Australian Football

Originally from Colac, John Devine gave Geelong excellent service in 118 VFL games between 1960 and 1966. Most frequently used as a half back flanker he was regarded as one of the toughest players in football’s toughest competition. When the Cats trounced Hawthorn in the 1963 grand final only ‘Polly’ Farmer earned more plaudits than Devine for his performance on the day.

In 1967 John Devine crossed the Bass Strait to assume the coaching mantle at TANFL side North Hobart who were the competition’s reigning wooden spooners. In 1967 Devine transformed the inexperienced cellar dwellers into the best team in the league, and indeed arguably the whole of Tasmania. They won that season’s premiership and followed it up with two more in 1969 and 1973. Devine had 'retired' as a player after the 1971 season but he resumed in 1974 and continued for two years before retiring in  earnest.

In 2005 John Devine was inducted into the official Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.

Author - John Devaney