Australian Football

One of the truly great players of his era, James Sharp was best afield in Fitzroy's 1904 winning Grand Final team against Carlton. He missed much of the following season through injury, but was back in time to help the 'Roys to a second successive flag with a 13-point challenge final defeat of Collingwood.

Quick, tenacious and a superb exponent of the drop kick, Sharp was a virtual ever present on the half back line of VFL interstate teams for most of his Fitzroy career. He was state captain from 1908 to 1910 and thus had the honour of leading the VFL to victory at the inaugural Australasian championship series in Melbourne.

Sharp left Fitzroy for Collingwood in 1911 and gave excellent service to the Magpies until he broke his shin midway through the following season. He stayed on at Collingwood as an administrator, and in 1913 was elected club president. Four years later he had the unique distinction of lining up for the club in a league match at Geelong after it was discovered that one of the selected players had failed to make the trip. He lasted only a matter of minutes before injuring a knee and being forced to leave the field.

James Sharp played a total of 179 VFL games, 161 with Fitzroy between 1901 and 1910, and 18 for the Woods in 1911-12 and 1917.

Author - John Devaney