Australian Football

After working his way up through the ranks at Richmond John Jillard made his senior VFL debut in 1958. However, he did not become a regular until a 1961 season which culminated in the Bulldogs losing to Hawthorn in the grand final. Jillard lined up on a half back flank in that match, the position he was to make his own throughout much of his 189 game league career. In 1962 he finished runner-up to John Schultz in the club best and fairest count and went on to win the award in 1967. He represented the 'Big V' in the interstate arena on a couple of occasions. He was selected in his customary half back flank position in the Bulldogs' official 'Team of the Century'.

Early in the 1970 he moved to NTFA club Latrobe who were being coached at the time by Darrel Baldock. He was a member of premiership teams in 1970-1-2 and won the Wander Medal for competition best and fairest in both 1970 and 1971. He also represented Tasmania and was part of the team which scored a noteworthy victory over Western Australia in 1970. He later captain coached Ainslie and also played representative football for the ACT. 

Author - John Devaney