Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
John Herbert Devine

Known as
John Devine

Born
22 June 1940

Place of birth
Colac, VIC (3250)

Died
29 January 2023 (aged 82)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 301d
Last game: 26y 73d

Height and weight
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Senior clubs
Geelong; North Hobart

Jumper numbers
Geelong: 9

State of origin
VIC

John Devine

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
GeelongV/AFL1960-196611860.0564%16.082.433.758
North HobartTANFL1967-1973
Total1960-197311860.05

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 7,121st player to appear, 1,944th most games played, 5,969th most goals kickedGeelong: 642nd player to appear, 132nd most games played, 489th most goals kicked

Originally from Colac, John Devine gave Geelong excellent service in 118 VFL games between 1960 and 1966. Most frequently used as a half back flanker he was regarded as one of the toughest players in football’s toughest competition. When the Cats trounced Hawthorn in the 1963 grand final only ‘Polly’ Farmer earned more plaudits than Devine for his performance on the day.

In 1967 John Devine crossed the Bass Strait to assume the coaching mantle at TANFL side North Hobart who were the competition’s reigning wooden spooners. In 1967 Devine transformed the inexperienced cellar dwellers into the best team in the league, and indeed arguably the whole of Tasmania. They won that season’s premiership and followed it up with two more in 1969 and 1973. Devine had 'retired' as a player after the 1971 season but he resumed in 1974 and continued for two years before retiring in  earnest.

In 2005 John Devine was inducted into the official Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; Wikipedia article; AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame website a thttps://afltashalloffame.com.au/legends/94-john-devine/

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.