Go straight to the biography of your choice by clicking on the appropriate link:
[Steven Da Rui] [Peter Daicos] [Jos Dailey] [Lou Daily] [Stewart Daily] [Alan Dale] [David Dalgarno] [Pat Dalton] [Peter Dalwood] [Anthony 'Bos' Daly] [John D. 'Bunny' Daly] [John W. Daly] [Mick Daly] [Gordon Dangerfield] [Doug Daniel] [Allen Daniels] [Anthony Daniher] [Chris Daniher] [Neale Daniher] [Terry Daniher] [David Darcy] [Peter Darley] [Charles Davey] [James Davidson] [Harold Davie] [Fred Davies] [Harold Davies] [James 'Welshy' Davies] [Jim Davies] [Neil Davies] [Rick Davies] [Edwin Daviess] [Alan Davis] [Barry Davis] [Bob 'Woofa' Davis] [Frank Davis] [Jack Davis] [James 'Jim' Dawes] [John 'Jack' Dawes] [Ian Day] [Robert Day] [Clem Dayman] [Leslie Dayman] [Bert Deacon] [Jack Dean] [Robert Dean] [Roger Dean] [Colin Deane] [Jim Deane] [Andrew Demetriou] [Bill Dempsey] [Gary Dempsey] [David Dench] [Barry Denny] [John 'Jack' Dermody] [Jim Derrington] [Terry Devery] [Gary Dhurrkay] [Charlie Dibbs] [Billy Dick] [Robert Dickfos] [Des Dickson] [Brighton Diggins] [Ross Dillon] [Robert Dipierdomenico] [Jack Diprose] [Rod Diprose] [Carl Ditterich] [Wally Dittmar] [Eric Dix] [Brian Dixon] [Malcolm Dixon] [Malcolm Dobson] [Len Dockett] [Vin Doherty] [Charles Doig senior] [George Doig] [Jim Doig] [John 'Hooky' Doig] [Ron Doig] [John 'Jerry' Dolan] [William Dolphin] [Michael Donaghy] [Clyde Donaldson] [Keith Doncon] [Larry Donohue] [Neil Doolan] [William Doolan] [Jim Dorgan] [Erwin Dornau] [George Dougherty] [Bruce Doull] [Jim Dowling] [William 'Shrimp' Dowling] [William Downie] [Leo Drew] [Norm Drew] [Edward Drohan] [Bill Duckworth] [John Duckworth] [Syd Dufall] [Larry Duffy] [Roger Duffy] [John Dugdale] [Adrian Dullard] [Anthony Dullard] [Alf Dummett] [Bob Dummett] [Frank Dunell] [Harvey Dunn senior] [Jack Dunn] [Keith Dunn] [Roger Dunn] [Emmett Dunne] [Francis Dunne] [Jeff Dunne] [Ross Dunne] [Jason Dunstall] [Bruce Duperouzel] [Chris Duthy] [Jack Dyer] [Robbie Dykes] [Kevin Dynon]
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Steven Da Rui (East Perth & Carlton)
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| East Perth recruited Steve Da Rui from St Marks with high hopes, but a succession of injuries prevented him from making the most of his undoubted potential. Quite solidly built at 183cm and 81kg, he played most of his football with the Royals as a half back flanker, before being tried as a ruck-rover in his final season. It was his solid form in this latter position that probably persuaded Carlton to take a punt on him. At the end of the 1986 season, after 86 games in six seasons for East Perth, he headed east to join the Blues, but it was over a year before he managed to break into the senior side. In the meantime, he played in the club's 1987 reserves grand final win over St Kilda. Da Rui finally got his chance at league level in 1988, and went on to play a total of 55 games in four years, mainly as an on-baller. He represented Western Australia in its home state of origin loss to Victoria in 1990. |
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| Collingwood's
Peter
Daicos' phenomenal ability to kick goals from seemingly impossible angles
or when under the most extreme pressure was arguably unequalled in the
history of the game. Certainly this ability became Daicos'
trademark, so much so that when players nowadays demonstrate a comparable
knack they are almost invariably said to be 'doing a Daicos'.
A highly skilled footballer, Daicos, who was known as 'The Macedonian Marvel' because of his parents' country of birth, was much more than just a goalsneak. He played much of his career on the ball or in the centre where his anticipation, balance and superlative ball handling ability made him a real force. Former Essendon rover John Birt paid Daicos a rare compliment by comparing his ball handling skill to that of Darrel Baldock and Alex Jesaulenko and it is doubtful if the sport has seen more than half a dozen or so comparably skilled individuals in its entire history. Peter Daicos' bracketing with such illustrious names is entirely warranted, however. Recruited from Preston RSL, Daicos made his VFL debut as a centreman in round 4 1979 against St Kilda, racking up 28 possessions as the Magpies surged to a record 31.21 (207) to 3.11 (29) victory. Thereafter, apart from injury setbacks, which included a full knee reconstruction on one occasion, he never looked back. When he retired in 1993 he had played a total of precisely 250 league games and kicked 549 goals, besides winning Copeland Trophies in 1982 and 1988, and topping his club's goal kicking list on four occasions. He was also a regular Victorian state of origin representative. The highlight of Daicos' career came in 1990 when he was a member of Collingwood's first premiership team for thirty-two years. He was included in a forward pocket in the Magpies' official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'. |
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| During
tens seasons of senior football with West
Adelaide Jos Dailey witnessed both ends of the football
spectrum. When he started with the club in 1902 it was little better
than a chopping block for most opponents and managed just 1 win and a draw
from a dozen matches to finish above only relative newcomers Sturt
on the premiership ladder. When Dailey retired in 1913, however, he
had been a member of no fewer than four league premiership sides, and had
played in three championship
of Australia deciders for two wins.
Dailey, who missed the entire 1904 and 1905 seasons, did not become a regular senior player with West until 1906, when he actually ended up captaining the side for most of the year after regular skipper A.Mesecke was injured. Thereafter, he went from strength to strength. Capable of playing as both a forward and a defender, he probably produced his best football across half forward, from where he could usually be relied on to contribute a goal plus plenty of intelligent link play. Always popular with his team mates, Dailey again captained West between 1910 and 1912, with the last two years yielding premierships. He had earlier played in both the 1908 and 1909 flag winning combinations. Championship of Australia victories against Carlton in 1908 and Essendon three years later capped off a highly memorable career which saw him play a total of 106 senior games, boot 56 goals, and win the West Adelaide fairest and most brilliant award in 1911. |
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Lou Daily (Subiaco, Collingwood, Geelong, Mines Rovers)
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| A
much-travelled footballer, Lou Daily enjoyed notoriety and success in
three competitions. He began his senior career with Subiaco
in 1931 and rapidly established himself as one of the finest defenders in
the WANFL. Next he headed for the VFL, where he played 7 games for Collingwood
in 1933, and 19 for Geelong the following
year. Although primarily a defender, in his first match for the Cats
he booted 10 goals.
Daily returned to Subiaco in 1935 a much better all round player, a fact he emphasised by his promptly winning both the club fairest and best award, and the Sandover Medal (jointly with Swan Districts' George Krepp). He also made the first of an eventual 7 interstate appearances for Western Australia. His good form continued in 1936 and 1937 when he won two further fairest and best awards. He spent most of this phase of his career playing at full back, where he combined strength in the air, superb kicking, and a keen awareness of when to leave his man and chase the ball, and when to stay firmly at 'home'. In 1938, after 92 WANFL games, Daily crossed to Mines Rovers in the GNFL as captain-coach, where he continued to play excellent football, winning a league fairest and best trophy in 1939. He also captained a goldfields representative side to a memorable win over Port Adelaide that same year. Although his playing career was comparatively short, there can be little doubt that, for three or four seasons at least, Lou Daily was one of the finest footballers of his generation. At his peak, he was often compared, in terms of technique and ability, to the great Jack Regan - and full backs do not come any better than the erstwhile Collingwood champion. |
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| Stewart Daily made his Subiaco debut early in the 1928 season and within a few weeks was being described in the 'WA Footballer' as "something above the ordinary" (see footnote 1). Tall and powerfully built, he played most of his early football as a defender, but later developed into a top quality ruckman who could also perform with credit as a key position forward. A peerless high mark, and a superb long kick, when Daily was firing, so were the Maroons. In 1931 he topped the club's goal kicking list with 44 goals, and the following season he is shown in official club records as having won the fairest and best award (although other sources list Peter Mackay as the winner). Between 1928 and 1940 Stewart Daily played a total of 202 league games. He also made 13 interstate appearances for Western Australia, including games at the 1933 Sydney and 1937 Perth carnivals. |
Footnotes1. 'WA Footballer', 2/6/28. Return to Main Text |
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Alan Dale (Essendon, St Kilda, Oakleigh)
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| Essendon recruited Alan Dale locally from Doutta Stars and he worked his way steadily through the ranks before making his senior VFL debut in 1950. Three years earlier he had enjoyed the distinction of winning the first ever Morrish Medal for the best and fairest player in the VFL's under nineteens competition. At the end of his debut season with the seniors he was in the centre as the Dons overcame North Melbourne in the grand final by 38 points. An old fashioned, stay at home type of centreman, he appeared slow, but a combination of strength, guile and excellent anticipation skills enabled him to win more than his fair share of kicks. After four years with Essendon he spent the 1954 and 1955 seasons as captain-coach of Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray Football League. The 1956 season saw him back at Windy Hill, but after just 3 games, which took his final tally with the Bombers to 45, he crossed to St Kilda, where he rounded off his VFL career with 17 games over the ensuing couple of years. Stints at Belgrave, Oakleigh and Mt Waverley brought his senior football career to an end. |
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David Dalgarno (Western Districts) by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher |
| David Dalgarno was a Sherwood junior with excellent leadership qualities and determination that saw him develop quickly into a top ruckman. He commenced his career in 1961 as a seventeen year old, and became the youngest QAFL captain-coach of the post-war era at just twenty-one. He led Wests from 1965-7, and after a decade in the wilderness the Bulldogs lost back-to-back grand finals in the last two of those years. A transfer with his employment to Western Australia saw him named on the 1968 Swan Districts list, but he didn't play owing to interstate clearance restrictions. David Dalgarno returned to coach Wests in 1968. |
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| Centreman Pat Dalton was a key member of Perth's 1966-7-8 premiership teams. Renowned for his work ethic and excellent team sense, he played a total of 217 games for the Demons, winning the club's fairest and best award on two occasions. He enjoyed an especially noteworthy 1970 season, winning not only his second club champion award, but the Sandover Medal, on a countback from Bill Walker of Swan Districts (who was later awarded a retrospective Medal), as well. Somewhat surprisingly, given his reputation as one of the most effective and damaging centremen in the game, Dalton only represented Western Australia once. |
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| Norwood's Peter Dalwood was a powerful if ostensibly cumbersome giant who, predictably, was well nigh unbeatable in the air, but tended to struggle at ground level. He was also a superb exponent of the drop kick, which he favoured. Principally used as a ruckman, he could also hold down a key forward position, and indeed was the Redlegs' leading goal kicker on three occasions, with a league ladder-topping 70 goals in 1946 his best tally. Dalwood's senior SANFL career consisted of 147 games between 1945 and 1954. He was a member of Norwood premiership teams in 1946, 1948 and 1950. In the 1946 grand final against Port Adelaide he booted 5 of the Redlegs' 13 goals to be close to best afield. He was also listed high among the best players after the 5 goals grand final loss to West Adelaide in 1947. Peter Dalwood represented South Australia in the interstate arena half a dozen times, kicking 13 goals. |
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Anthony Daly (Norwood, West Torrens, West Adelaide, South Adelaide, North Adelaide)
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| The first great goalsneak in the South Australian game, 'Bos' Daly began at Norwood and went on to play for West Torrens, West Adelaide, South Adelaide and North Adelaide. He was the SAFA's top goal kicker on a total of seven occasions with three different clubs between 1893 and 1905, and his record of 23 goals in a match, established while playing for Norwood against Adelaide in his debut season, has been equalled (by Ken Farmer) but never bettered. Daly also topped his various clubs' goal kicking lists on thirteen occasions, and tallied 556 goals in 213 games. He played 10 games for South Australia, kicking 9 goals. A premiership player with Norwood on four occasions, Daly was the top goal kicker for his club no fewer than thirteen times. |
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John D. Daly (Norwood & West Adelaide)
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| Widely
acknowledged as the finest rover of his day, John 'Bunny' Daly was at the
forefront of the game for almost twenty years. Commencing at Norwood
in 1887, his blistering pace and exquisite skills of evasion made him a
virtual overnight sensation, and he was one of the main reasons for the
Redlegs' hat trick of premierships between 1887 and '89. In 1888 he
helped his club to an emphatic triumph 3-0 over South
Melbourne in a three match 'Test' series to determine Australia's
champion club.
After twelve seasons and roughly 130 games with Norwood, Daly was forced to move to West Adelaide in 1899 because of a new rule stipulating that players had to play for the club in whose electoral district they resided. At the time, West Adelaide was consistently floundering near the base of the premiership ladder, and although 'Bunny' Daly continued to perform with great distinction, he was unable to improve the club's lot. He retired at the end of the 1904 season after a total of precisely 200 games which spawned four premierships (all for Norwood) and saw him spend time as captain of both of his clubs. He also played 7 times for South Australia. John Daly's brother Anthony was a champion goal kicker with no fewer than five different clubs, while his son, John junior, was a star rover with South Adelaide and South Australia during the 1920s. |
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| John W. Daly was the son of John D. Daly and the nephew of Anthony Daly, and every bit as accomplished a player as either of them. Usually referred to as 'Jack' to distinguish him from his father, he roved with great success in 76 league games for South Adelaide between 1919 and 1924, over the course of which he booted 86 goals. Pacy, tricky and skilful, he loved nothing better than to kick a goal, and was South's leading goal kicker in 1923 with 24 goals. Daly was a member of South Australia's 1921 Perth carnival team, and played a total of 8 interstate matches, kicking 12 goals. |
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| A member of Central District's first ever league team in 1964, Mick Daly shared with Colin Stutley the distinction of being the first ever Bulldogs players to amass 100 senior games. Both players achieved the feat in 1969. A spare parts player for much of his eight season, 139 game, 157 goal senior career, Daly was good enough as a key position forward to top the club's goal kicking list on two occasions, while he arguably produced his best and most consistent football as a centre half back under the coaching of Dennis Jones during the late sixties. Strong, adaptable, and boasting more skill than he was often given credit for, Daly was a popular figure at Elizabeth and his tenure as captain between 1968 and 1970 can, in hindsight, be seen as helping in no small measure to lay the foundations for the club's initial stab at greatness during the early seventies. |
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Gordon Dangerfield (St Kilda & Brighton)
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| Immensely solid, reliable and assured, Gordon Dangerfield was undoubtedly one of St Kilda's finest early defenders. Prior to joining the Saints he had played briefly with Brighton, including the first few matches of the 1908 season when the club commenced in the VFA.. His VFL stint comprised 159 games and 16 goals between 1905 and 1919 (although as indicated he missed the start of the 1908 season because he had briefly returned to Brighton). Most of his football was played across half back, where his pace, good judgement, and excellent aerial ability served him well. Dangerfield was at centre half back for the Saints in the losing challenge final of 1913 against Fitzroy. He captained the club in 1911 and 1915. After his league career was over he returned to his original club, Brighton, initially as a player in 1920, and then as coach the following year, when the side unfortunately ran last.. |
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| Former junior Doug Daniel played a total of 238 first grade games for Queanbeyan, including seven grand finals. When the Tigers overcame the challenge of Ainslie to win the 1988 grand final, Daniel won the Alex Jesaulenko Medal for best afield. A regular ACT representative player, after his retirement as a player he maintained his involvement with Queanbeyan in a variety of coaching roles. |
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Allen Daniels (Claremont, Footscray, Perth)
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| Almost universally known as 'Shorty', Allen Daniels was an extremely talented wingman who began with Claremont in 1979 and was on the interchange bench two years later when the Tigers downed South Fremantle to win their first grand final since 1964. In 1985-6 Daniels played 32 games with Footscray in the VFL, but the promise shown in his first season with the club was undermined to some extent by the effects of a persistent groin injury the following year. Returning to Claremont in 1987 Daniels played just 3 games to take his final tally with the club to 105 before transferring to Perth. Daniels spent the remainder of the 1987 season and the whole of 1988 with the Demons, playing a final 34 WAFL games. He represented Western Australia on 5 occasions. |
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Anthony Daniher (South Melbourne & Essendon)
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| One of four Daniher brothers to play VFL football Anthony Daniher was originally recruited by South Melbourne as a wingman but soon developed into a champion full back. Daniher continued to play for the Swans when they controversially re-located to Sydney in 1982 and all told he played a total of 115 games for the club over the course of six seasons. In 1987 he joined brothers Chris and Terry at Essendon and over the next few years he played probably the best football of his career culminating in selection in the inaugural AFL All Australian team in 1991. An excellent mark and a booming kick - often utilising the by this stage somewhat unfashionable torpedo punt - Anthony was the tallest (at 191cm) and heaviest (90kg) of the Danihers; along with Terry he achieved membership of the league's '200 Club', and together with all three of his league football playing brothers he represented New South Wales in state of origin football. |
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| The youngest, smallest and, arguably, least talented of the four footballing Daniher brothers, Chris Daniher nevertheless performed creditably, if intermittently, at the top level for Essendon over the course of more than a decade. He had great stamina, was strong overhead, and could be used in both attacking and defensive roles. He started many games, including the grand finals of 1990 against Collingwood (lost) and 1993 against Carlton (won), on the interchange bench, although as his career went on he began to be accorded greater responsibility, reflecting his gradual, but very definite, improvement as a player. Between 1987 and 1997 he played a total of 134 senior games, and kicked 40 goals. |
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Neale Daniher (Essendon, Werribee, Melbourne)
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| Possibly
the most naturally gifted, and certainly the unluckiest, of the Daniher
brothers, Neale Daniher seemed to be on the verge of developing into one
of the game's all time great defenders when his career was cruelly
derailed by a serious knee injury, which required a full
reconstruction. That was in 1981, his third league season, during
which he had emphasised his potential by winning Essendon's
best and fairest award, as well as representing Victoria for the second
successive season. He later made two attempts to resurrect his
career, in 1985, and, more concertedly but no more successfully, in
1989-90. Both attempts gave rise to the need for further knee
reconstructions. At his best, Neale Daniher boasted pace, smooth
skills, and commanding aerial prowess. He also had an extremely
sharp football brain, which he would eventually put to good use as coach
of Melbourne, where he has been in charge
since 1998. Prior to that he had undertaken support coaching roles
at both Essendon and Fremantle.
As a player, Neale Daniher made 82 senior appearances for the Bombers, and kicked 32 goals. In 1991 he played with Werribee in the VFA. |
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Terry Daniher (South Melbourne & Essendon)
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| One of four brothers to play VFL football,
Terry Daniher was recruited by South Melbourne
from Ungarie, where he often played both football and rugby league on the same
weekend, in 1976. A year later he played the last of 19 games for the
Swans in their losing elimination final against Richmond; during the close
season he was traded to Essendon in exchange
for centreman Neville
Fields. Terry's brother Neale, who at that stage had
not played a league match, was included as part of what was popularly (although
not perhaps entirely accurately) regarded as one of the most one-sided trades in
league history. What is impossible to deny, however, is that Essendon had
every reason to be delighted with their side of the deal, as both the Daniher
brothers went on to make significant contributions to the club.
As far as Terry is concerned there have been few more popular clubmen in Essendon's illustrious history. Captain of the renowned 1984-5 premiership sides he played a total of 294 games for the Bombers between 1978 and 1992, was best and fairest in 1982, and twice topped the club goalkicking list. Despite being a New South Welshman, he represented Victoria on 10 occasions in so called 'state of origin' football, as well as representing his home state 4 times (all as skipper). He was also Australia's International Rules captain against the Irish in 1987. The nadir of Daniher's career came in 1990 when he was suspended for 12 matches after his involvement in an on field fracas during Essendon's grand final loss to Collingwood. However, he resisted the temptation to retire and in 1991 played in his 20th league final for the Bombers, and his 21st in all. Terry Daniher ended his career on a high note of sorts when he played in Essendon's 1992 reserves grand final defeat of Melbourne. |
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David Darcy (Footscray & South Adelaide)
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| Footscray recruited Dave Darcy from Sunshine YCW and used him initially as a half forward, where he was serviceable but hardly outstanding. At the end of Darcy's debut season of 1963, Bulldogs coach Ted Whitten tried him as a defender during the VFL night series, and his performance levels lifted noticeably. After that, he never looked back, and became one of the most reliable and consistent key position backmen in the league. In 1967 he had to relocate temporarily to South Australia for business reasons, and he spent the year playing for South Adelaide, where his form was outstanding, and he was regarded as unfortunate not to make the state team. Resuming with Footscray in 1968, Darcy carried on playing for another four seasons, taking his final career tally to 133 VFL games. He had also represented the VFL in 4 interstate matches in 1965. In 1972 he was enticed back to South Adelaide as captain-coach. He spent two seasons in the role, steering the consistently under-achieving Panthers to consecutive 9th place finishes, and taking his personal SANFL games tally to 44. In eleven seasons of league football, Dave Darcy never once participated in a finals series. He remained at South as non-playing coach in 1974 and the team managed marginal improvement, winning 7 of its 22 matches to finish 8th, but it was not enough to persuade the club committee to retain his services, and he was replaced by Haydn Bunton junior. |
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| For
most of his thirteen season, 205 game League career Peter Darley was the
archetypal 'man among boys', playing in losing, sometimes woeful, South
Adelaide teams. (The Panthers managed a paltry 37% success rate
over the period.) A fair measure of Darley's stature can be inferred
from his being voted club champion no fewer than seven times. He also
represented the state on 13 occasions and, but for injury, would almost
certainly have done so more frequently as he invariably performed with
great distinction when confronted by top class opposition. (His
selection in the 1969 All
Australian team attests to this.) Hardly surprisingly, Peter
Darley was selected as first ruckman in the Panthers'
official 'Greatest Team'.
One of Darley's most auspicious interstate adversaries, Carlton's John Nicholls, said of him that "he was an inspiring leader and.....good mark, a very strong kick and above all (he knew) how to use his body when positioning for centre bounces and boundary throw-ins". High praise indeed from someone who knew the art of ruckwork better than most. After his league football career was over, Peter Darley played for a time for Hills Football League club Hahndorf. |
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| The archetypal lion-hearted ruckman, Charlie Davey was a mainstay of Carlton sides for eleven consecutive seasons, beginning in 1927, during which time he played a total of 143 VFL games. A VFL carnival representative in Adelaide in 1930 and Sydney three years later, he also spent time as both vice-captain and captain of the Blues. Davey led the Carlton rucks against Richmond in the losing grand final of 1932, but his retirement at the end of the 1937 season robbed him of a chance of playing in a premiership side as the Blues went top in 1938. He was widely acknowledged as one of the finest overhead marks of his day, and was the consummate team player, being - among other things - extremely adept at using his body in order to create space for his smaller team mates. |
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| Recruited from Walhalla, rover Jimmy Davidson made his senior Melbourne debut in 1924 and was a key member two years later of the club's challenge final-winning team against Collingwood. Originally from Walhalla, he was a consistently good performer throughout his nine season, 137 game, 62 goal VFL career. |
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Harold Davie (Melbourne, Carlton, Preston)
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| Despite being lightly built Harry Davie was an excellent key position forward who began his senior career by registering 160 goals in 49 VFL games with Melbourne between 1924 and 1927. He was the Fuchsias' leading goal kicker on two occasions. After a staccato 1928 season (9 games, 26 goals) with Carlton, Davie crossed to VFA club Preston where, after spending his first few years at the goal front, he developed into a more than handy centreman, running fourth in both the Recorder Cup and VFA Medal in 1933. |
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Fred Davies (Carlton & Longford)
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| Fred
Davies was a popular figure at Carlton
during a 125 game, 137 goal VFL career that began in 1941 and ended after
the losing 1st semi final of 1952 against Fitzroy.
He missed four complete seasons being missed because of war service.
Equally at home as a follower or in either key forward position, Davies
was among the best players afield with a 4 goal performance in the Blues'
13.8 (86) to 11.19 (85) grand final victory over Essendon
in 1947. He also played in the losing grand final against the same
opposition two years later. Davies served as Carlton's vice-captain
during his final VFL season.
In 1953 he crossed the Bass Strait after being appointed captain-coach of NTFA club Longford. He spent half a dozen seasons with the Tigers, steering them to three local premierships from four grand finals, plus the 1957 state flag. On the personal front, he won an Association best and fairest award under-written by 'The Mercury' newspaper in 1956. Just three years after retiring as a player Fred Davies passed away at the tragically early age of forty. Precisely forty years later his importance in the history of the Longford Football Club was emphasised when he was selected as captain-coach and first ruckman in the club's official 'Team of the Century'. |
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| After an unconvincing start to his league career as a half forward flanker - he once asked to be dropped because he was so lacking in confidence - Harold Davies managed to re-invent himself with such success that he became acknowledged as one of the game's premier half backs. He played a total of 85 VFL games with St Kilda between 1953 and 1959, kicking 20 goals. Quick, sure and skilful, his predominantly left foot kicking was both penetrative and accurate, and he was selected to represent the 'Big V' before sustaining a serious knee injury that, sadly, was to bring his career to a premature end. |
| Nicknamed
'Welshy', James Davies was a superb ruckman who played for Port between
1896 and 1909, and of whom the great Tom Leahy said "I class him as
one of the great ruckmen of all time. He always made the ball his
objective, and his long, skimming drop kicks on the run were features of
his play" (see footnote 1).
A South Australian intercolonial or interstate representative on 5 occasions, Davies was a member of Port Adelaide premiership teams in 1897, 1903 and 1906. |
Footnotes1. Quoted in 100 Years With The Magpies: The Story Of The Port Adelaide Football Club by A.R. McLean, page 15. Davies' surname was sometimes rendered 'Davis', but the 'Welshy' tag makes 'Davies' seem more probable. Return to Main Text |
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by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher |
| Windsor's Jim Davies was a classy centreman of exemplary character, as well as a great leader on and off the field. He won the De Little Medal three times in the 1930s after also picking up the competition's reserves medal as a teenager. He was captain during his club's astonishing era of five flags in a row from 1936-40. Davies represented Queensland between 1934-9 and led the Maroons in 1938. |
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Neil Davies (Glenelg, Richmond, St Marys, Western Districts)
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Neil Davies enjoyed a varied and mercurial football career in
four competitions but overall his achievements fell a little short of what might
reasonably have been expected for someone possessing his formidable array of
talents.
Touted as 'the next big thing', Davies joined Glenelg from Broken Hill in 1951 and had an immediate, and significant, impact. In only his 2nd senior game, playing in the centre, he comprehensively outpointed his West Torrens opponent Bob Hank and was instrumental in steering the Tigers to a comfortable win. After only 3 games of League football he was selected in the state squad for the forthcoming match against the VFA, and played well as South Australia won by 95 points. The Davies cocktail comprised equal parts aggression, determination, speed and skill, making him, when on form, almost irrepressible. In 1953 he mixed this cocktail to perfection almost every week, winning Glenelg's best and fairest award, and finishing 2nd to South Adelaide's Jim Deane in the Magarey Medal. He was also one of South Australia's most prominent performers at that year's Adelaide carnival, earning All Australian selection as a result. All told, Neil Davies represented South Australia a total of 20 times, kicking 11 goals. In 1955 Neil Davies moved to Richmond in the VFL but he quit the Tigers after just 2 games over what he considered to be his harsh treatment by the club. With time on his hands, Davies decided to see Australia. He ended up in Darwin, where he captain-coached St Marys to a premiership and won the 1955-56 Nichols Medal for good measure. The NTFL ran its competition on Saturday afternoons in those days, and for want of something to do on a Sunday Davies decided to throw in his lot with a local rugby league team. So successful was he in this 'heathen' sport that he attracted the attention of talent scouts from British team Warrington, who enticed him to join them briefly that winter. Come April 1956, however, and Neil Davies was back at the Bay Oval, ready for another season of proper football. He soon showed that he had lost none of his natural ability, winning his second club best and fairest award, and topping Glenelg's goal kicking. The following season he was appointed captain, a position he held for three years, while in 1958 and '59 he coached the side, steering them to a rare preliminary final in the latter year. With the addition of leadership responsibilities, Neil Davies' personal form began to decline somewhat. That is not to suggest that he became a poor player, merely that he no longer seemed able to perform at his very best as consistently as during the early part of his career. He retired from League football at the end of the 1963 season. Davies left Glenelg at the end of the 1963 season and spent the final 4 seasons of his league career with Western Districts in Queensland, during which time he also represented Queensland's interstate team. |
|
Rick Davies (Sturt, Hawthorn, South Adelaide)
[Click to enlarge] |
| If
he is probably best remembered today for his Herculean performance for Sturt
against Port Adelaide in the 1976 SANFL
grand final, Rick Davies nevertheless enjoyed numerous other highlights
during the course of his 370 game league career with three clubs. Far
and away the majority of those games (317) were played with the Double
Blues, for whom he made his debut as an eighteen year old during a 1970 season
that brought the club the last of its extraordinary, near record breaking
sequence of five premierships. Davies did not participate in that
season's winning grand final against Glenelg,
but from 1971 he became a regular fixture in a Sturt team that would spend
the next three seasons re-building before re-emerging as the state's
definitive football force in 1974.
Having played much of his early football as a forward, Davies had developed into a top notch ruckman by the time of the 1974 grand final which saw the Double Blues overcome the challenge of reigning premier Glenelg by 15 points. Davies was a widespread choice as best afield that day, the perfect consummation of a season which had also seen him claim the second of an eventual seven club best and fairest awards. Two years later, the SANFL grand final saw a Sturt side which, in the public imagination at least, occupied the role of 'David', fronting up to Port Adelaide's 'Goliath' in front of an all time record crowd officially given as 66,897, but almost certainly at least 10,000 more. It proved to be one of the most memorable afternoons in South Australian football, with Davies' deceptively casual 21 kick, 21 handball, 15 mark, 21 hit-out performance the most eye-catchingly significant feature of the Double Blues' eventual 41 point win. "From the beginning of 1974 to the end of 1976 he (Davies) controlled every match he played in," recalled team mate Phil 'Sandy' Nelson years later. "For those 60 or 70 games he had football by the short and curlies. Very few people could do that. Rick did it." (See footnote 1) When Sturt next contested a grand final, in 1978, Rick Davies was again prominent, but on this occasion it was Norwood which assumed the role of indefatigable underdog to perfection in scoring an improbable come from behind victory by the narrowest margin. Despite the fact that he was clearly nearing the end of his career, Davies opted to spend the 1981 season with Hawthorn in the VFL. Playing mainly as a forward pocket, he booted 37 goals in 20 games and, if his abilities had dimmed somewhat since his halcyon phase of the mid-1970s, he nevertheless looked totally at home in a competition which was on a fast track towards unrivalled national pre-eminence. The closing seasons of Davies' league career saw him acquire a new reputation as one of the most damaging key position forwards around, topping Sturt's goal kicking list every year from 1982-4, and that of South Adelaide, where he went as captain-coach after Don Scott was sacked in 1985, both that year and the next. In 1983, he topped the SANFL's goal kicking with 151 goals, a new league record. A regular South Australian interstate representative (20 appearances) in both the pre- and post-state of origin eras, Davies was selected as captain of the 1980 All Australian team after that year's Adelaide carnival. His inclusion in Sturt's official 'Team of the Century' as 1st ruckman was presumably almost automatic. |
Footnotes1. Quoted in True Blue: the History of the Sturt Football Club by John Lysikatos, page 255. Return to Main Text |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| West
Torrens' Edwin Daviess (the double 's' is correct) was arguably the
premier South Australian full back of the immediate post-World War One
era. He represented South Australia at both the 1921
Perth and 1924 Hobart carnivals,
and all told played a total of 8 games for his state. Extremely
solid and reliable, he was an expert at the full back's art of racing out
from goal to meet the ball and then clearing it with interest back toward
the centre of the ground. Strong overhead, he knew when to spoil,
and when to try for the mark, and was rarely caught out of position.
His 107 SAFL games for Torrens included the challenge final of 1924, when
he was one of the best players afield in the blue and golds' 8 point win
over Sturt (reviewed here).
Daviess, who captained his club in 1922, would be the outright favourite
to occupy the full back position should any official 'all time great' West
Torrens team ever be selected.
In 1937 Daviess returned to Torrens as non-playing coach, leading the side as far as the semi final, where, in what was his sole season in charge, it lost by 50 points to South Adelaide. |
|
Alan Davis (St Kilda, Melbourne, Essendon, Collingwood)
[Click to enlarge] |
| An audaciously talented forward, capable of the spectacular, Alan Davis began his VFL career with St Kilda in a blaze of glory by being the youngest player in the club's 1966 grand final victory over Collingwood. He went on to spend a decade with the Saints, playing 173 VFL games and kicking 303 goals which included club list topping tallies of 70 in 1971 and 48 in 1973. He moved to Melbourne in 1976 and added 41 games and 36 goals over the next two seasons before playing 33 games and booting 27 goals for Essendon in 1978-9. His final port of call was Collingwood where he added just 3 games and a goal in 1980. Far and away his best football, which included VFL interstate representation, came during his stint with St Kilda, when for a time his penchant for the freakishly unexpected made him one of the VFL's top drawcards. |
|
Barry Davis (Essendon & North Melbourne)
[Click to enlarge] |
| In addition to being without doubt one
of the greatest figures in the post-war history of the Essendon Football
Club, Barry Davis can lay claim to having been North
Melbourne's first ever VFL premiership captain.
Recruited by the Bombers from Essendon High School, Davis made his league debut in 1961 and immediately stamped himself as a star in the making. Initially used mainly as a half forward, by the time of Essendon's victorious 1962 grand final against Carlton he formed one third, along with Ian 'Bluey' Shelton and Alec 'Kookaburra' Epis, of one of the greatest half back lines in VFL history. Three years later Davis was once again on the half back line on grand final day, and was one of the best players on view as the Bombers comfortably overcame St Kilda. Allying tremendous toughness to his iridescent all round football ability, Barry Davis seemed to get better with each passing year. A regular 'Big V' representative, he won Essendon's premier individual award on three occasions, and was runner-up once, but in 1973 he controversially jumped ship to North Melbourne, where he was promptly appointed club captain, after being at the centre of a controversial row over player payments. Davis could not have arrived at North at a better time as, under dynamic coach Ronald Dale Barassi, the Roos were at long last beginning to emerge as a power. In 1974 they reached only their second VFL grand final in half a century, and although they were forced to accept second billing on that occasion to an extremely powerful Richmond combination it was obvious that they were very much a side on the make. The following year, with Davis in the twilight of his glittering career, the Roos went all the way courtesy of an exhilarating grand final win over warm pre-match favourite Hawthorn. Barry Davis, who by this time had developed into one of the best running players in the game, was a key contributor to North's triumph, and after winning his second club best and fairest award in three seasons he opted to quit while he was ahead, and retired. In 291 VFL games spread over fifteen seasons he was one of the few players of his time genuinely to warrant the title 'superstar'. In 1978 he returned to his original stamping ground at windy Hill as non-playing senior coach of the Bombers, but after three seasons of under-achievement opted to do the honorable thing by resigning. Barry Davis was selected on a half back flank in Essendon's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century', and on the interchange bench in North Melbourne's. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Boasting
pace, power and panache in abundance, Bob 'Woofa' Davis appropriately went
by the nickname of 'The Geelong Flier'. As a half forward flanker he
made significant contributions to the Cats' premiership victories of 1951
and '52, and was voted club best and fairest in 1957. Originally
from Golden Point, Davis was an avid South
Melbourne supporter as a youngster but when that club rejected him he
tried his luck with the Cats, who immediately snapped him up.
Between 1948 and 1958 he played 189 VFL games, kicking 149 goals. A
regular 'Big V' representative, Bob Davis earned All
Australian selection, as captain, in 1958. He also captained Geelong
in his last four seasons with the club. Appointed coach of the Cats
in 1960 he was successful in guiding the club to a grand final victory
over Hawthorn three seasons later. He
went on to enjoy a
successful media career.
In 2001, Bob Davis was selected in his accustomed half forward flank position in Geelong's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'. |
|
Frank Davis (Melbourne & Frankston)
[Click to enlarge] |
| Back pocket specialist Frank Davis was a tremendous servant of the Melbourne Football Club in 168 VFL games spread over ten seasons. He made his Demons debut in 1964, and managed to keep his place in the side until the finals series, in which Melbourne ultimately prevailed. In the titanic grand final tussle with Collingwood Davis actually played on a half back flank, but his usual position for most of his career, including interstate matches for the VFL, was the back pocket. In 1970 Frank Davis was appointed captain of the Demons, and celebrated by winning a best and fairest award that same year. He retained the captaincy until the end of the 1972 season. In 1980 he took on the coaching role at VFA 1st division club Frankston but the team performed poorly and he was replaced later in the season by Ian Bremner. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Undoubtedly one of the finest key position defenders of his era, Jack Davis won best and fairest awards at St Kilda in 1934-5 and 1937, and was a regular member of 'Big V' representative sides. Between 1930 and 1938 he played a total of 153 VFL games for the Saints and would, presumably, have been a strong contender for inclusion in the club's official 'Team of the Century', announced in 2002. Unfortunately for Davis, the 1930s was a fairly thankless decade for St Kilda, with the club's only finals appearance coming in 1939, the year after Davis had elected to call it quits. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Hard working and tough as nails, with an excellent leap, ruckman Tom Davis was the only Perth player to feature in both the club's 1955 and 1966 premiership teams. Indeed, his 220 game, 129 goal league career ran between the two years in question, ending with an appearance as 19th man in the 1966 grand final defeat of East Perth. A Western Australian interstate representative on a couple of occasions, he was perhaps overshadowed during his career by the likes of Farmer, Clarke, Foley and Slater, but opponents underestimated him at their peril. |
| An extremely capable footballer who exuded ardent concentration and fixity of purpose in everything he did, Jim Dawes played a total of 128 senior games for South Adelaide between 1934 and 1941, plus another 23 for the Sturt-South Adelaide wartime combination. A glorious high mark, and a fine kick, he helped South to premiership wins in 1935 and 1938, both times at the expense of Port Adelaide. (The 1938 grand final is reviewed here.) He represented South Australia 3 times. After his retirement as a player, he served as a league umpire for a time, and in 1948 officiated at two finals matches. Appointed non-playing coach of South Adelaide in 1949 he spent two seasons in the role. However, in complete contrast to his time as a player with the club, this was a rankly inglorious period, and Dawes oversaw just 4 wins in 34 matches. |
|
John 'Jack' Dawes (South Adelaide)
[Click to enlarge] |
| 'Jack'
Dawes played 120 league games for South
Adelaide between 1935 and 1941, many of them alongside his older
brother Jim. He also played 21 games during the war years for the
temporary Sturt-South Adelaide combined team. Jeff
Pash called him "a polished footballer in all respects, and one
of the best leaders I have known" (see footnote 1).
His finest hour came when he skippered South to a startling 23.14 (152) to
15.16 (106) grand final defeat of Port
Adelaide in 1938 (click here for a
match report). The previous year he had won both the club
best and fairest trophy and its top goal kicking award, and represented
South Australia at the Perth carnival.
He captained South between 1938 and 1941, during which time it enjoyed a success
rate of over 65%.
Jack Dawes was named in the forward pocket in South Adelaide's official 'Greatest Team'. |
Footnotes1. The Pash Papers by Jeff Pash, page 38. Return to Main Text |
|
Ian Day (West Adelaide & South Adelaide)
[Click to enlarge] |
| An
accomplished and combative rover, Ian Day gave good service to two league
clubs in a twelve season career at the top level. He began at West
Adelaide in 1952, and played a total of 67 league matches there
(missing the whole of the 1953 season) before crossing to South
Adelaide in 1961. The timing of this move meant that he missed
the opportunity later that year to participate in West's grand final
defeat of Norwood, but he made amends three
seasons later by helping South to its first flag since 1938. Day
formed part of a powerful 1st ruck combination that day along with Peter
Darley and Neil
Kerley, and had the satisfaction of kicking the Panthers' 9th, and
final, goal of the match. It was the last of Ian Day's 68 SANFL
matches for the club. He also kicked a total of 178 goals, 80 with Westies, and
98 for South which included a club list heading tally of 35 in his last
season.
Ian Day's younger brother Robert played with distinction for West Adelaide and Hawthorn. Once his playing career was over, Ian Day became a television football commentator of note. |
|
Robert Day (West Adelaide & Hawthorn)
[Click to enlarge] |
| After
making his league debut with West
Adelaide in 1962, Robert Day, younger brother of Ian,
rapidly established himself as one of the
finest centremen in South Australia. Speedy, strong, well balanced,
and elegant, he was a driving force behind West's assault on the 1962
premiership. In the grand final that year he was widely considered
to be the best player afield, despite playing in a losing side.
One of the most eye-catching features of Day's game was his kicking. According to Jeff Pash, his "long drop is a most handsome and powerful kick. He puts the ball well out, lies back on it, and gets it away with an elegant ease" (see footnote 1). Between 1963 and 1966 it is doubtful if there was a more damaging centreman in the game, a status confirmed by his selection in that position in the 1966 All Australian team. Sadly, over the remainder of his career, Day was beset by frequent injuries, although he managed to perform with some of his old consistency in 1969, achieving selection as centreman in the 'Advertiser' Team of the Year, and in 1970 he won his third club best and fairest award. The following season he ventured to Hawthorn for a stint in the VFL, and the long overdue fulfillment of every footballer's primary ambition, participation in a premiership team. Day was on a half back flank as the Hawks overcame St Kilda by 7 points, but after putting in a solid first half performance he was forced from the fray with injury. After another season in the VFL he returned to West for one last season, with niggling injuries continuing to limit his effectiveness, as a total of just 175 league games in twelve seasons of football confirms. Day also played for South Australia a dozen times, kicking 2 goals. |
Footnotes1. The Pash Papers by Jeff Pash, page 234. Return to Main Text |
|
Clem Dayman (North Adelaide & Port Adelaide)
[Click to enlarge] |
| A formidably effective forward and follower, Clem Dayman enjoyed success with two league clubs, besides representing South Australia in the interstate arena 7 times. He commenced his career with North Adelaide, and was heavily instrumental in that club's emergence as a force when league football in South Australia resumed in 1919 following a three year hiatus because of the Great War. Dayman was North's top goal kicker in 1919 with 18 goals, and during that season's marathon finals series (described here) he vied with the legendary Tom Leahy as his side's most effective all round contributor. It was after crossing to Port Adelaide, however, that he truly established himself as one of the foremost footballers in the league. Between 1921 and 1925 he played 69 games for the Magpies, including the winning challenge final of 1921 against Norwood. Skipper of the club in 1923, he is listed by some sources as its fairest and most brilliant award recipient in 1922, although according to certain other sources the award went to Charlie Adams. Nevertheless, he was a highly respected figure at Alberton who, along with his younger brother Leslie, implemented something of a mini dynasty at the club, with his son Lisle Dayman later representing both Port Adelaide and the state with distinction during the 1940s. |
|
Leslie 'Bro' Dayman (Port Adelaide, Footscray, Coburg)
[Click to enlarge] |
| Almost
invariably known as 'Bro', Les Dayman arrived at Port
Adelaide from the Salisbury Football Club in 1921, the same season
that saw his brother Clem transfer to the Magpies from North
Adelaide. A dominating presence whether in a key position or as
a ruckman, 'Bro' Dayman was without doubt one of the Port Adelaide
Football Club's all time greats. In his debut season he was an
auspicious contributor to Port's first post-war premiership, and
throughout the 1920s he went on to prove himself one of the game's finest
exponents. Powerful overhead, and abundantly skilled, he won Port
Adelaide's best and fairest award on three occasions and topped the club's
goal kicking four times. He was the league's top goal kicker in 1929
with 86 goals, and was a near automatic choice for South Australia for
much of his time in that state, playing a total of 19 interstate matches
and booting 30 goals.
After 165 games for the Magpies, Dayman was enticed east by Footscray in 1932. He played 33 VFL games in three seasons for the Tricolours, topping their goal kicking list in his first year with 37 goals. He continued his senior career with a brief stint at Coburg in the VFA before rounding things off back home with Port Adelaide where he added a final league game to his tally in 1937. He kicked a total of 401 goals for the Magpies. After World War Two 'Bro' Dayman returned to Port Adelaide and served in a variety of off field capacities including secretary and coach of the club's seconds. At the turn of the century he was named at centre half forward in Port's official 'Greatest Team 1870 to 2000'. |
|
Bert Deacon (Preston & Carlton)
{Click to enlarge] |
| Somewhat
surprisingly for a club with such an illustrious pedigree, it took Carlton
twenty-seven years to come up with its first Brownlow
Medallist in the shape of virtuoso centre half back Bert
Deacon.
As fair as he was talented, Deacon began and finished his senior career with VFA side Preston. He joined the Blues in 1942, and was a key member of premiership teams in both 1945 and his Brownlow year. Strong overhead and brilliant at ground level, he effectively constituted the first line of attack for the Blues, with his superb anticipation frequently enabling him to intercept the ball and return it with interest, almost invariably to his team's advantage. In 1952, Deacon returned to his original club Preston as captain-coach. He was regarded as having "an excellent rapport with his players" (see footnote 1), but it was not until he began to coach the team from the sidelines that this began to bear fruit. In 1955 the Bullants qualified for the finals for the first time since the war, and although they would not win a premiership for another 8 seasons there is little doubt that Deacon was instrumental in laying a foundation of professionalism on which his successors were able to build. In 1958, Bert Deacon returned to Carlton as vice-president, and later served as club secretary. |
Footnotes1. The Bullants: a History of Preston Football Club by Marc Fiddian, page 44. Return to Main Text |
|
Jack Dean (Eastern Suburbs & Sydney Naval)
|
| Ruckman Jack Dean was a leading light in the Eastern Suburbs teams which dominated Sydney football during the 1950s. He made his senior debut for the club as a seventeen year old and went on to play in six consecutive premiership teams between 1953 and 1958. After coaching in the country in 1959-60 he returned for one last season with Eastern Suburbs in 1961, taking his final tally of games with that club to 310, before rounding off his career with 45 games for Sydney Naval between 1962 and 1966. Dean, who was Sydney born and bred, won Eastern Suburbs' best and fairest award on four occasions and was voted New South Wales' best player at the 1958 centenary carnival in Melbourne. He represented New South Wales 25 times, and, in 2003, was selected as one of ten inaugural members of the Sydney AFL Hall of Fame. Between 1970 and 1982 Jack Dean was president of Eastern Suburbs, overseeing another highly auspicious era in the club's illustrious history. |
|
Robert Dean (Collingwood & South Melbourne)
[Click to enlarge] |
| A product of Ivanhoe Amateurs, Robert Dean was recruited by Collingwood, and made his VFL debut in 1969. Tall (189cm), athletic and pacy, the Magpies used him mainly on the wing. His 121 games for the club between 1969 and 1975 included the infamous losing grand final of 1970 against Carlton (reviewed here). In 1976 he crossed to South Melbourne where his aerial prowess was utilised to good effect at centre half forward. He topped the Swans' goal kicking list in his first season at the club with 37 goals, and went on to amass 81 in 66 games over five seasons to add to the 37 he had booted for the Magpies. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Roger Dean epitomised perhaps more than anyone else the quintessential 'Tiger spirit' with which Tom Hafey imbued Richmond after his appointment as coach in 1967. Tremendously resolute and determined, but also highly skilled, he played in two premiership sides during his 246 game league career with the Tigers. He was skipper of the club for four seasons, including the premiership year of 1969. Normally a permanent back pocket, Dean could also do a job on the forward lines if required, plundering many a goal for the Tigers from free kicks for which he 'staged' with unequalled virtuosity. |
|
Colin Deane (New Town, Melbourne, St Kilda)
[Click to enlarge] |
| A
forthright and terrier-like rover, who kicked the ball beautifully, Colin
Deane played his early football with New Town
during that club's first few seasons in the TANFL. Recognised as one
of the league's finest players, he was a regular member of TANFL intrastate
representative teams, and played for Tasmania at the
1924 Hobart carnival. The following year he moved to Melbourne,
where he gave excellent service in 82 games over the course of the next
six seasons. He was a member of the Fuchsias' 1926
premiership-winning team, and played interstate football for the
VFL. In contrast to his time in the TANFL, Deane played most of his
football in Victoria as a follower.
After leaving Melbourne, Deane spent some time in New Zealand before returning as coach of the club's seconds team, which he promptly steered to the flag, in 1932. The following year he returned to senior football as captain-coach of St Kilda. After playing just 3 games, however, he retired as a player in order to concentrate on coaching, but a return of just 6 wins from 18 games for 9th place on the ladder was not good enough for him to retain his position for 1934. |
|
Jim Deane (South Adelaide & Richmond)
[Click to enlarge] |
| Arguably
the most famous name in the post-war history of the South
Adelaide Football Club, Jim Deane won the 1953 Magarey
Medal and was runner-up on a countback in 1957 (see
footnote 1), claimed half a dozen club best and fairest awards, was an
automatic selection in South Australian interstate teams (15 appearances,
and 12 goals), and yet never
played in a single major round match in a league career stretching twelve seasons, which included a two year stint at Richmond.
His reputation transcended state boundaries, and in the early 1950s he was
widely regarded as the best half forward flank specialist in Australia, a
status which was endorsed by his consistent selection in that position in
the prestigious 'Sporting
Life' Team of the Year.
As a player, Deane possessed all the attributes necessary to succeed in the tough and frenetic world of the VFL: powerful and resilient, no matter how heavy the traffic he almost always seemed able to get his hands on the ball and off load it purposefully. Whereas contemporaries like Bob Hank or Lindsay Head were masters at dodging and pirouetting their way out of trouble, Jim Deane seemed almost to glory in confronting it head on. He picked up numerous injuries as a result, but this eschewing of personal safety in the interests of the team arguably made him a more effective and valuable player. After his league career came to an end in 1957, Deane continued as a player in country football for the better part of another decade. He captain-coached Myrtleford in the powerful Ovens and Murray Football League from 1958-62, winning the Morris Medal for best and fairest in the competition twice. He spent his final seasons as a player in Port Pirie. In 1971, Jim Deane returned 'home' to South Adelaide as non-playing coach, but in two seasons in charge he was unable to lift the side above second from bottom on the ladder. |
Footnotes1. In 1998, the SANFL awarded all such runners-up retrospective Medals. |
