Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
John Brake

Known as
Jack Brake

Born
11 November 1890

Place of birth
Horsham, VIC (3400)

Died
16 May 1970 (aged 79)

Place of death
Castlemaine, VIC (3450)

Occupation
Agriculturist, Farmer

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 234d
Last game: 30y 198d

Height and weight
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 92 kg

Senior clubs
University; Melbourne

Jumper numbers
University: 2, 10, 1
Melbourne: 10

Recruited from
University (1915)

State of origin
VIC

Jack Brake

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
UniversityV/AFL1909-191481210.2619%0
MelbourneV/AFL1915, 1920-19211720.1253%0
V/AFL1909-1915, 1920-192198230.2324%0
Total1909-1915, 1920-192198230.2324%0

AFL: 1,543rd player to appear, 2,481st most games played, 3,401st most goals kickedUniversity: 43rd player to appear, 3rd most games played, 11th most goals kickedMelbourne: 325th player to appear, 626th most games played, 741st most goals kicked

The many friends of that fine athlete and ex-University and Melbourne Footballer. Jack Brake, will be pleased to hear that all was well with him as late as Feb. 4, on which date a cable gram was received in Melbourne from him. After about six months’ training in England he left for the French front on the last day of the year, December 31, 1916, since which date he has been in the firing line. An interesting relic arrived from him the other day in the shape of the jersey in which he played in the great Australian Football match in London on October 28 last. It has the map of Australia worked on the front of it, and is neatly done.¹

Jack Brake joined University in 1909, the club's second season in the VFL, and went on to become one of its most consistent performers over several years. A fine ruckman, he had played 81 games and kicked 21 goals for the Students by the time he crossed to Melbourne in 1915. Brake embarked on military service soon after that, and later took part in the famous A.I.F match at Queen's Park in London. 

In 1920 he resumed his VFL career with Melbourne, and continued until the following season, by which time he had played 17 VFL games for the club, and kicked a couple of goals. During his time with University he represented the VFL against South Australia in 1912.

For over twenty years he chaired the VFL's tribunal and between 1949 and 1955 was chairman of the commissioners who reviewed club boundaries.

Author - John Devaney

Footnotes

1. “Winner”, 7/3/1917, page 8.

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications, Crème de la Crème

Footnotes

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