Jim Main's greatest 100: John Schultz
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THE VFL’s Brownlow Medal is awarded each year to the fairest and best player in the senior competition. Emphasis is on the “fairest”, and there have been few fairer footballers in the VFL than Footscray ruck champion John Schultz. This, combined with his superb ruck work, won him the 1960 Brownlow Medal.
Schultz, a country boy, joined Footscray from Boort and quickly established himself as the Bulldogs’ number one ruckman. He started his career with Footscray in 1958, when they were a poor team, usually struggling at the bottom of the ladder. But Schultz’s arrival seemed to give them the lift they needed. He gave the rovers an armchair ride with his great palming and tapping, and he took countless marks around the ground.
Schultz was just about the complete ruckman. He could ruck, mark, kick goals when needed and was an absolutely tireless work-horse. He never gave in and always put his body right into the line of fire.
Schultz’s win in the 1960 Brownlow Medal was no surprise as he played magnificently throughout the season. However, he was not the favorite. ln fact, Schultz collected 20 votes to pip Fitzroy champion Kevin Murray by just one vote. North Melbourne's Laurie Dwyer was third a further vote away, and Fitzroy’s Wally Clark was a surprising fourth on 17 votes.
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There was no doubt that Clark had cost Murray a Brownlow, or vice versa. They had taken votes from each other, leaving the Brownlow to Schultz. The win was an extremely popular one, and not only with Footscray supporters. Schultz had a gigantic reputation as a gentle Goliath. He handed out bumps and thumps alright, but only in times of need. He was never known to throw a punch or elbow in anger.
Schultz worked tirelessly for Footscray and his reward came in 1961 when the Bulldogs made the finals. They had finished fourth in the home and away series. They defeated St Kilda in the first semi-final, and then Melbourne in the preliminary final to come up against Hawthorn in the Grand Final. The Bulldogs, coached by Ted Whitten, were no match for the Hawks and went down by 43 points. lt was Schultz's only grand final appearance.
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Although the big fellow with the giant hands played 208 games for Footscray, he was never club captain. He played all his senior football in the Ted Whitten era, backing up the great man as vice-captain for many years. In fact, it would be fair to say that Schultz was probably the greatest player never to captain a Footscray side. He did captain them when Whitten was injured or interstate, but never in his own right.
Schultz was a great team man in his prime, and still is. He gives specialised ruck coaching at Footscray and his work with youngsters and even the Bulldog champions is greatly appreciated. Footscray owe a huge debt to Schultz, one of their truly great players.
Footnotes
This is an excerpt from Australian Rules 100 Greatest Players, by Jim Main. Published by the K.G. Murray Publishing Company in 1977. Click here to read Jim Main's 2013 article, in which he revisited and revised his 100 greatest players.
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