Australian Football

John Dawes - usually referred to as ‘Jack’ - 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”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, who averaged nearly two goals a came over the course of his career, was named in the forward pocket in South Adelaide’s official ‘Greatest Team’. His brother Jim was also a highly capable footballer who enjoyed a successful 128 game League career with the blue and whites.

Author - John Devaney