Australian Football

John Tilbrook was an explosively talented but somewhat mercurial half forward flanker who played a key role in Sturt's emergence as a league power under Jack Oatey. Between 1965 and 1970 he played 128 senior SANFL games for the Blues, kicking 179 goals. He also played four matches and booted six goals for South Australia. Tilbrook was in his customary half forward flank position in Sturt's premiership-winning teams of 1966-1967-1968-1969-1970. One of his best performances in a Double Blue jumper came in the 1969 Grand Final against Glenelg when he contributed four goals to the record breaking 24.15 (159) to 13.16 (94) annihilation of the Bays to be many observers nomination as best afield.

In 1971, Tilbrook crossed to VFL club Melbourne for a hefty clearance fee, acquiring the nickname 'Diamond Jim' as a consequence, but in five seasons with the Demons, which saw him play 53 games and boot 59 goals, he showed only intermittent glimpses of his best form. His best season in Victoria was in 1973 when it appeared he had finally settled into the VFL game, but over the next two years, niggling injuries and a failed attempt at gridiron (American football) put paid to his chance of sustained sucess. He went on to play with VAFA side Old Melbournians through until 1980.

Author - John Devaney with additional material from Adam Cardosi