Australian Football

Carlton's John Gill is not as well remembered as his younger brother Barry, but he probably would have been had his career at the top level not been cut short by a knee injury at the age of just 25.

From Casterton in the Western District league, John Gill was the nephew of Carlton great Frank Gill, who played 205 games for the Blues between 1929 and 1942. He came to Princes Park in the pre-season of 1962, and slotted straight into the Carlton line-up on a half-forward flank, playing all but three home-and-away games and all four finals as the Blues made it through to their first Grand Final in 13 years. The Blues fell short of Essendon in that year's Grand Final, but Gill capped off a fine debut season by winning Carlton's Best First Year Player award.

Carton's patchy form over the next two seasons was mirrored by Gill's, who found himself in and out of the side over that period, but the arrival of Ron Barassi as captain-coach ahead of the 1965 season transformed both team and player for the better. Under Barassi, John Gill established himself as a fine half-back flanker as the Blues began to build a side that would ultimately enjoy premiership success in 1968.

Gill played all but three games in 1965 and 1966, and was no doubt one of the first picked in the opening round the following year when the Blues kicked off their season with a thrashing of Fitzroy at Princes Park. Sadly for Gill, though, that match was the beginning of the end for him in the VFL. He tore a knee cartilage in that match, and although he played another eight games that season, a secondary injury to the same knee in Round 13 spelled the end for him at VFL level at an age he should have been entering his prime.

While brother Barry went onto enjoy VFL premiership success with the Blues in 1968 and 1970, John Gill has the consolation of winning a flag when he returned to play with his old club Casterton in 1969, as the Cats won their first premiership in the Western Border Football League.

John Gill's six years with Carlton saw him play a total of 88 VFL games in which he kicked 38 goals.

Author - Andrew Gigacz