Australian Football

Something of a cult figure at Collingwood, at least in part because of his awkward (some would say risible) kicking style, James Manson also endeared himself to the club’s supporters on account of his ferocity and immense determination. The highlight of his 120 game career with the Magpies came in 1990 when he was part of the club’s drought-breaking premiership-winning team. Earlier that same year he had helped his home state of Tasmania to a famous victory over a Victorian B combination.

After playing for Collingwood between 1985 to 1992 Manson, having been pushed down the pecking order by the emergence of Damien Monkhurst, a younger and in some respects more talented ruckman, Manson crossed to Fitzroy, where he played on for another three seasons, adding 47 games to his career tally. Back problems finally forced his retirement at the age of 28.

His kicking style may have been ungainly but the fact is he registered 126 goals in his 167 V/AFL games suggesting that what it lacked in aesthetic merit it made up for, at least to some extent, in effectiveness.

Prior to joining Collingwood Manson played four TFL games for North Hobart, and he is a member of AFL Tasmania’s Hall of Fame.

Author - John Devaney