AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Full name
John Vincent Regan
Known as
Jack Regan
Born
12 September 1912
Died
11 August 1988 (aged 75)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 17y 247d
Last game: 33y 325d
Height and weight
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Senior clubs
Collingwood
Jumper numbers
Collingwood: 27, 32, 20, 24, 25, 16, 22, 18, 23, 1, 2
Recruited from
Northcote (1930); Collingwood (1947)
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Collingwood | V/AFL | 1930-1941, 1943, 1946 | 196 | 3 | 0.02 | 69% | 12.23 | — | 5.08 | 97 |
Kalgoorlie City | GNFL | 1947-1949 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Total | 1930-1941, 1943, 1946-1949 | 196 | 3 | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — |
Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only
AFL: 3,681st player to appear, 697th most games played, 7,122nd most goals kickedCollingwood: 328th player to appear, 39th most games played, 651st most goals kicked
Given the fact that he played during an era replete with champion full forwards, Jack Regan's consistent success as a 'goalkeeper' lends a fair amount of credence to claims that he was the greatest ever custodian of that position. The main secret of his success was his uncanny aerial judgement which enabled him repeatedly to outmark - often from seemingly outlandish positions behind his man - even the Pratts, Mohrs and Vallences of this world. As his career went on and his confidence grew, Regan's repertoire expanded to include strong rebounding skills, vigorous - but always scrupulously fair - close-checking, and an accurate, penetrating kick.
Jack Regan's VFL career with the Magpies saw him play 196 games between 1930 and 1941 and in 1943 and 1946. He also played regular interstate football for Victoria.
Arguably Regan's most memorable performance in a glittering career came in the 1935 VFL Grand Final when his containment of star South Melbourne goalsneak Laurie Nash (who managed just a single goal for the game) was instrumental in securing the Magpies' 11.12 (78) to 7.16 (58) victory. When this Grand Final result was repeated a year later he was oncve again one of the best players on view.
In 1947, Jack Regan was appointed captain-coach of GNFL club Kalgoorlie City, whom he steered to a flag in the second season of his three season stint.
Author - John Devaney