Australian Football

After showing himself to be an accomplished all round footballer with Brighton in the VFA, 'Jiggy' Harris was recruited by Collingwood, for whom he made his VFL debut in 1925. Pacy, tenacious and skilled, he played most of his 88 games with the Magpies as a wingman or half forward flanker, and booted 48 goals. He was on a wing in the losing Challenge Final of 1926 against Melbourne, and played across half forward in the decisive matches of 1927 and 1928 against Richmond, both of which Collingwood won.

In 1929 Harris was an ever-present throughout the minor round and also played in the losing semi final against Richmond, only to be dropped for the Challenge Final re-match. Disgusted at this treatment, he quit the club, and was hired by Hawthorn as captain-coach in 1930. He spent two seasons with the Mayblooms, adding 34 games and 10 goals, and steering the side to 10th and 11th place finishes. 'Jiggy' Harris finished his playing career back in the VFA, this time with Coburg, and was a member of that club's losing Grand Final team against Northcote in 1933.

In 1934 Harris was appointed coach of Ivanhoe, which had just been admitted to the VAFA, and over the next three seasons he managed the sensational - and unequalled - feat of steering his side to no fewer than sixty consecutive wins, capped by premierships in D Section (1934), C Section (1935) and B Section (1936).

Author - John Devaney