Australian Football

Known and indeed revered as 'The Magician of Prospect' Andrew Jarman was, without doubt, one of the most extravagantly talented footballers of his generation, masking a lack of genuine pace with sure hands, lightning fast reactions, and disposal skills that were second to none. A North Adelaide supporter from an earlier age, he joined the club from Gaza under 16s in time to play in the 1982 SANFL under 17 competition. His enormous potential was immediately evident, as was the wide range of his football skills, and he made his league debut the following year. 

In 1984 he became a regular, and for most of 1985 he enjoyed a dream year, earning state selection and ultimately winning North's best and fairest award. Unfortunately, the dream turned into something of a nightmare at the end, as despite being the dominant team during the minor round, they were well beaten on Grand Final day by a more resolute and finals-hardened Glenelg side.

During his seven-season, 141-game senior career with North Adelaide Andrew Jarman was twice adjudged the club's best and fairest player, won the 1987 Magarey Medal, and was a virtual ever-present in South Australian interstate teams, achieving All Australian selection in 1986 and 1987. He also managed to procure that earnestly sought premiership medallion when the Roosters overcame Glenelg by a resounding 82-point margin in the 1987 Grand Final. However, when North succumbed in embarrassing fashion to Port Adelaide in the premiership deciding match of 1989, Jarman decided it was time to pursue fresh challenges, and the following season saw him lining up with Norwood.

After playing the 1990 season with the Redlegs, Jarman embarked on a new phase of his career in 1991 when he joined South Australia's fledgling AFL club, Adelaide. After 110 games with the Crows, he returned to Norwood in 1997 where he played out what proved to be the final season of his career in spectacular fashion, winning a second Magarey Medal, the Norwood best and fairest award, and, most satisfyingly of all, a second premiership medallion. He also represented South Australia for the last of fifteen times, with his achievement in having won the Fos Williams Medal after five of those appearances speaking volumes as to his ability to 'turn it on' in big games. In 2001, Jarman was chosen as centreman in North Adelaide's official 'Team of the Century'.

After several years away from active involvement in the game Andrew Jarman took over as coach of an under-achieving North Adelaide team in 2004, and made a promising start by steering his charges to the finals at the first time of asking. In 2007 he managed to get the Roosters through to the Grand Final, their first since 1991, but perennial power club Central District proved too strong. At the end of a disappointing 2008 season he stood down as coach in favour of Daniel Healy.

Author - John Devaney