Australian Football

A member for a time of Richmond's junior team, Beverley, Jack James was not given the opportunity to join the senior side because it was felt that he was too small. Instead, he moved to South Yarra, but after a short time there he was snapped up by St Kilda, who could obviously see that, despite his diminutive stature, he possessed all the skills and mental attributes necessary to succeed. Between 1915 and 1924 James played 123 VFL games for the Saints and was almost universally regarded as one of the finest rovers in the game.

Quick, agile and superbly balanced, James could kick equally well with both feet, and was renowned for his ability to find team mates up to 40 metres distant with low, piercing, 'daisy cutter' style passes. He was also extremely dangerous near goal, especially when resting in a forward pocket, and topped St Kilda's goal kicking list three times. After missing the second half of the 1925 season, he crossed the following year, ironically, to Richmond, where he finished his career. During that career he represented the VFL several times, including the 1924 Hobart carnival, and was perhaps unfortunate that the Brownlow Medal did not commence prior to 1924, as he was the sort of conspicuously energetic player who tends to attract votes.

Author - John Devaney