Australian Football

Over the years Western Australia has arguably produced more of what, for want of a better expression, might be termed 'football artists' than any other state or territory. Players like Farmer, Walker, Michael, Peake, Cable, Marshall, Matera, Hunter, Jackson, Winmar and the Krakouer brothers have elevated the pure skills associated with the greatest of games to unparalleled pinnacles. Frank 'Scranno' Jenkins of South Fremantle, by contrast, epitomised qualities more traditionally associated with Victoria Park or Glenferrie Oval on a cold, wet, windy afternoon in late July. Put colloquially, he was one tough cookie. 

In 150 games for the red and whites and numerous others for his state it is doubtful if he ever took a backward step. Every successful team needs players of Jenkins' ilk and it is arguable that South Fremantle's spectacular achievements of the immediate post World War II period would not have been possible without the contribution of this unspectacular, somewhat dour, but remorselessly effective defender.

Playing at centre half back in South Fremantle's 1947 and 1948 premiership winning teams, Jenkins was high on the best player lists both times. Arguably, however, he was at his best when the chips were down, and it is perhaps significant that his Sandover Medal (1937) and three club fairest and best awards were won during the immediate pre-war period, when South Fremantle was not the force it would later become. Jenkins also finished runner-up in the Sandover Medal in this era, to Haydn Bunton in 1938.

Author - John Devaney