adelaide, Port Adelaide)

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Ernie 'Jonah' Jones was a top class sporting all rounder who played Test cricket for Australia and intercolonial football (4 times) for South Australia. As a footballer, he represented three clubs. He was a stalwart member of South Adelaide's powerful teams of the 1890s, when he excelled, in the main, as a strong marking, dashing defender, although he was also used as a more than capable follower or forward on occasion. An excellent example of his ability as a 'goalshooter' came in South's 1898 grand final defeat of Port Adelaide when he was responsible for 5 of his team's 8 goals for the match. The 1898 premiership win was Jones's fourth with South. In 1899, the SAFA enforced the electorate rule, which had been nominally, but not compulsorily, introduced a couple of years earlier; this meant that players were forced to represent the club in whose district they resided. For Jones, this meant transferring to North Adelaide, where he spent two seasons, the second as captain. As chance would have it, that 1900 season proved to be the greatest in North's history up to that point, as they won their first ever premiership courtesy of a 4.3 (27) to 1.8 (14) grand final defeat of Jones's former club, South Adelaide. In 1901 Jones was on the move again, this time to Port Adelaide, where he was heavily instrumental in helping the club improve from last place the previous season to a narrow grand final loss against Norwood, in what proved to be Jones's last ever game.

Despite his brief, enforced flirtations elsewhere, Jones remained a South man at heart, as he confirmed at a reunion of past players at the Aurora Hotel in 1925:

"I was a great big unsophisticated country kid when they ( South Adelaide ) brought me from Quorn. They used to call me the wild man from Borneo . In all my travels and during my twenty years in Western Australia , my thoughts were frequently with South Adelaide . I cannot express what I feel in my heart for the dear old club." (See footnote 1)

Footnotes

1. From an article on Jones by South Adelaide's official club historian, John Althorp, who also supplied much of the background for the above profile. Return to Main Text

Jack Jones (Essendon)

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The quintessential tall utility, combining pace with great strength and aerial prowess, Jack Jones gave Essendon sterling and sometimes spectacular service in 175 VFL games between 1946 and 1954. He kicked 156 goals. On the bench when the Dons won the 1946 grand final against Melbourne he was at half forward right in the premiership teams of 1949-50 against Carlton and North Melbourne respectively. Jones captained the VFL against a Country team in 1951, and was appointed captain-coach of Ovens and Murray Football League side Albury once his VFL career was over, steering them to a premiership in 1956 and a losing grand final the following year.

Lloyd Jones (St Kilda)

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Lloyd Jones' premature retirement from football in 1932 after just 54 VFL games over three seasons robbed St Kilda of a player with the potential to develop into one of the sport's all time greats. Jones, who retired in order to concentrate on his teaching career, was one of the quickest players in the league, and especially noted for his evasive skills. He played most of his games on the wing, in which position he also represented the VFL.

Malcolm 'Emmy' Jones (Sturt)

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Malcolm 'Emmy' Jones' top level playing career came to an abrupt end when he broke his leg while playing for South Australia at the MCG in 1968. He had played 58 SANFL games and kicked 205 goals in three and a half seasons with Sturt, and this was his interstate debut. Fast on the lead, a strong mark, and an unwaveringly accurate kick for goal, he was for a time one of the finest full forwards in South Australia, and a key factor in the Double Blues' rise to pre-eminence under Jack Oatey. Often at his best in big games, he kicked 6 goals in the losing grand final of 1965 against Port Adelaide, and a club record total of 19 in the following year's finals series. Somewhat unusually for the time, he favoured the drop punt when kicking for goal, and was given a special - indeed unique - dispensation to do so from Oatey, who tended to mistrust the kick. Recruited from amateur league club Adelaide University, he topped Sturt's goal kicking list with 67 goals in 1965 and 73 the following year. Jack Oatey regarded Jones as the best full forward he coached during his twenty-one seasons at Unley.

Peter 'Percy' Jones (North Hobart & Carlton)

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Invariably known as 'Percy' rather than by his given name of Peter, Jones was an indefatigably exuberant footballer who became something of a folk hero at Carlton, where he spent no fewer than fifteen seasons as player and coach. Originally from Tasmania, he crossed to the mainland after an excellent 1965 season which saw him represent his state against the VFA in Melbourne, and put in a near best afield performance for his club, North Hobart, in a losing grand final against Glenorchy. Jones's VFL debut with Carlton was delayed until round 16 the following year after he was seriously injured in a car accident, but once he had secured his place there was no looking back. For much of his 249 game league career he was the Blues' second ruckman, spending the majority of his time in a forward pocket where his uninhibited displays of exhilaration after kicking a goal became something of a trademark. Jones played his best football between 1972 and 1974 when given the responsibility of leading the team's rucks. He was one of Carlton's best in its 1972 grand final defeat of Richmond, and the following year saw him voted the club's best and fairest player. Jones also played in premiership sides in 1968, 1970 and 1979, as well as in the grand final losses of 1969 and 1973. In 1977 he had the satisfaction of helping a VFL representative side to a 24.28 (172) to 9.9 (63) massacre of his home state in Hobart. His last league game was the 1979 grand final victory over Collingwood, and the following season saw him assume the coaching reins at the club. He lasted just one year in the role, however, as the Blues' capitulation in the finals after a strong home and away series was not well received by the club's committee, which replaced him with David Parkin. As if to demonstrate that there were no hard feelings, 'Percy' Jones later became a Carlton committee member himself.

Despite playing only very briefly with the club, in August 2000 Jones was included in North Hobart's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

Warren Jones (Morningside, Carlton, St Kilda)

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Underrated at times by all except his own teammates, Warren Jones was a huge, fearsomely aggressive ruckman who could intimidate opponents with just a glare. He played for Morningside in 1976, and then was recruited by Carlton. For much of his career with the Blues he played second fiddle to the more demonstrably talented Mike Fitzpatrick but his worth to the side was never better exemplified than in the 1982 VFL grand final when he came off the bench to nullify Richmond's imposing ruckman Mark Lee, contributing significantly to his team's eventual win.

Fitzpatrick's departure allowed Jones brief tenure as Carlton's first ruckman but a bout of glandular fever diminished his effectiveness and he was soon superseded by Justin Madden. At the age of thirty-two, and after 92 games for the Blues, he crossed to St Kilda where his career underwent a brief renaissance under the appreciative eyes of the Moorabbin faithful. He retired at the end of the 1988 season after having been controversially suspended from the last few matches of the year - a sad but perhaps perversely appropriate end to a colourful league career.

John Judd (South Adelaide)

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John Judd was a useful full forward who might easily have achieved somewhat more had he played with a stronger side. As it was, he played 90 SANFL games for South Adelaide between 1955 and 1961, topping the club's goal kicking list four times. During that seven year period, South finished 6th twice, 7th twice, and claimed three wooden spoons. Judd's best season was 1959 when he bagged 52 goals. The fact that he undoubtedly had ability was recognised by the state selectors who twice picked him to represent South Australia.

Ken Judge (East Fremantle, Hawthorn, Brisbane, West Coast)

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Ken Judge was a determined and highly skilled half forward, forward pocket or ruck-rover who played his best football with East Fremantle in 1975 and between 1977 and 1982. He was named in a forward pocket in the club's 1979 grand final-winning team against arch rivals South Fremantle, and the following year saw him take out Old East's leading goal kicker award with a highly creditable 63 goals. From 1983 to '86 he played for Hawthorn, earning premiership honours and a best first year player award in his debut season, and playing in successive losing grand final teams against Essendon in 1984-5. After 72 VFL games for the Hawks Judge returned home briefly to Western Australia and East Fremantle where he brought his final tally of WAFL games to 120. However, before long he was picked up by fledgling VFL club Brisbane, where he saw out his career, somewhat less than auspiciously it has to be said, with 17 senior games over the ensuing couple of seasons.

As a coach, Ken Judge enjoyed premiership success with his former club, East Fremantle, in 1992 and 1994 before turning his attention to the AFL. As coach of Hawthorn from 1996 to 1999 he enjoyed mixed success and will probably be remembered for helping the club to consolidate after a somewhat worrying few seasons. In 2000 he was appointed coach of West Coast, but 13th and 14th places in his two years at the helm were, not surprisingly, not considered good enough to earn an extension to his contract.

Stan Judkins (Northcote, Richmond, Sandringham)

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After playing senior football initially with Greensborough, Stan Judkins joined rapidly improving VFA side Northcote in 1926 where he played a total of 32 games in two seasons. In 1928 he crossed to Richmond, where he was soon to acquire a reputation as one of the wiliest and most accomplished wingmen in the VFL. In nine seasons at the top level he played a total of 133 games, with the undoubted highlight of his career coming in 1930 when he won the Brownlow Medal, albeit in somewhat controversial fashion. Judkins was one of three players - the others being Collingwood's Harry Collier, and Alan Hopkins of Footscray - to finish in pole position in the count with 4 votes. However, the VFL decided that Judkins should be the outright winner because he had played fewer senior games during the season than either of his rivals. Ironically, the only reason for this was that Judkins had been dropped by Richmond late in the year because of poor form! Hopkins and Collier were both later awarded retrospective Medals, but for more than half a century the league's official records showed Judkins as the sole recipient of a Brownlow in 1930.

Judkins was on a wing when the Tigers won the grand finals of 1932 and 1934 against Carlton and South Melbourne respectively. He also played in the losing grand final teams of 1928, 1931 and 1933. Quick, adroit, and possessed of impeccable ball handling skills, Stan Judkins was a bona fide crowd pleaser who made a sizeable and significant contribution to one of the most auspicious eras in the history of the Richmond Football Club. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, he was only selected to represent the VFL on one occasion, against Tasmania in 1932.

Judkins left Richmond after the 1936 season, and the following year coached Albury to a premiership in the Ovens and Murray Football League. In 1949 he replaced Len Toyne as coach of VFA side Sandringham following Toyne's resignation 5 games into the season. The Zebras endured a poor year, managing just 6 wins and a draw from their 21 matches, and finishing second from last, and few people would have been surprised when Judkins was not reappointed.

Jack Julian (St Kilda & Prahran)

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Jack Julian joined St Kilda from Grosvenor as a nineteen year old and made his VFL debut, as a defender, in 1904. He went on to play virtually all of his football in the backlines, where he was tough, dogged and assured - not to mention somewhat fiery. Highly respected at the club, he spent part of the 1908 season as a replacement skipper for the injured Jack Wells. However, before the start of the following season he had joined a large scale exodus of top players dissatisfied with changes in the club's administration. Crossing to perennially struggling VFA side Prahran, Julian helped the Two Blues mount the first legitimate premiership assault of their existence, but it was all to end in tears and turmoil. After topping the ladder, Prahran played 3rd placed Brunswick in a semi final, and lost by 3 goals. This was far from a disaster because, as minor premiers, the Two Blues enjoyed the right of challenge. However, the club's committee were absolutely irate, and at training on the following Wednesday four senior players - one of whom was Julian - were hauled over the coals before being told that their services were no longer required. Quite what the players were accused of was never made public, but during this period incidents of this nature usually centred on allegations of match fixing, or of players 'playing dead'. Whatever the truth of the matter, Jack Julian's top level football career was over. He had played 67 VFL games for St Kilda, and just a handful in the VFA with Prahran.

Shane Junker (Coorparoo)

by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher

A product of the Latrobe Valley who came to Coorparoo from Morwell Football Club in 1966, Shane Junker was a centre half forward/half forward flanker with good hands and a strong body. His overhead marking was a feature of his play and important in Coorparoo’s 1968 premiership campaign. He represented Queensland on 7 occasions in an era when there was not an abundance of interstate games. Brother Denis also wore maroon 7 times.