Career: 1963-1980; 1973-1975 North Melbourne, 1976-1980 South Melbourne
Games: 336; 70 North Melbourne, 260 South Melbourne, 6 Fitzroy
Goals: 10; 2 North Melbourne, 8 South Melbourne
Brownlow Medal: 51 career votes
Guernsey number: 5
Height: 183 cm.
Weight: 76 kg.
DOB: December 9th.1943 (Debut 19y 132d, last game 36y 166d)

John began his senior football career at the tender age of eleven with Scotts Creek. It was common practice in the 50s and 60s for young players to play senior football at an early age . He was recruited from Cobden by South Melbourne in 1963 and played for Victoria in his first season. This light weight skinny kid became an out standing half back flanker and took over as captain in 1972.

With the introduction of the ten year rule by the VFL, John was recruited by Ron Joseph to North along with several other key players to be part of Norths plan to win a flag. His ambition was to play in a premiership side, a wish that came true when he was a member of 1975 premiership team. Although John only played 70 games with North Melbourne he left behind an indelible imprint.

He won the Syd Barker Medal in 1974 and is a member of the North Melbourne Team of the century. In a strange twist of fate John returned to South Melbourne in 1976 again at the request of Ron Joseph who had moved there as club secretary. He played there until 1979 finishing his long and successful career with six games at the Fitzroy football club the following year.

For a short period he would hold the league record for games played with 336.

Profile from 'The North Story'

VFL/AFL: 7437th player to appear
North Melbourne: 655th player to appear

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