Jack Jones (Australian rules footballer)

Jack Jones
Personal information
Date of birth (1924-11-07) 7 November 1924
Place of birth Ascot Vale
Original team(s) Ascot Vale CYMS
Debut Rd. 1 1946, Essendon
vs. Footscray, at Western Oval
Height / weight 185 cm, 85 kg
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1946–1954 Essendon 175 (156)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1954.
Career highlights

Jack Jones (born 7 November 1924) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League (VFL), who played for the Essendon Football Club.

Early life

Born in Ascot Vale,[1] a suburb deep in the Bomber heartland, he was the second youngest of six children. He saw his first game at Windy Hill in 1933 aged eight, the day Dick Reynolds debuted.[2]

Jones served with the 24th Infantry Battalion in New Guinea and Bougainville, before returning home. On his return, Jones was asked to train with Essendon team, becoming a regular player for the Bombers.[1]

Career

He began his career at Essendon in 1946 wearing the number 24 jumper, and went on to play 175 games and kick 156 goals.[2] Jones could be dangerous on a half-forward flank as well as taking a fair share of the ruck work.[2] He used his speed to the full by continually breaking into the open. He also thrilled fans with his high-marking and was a good long kick, and was considered one of the fastest big men in the game.

Between 1946 and 1952, Jones played in 133 consecutive games, a feat no Essendon player has bettered. He also never played in the Seconds, missing senior games only through injury.[2]

He played during one of the club's golden eras alongside champions like Reynolds, Coleman and Hutchison.[2] He was a reserve in the 1946 premiership team and starred on the half-forward flank in the 1949 premiership team. He was also in that spot in the 1950 premiership win. In all, he played in 18 finals games and seven Grand Finals.

He was vice-captain of the State side against a Country team in 1951, and won Essendon's best utility player award in 1946, 1947, 1949 and 1954 and the best clubman award in 1953.

Post football

After leaving Essendon, Jones became captain-coach of Albury[2] from 1955 to 1959 and then coached Kergundah in 1960. He later umpired in the Albury & District League for two years.

He has maintained a long association with Essendon over the years,[2] running tours at Windy Hill and hosting sponsors and guests on match day as well as speaking to players and providing inspiration.[1]

In 2010, Essendon announced the 'Jack Jones Academy', a development program for all first, second and third year players.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McFarlane, Glenn (4 April 2010). "Digger Jack Jones guides young Essendon guns". Herald Sun. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Connolly, Rohan (24 April 2011). "Lucky Jack counts his Bomber blessings". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
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