Jack Regan

John Vincent Regan (12 September 1912 in Northcote, Victoria – 11 August 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who represented Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1930s and 1940s.

For other people named Jack Regan, see Jack Regan (disambiguation).

Jack Regan
Regan during his Collingwood career
Personal information
Full name John Vincent Regan
Date of birth (1912-09-12)12 September 1912
Date of death 11 August 1988(1988-08-11) (aged 75)
Original team(s) Northcote (VFA)
Debut Round 3, 1930, Collingwood
vs. South Melbourne, at Lake Oval
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 83 kg (183 lb)
Position(s) Full-back
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1930–41, 1943, 1946 Collingwood 196 (3)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
Victoria 14
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1946.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Playing career

Recruited from Northcote, Regan struggled in his first few seasons and was tried in a variety of positions before he established himself at full-back.[1]

Taking on and matching full-forwards like South Melbourne's Bob Pratt (whom Regan regarded as his most difficult opponent),[2] Carlton's Harry Vallence, Richmond's Jack Titus and St Kilda's Bill Mohr, Regan earned his title as the "Prince of Full-backs". He was a magnificent mark and a superb kick. Archival footage shows him using the now defunct drop kick for his kick-ins. In slow motion they demonstrate his perfect balance and timing.

Regan was among the best players in the Magpies' 1935 and 1936 premiership victories, both against South Melbourne.[3][4]

In May 1938, during a match against Carlton, Regan fell heavily and suffered a double dislocation of an elbow. He spent a week at St Vincent's Hospital,[5] and ended up missing nine matches. He recovered in time to play a part in Collingwood's finals campaign, but again for the second successive year was on the losing end as Carlton emerged victorious with the 1938 pennant.

In January 1942 Regan announced his retirement from football to join the Salesian community at Sunbury as a lay brother.[6]

In February 1943, with Australia now involved heavily in the Second World War, Regan enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)[7] and served as a leading aircraftman. He returned in 1943 to captain Collingwood.

In April 1946, shortly after being discharged from military service, Regan returned to Collingwood and trained so well[8] that he was selected for their Round 1 match of the 1946 season against Hawthorn.

In March 1947, it was announced that Regan had been appointed coach of Kalgoorlie City Football Club in Goldfields Football League.[9]

Essendon champion Dick Reynolds considered Regan the best full-back he ever saw. In an article for Melbourne newspaper The Argus Reynolds recounted watching Regan play state football against the likes of Ken Farmer from South Australia and George Doig from Western Australia and said:

[H]e made them earn every goal they kicked against him. It was great to see the way in which he shadowed them or marked or punched the ball away, and then, with great dash and a beautiful kick, sent the ball in the right position for an attack. His quick thinking and unruffled style at critical moments made him a star full-back.[10]

During his playing career, Regan had worked as a clerk for the Commonwealth Social Service in Melbourne.[9] After returning to Melbourne from Kalgoorlie he continued to serve at Collingwood for many years, and was club secretary from 1969 to 1977.

Posthumous honours

Regan was among the first players inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, but was overlooked for the full-back position when the Team of the Century was named. That honour went instead to Carlton's Stephen Silvagni, to the bewilderment of many in the Australian football community.[11] In 1997, when the Collingwood Team of the Century was announced, Regan was named at full-back.[12]

In 2004, at the launch of the Collingwood Hall of Fame, Regan was one of 18 inducted players.[13]

The Collingwood player who finishes fifth in the club's best-and-fairest count is awarded the Jack Regan Trophy.[11]

References
  1. Holmesby & Main, 2009, p. 693
  2. Jack Regan Retires: Praises Star Forward, Army News, (Thursday, 29 January 1942), p.8.
  3. Atkinson & Atkinson, 2009, p. 134
  4. Atkinson & Atkinson, 2009, p. 140
  5. "Regan Happy in Hospital". The Argus. Melbourne. 24 May 1938. p. 18. Retrieved 22 June 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "NOTED FOOTBALLER JOINS RELIGIOUS ORDER". The Argus. Melbourne. 21 January 1942. p. 8. Retrieved 21 June 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "FOOTBALL THIS SEASON AS LAST YEAR". The Argus. Melbourne. 24 February 1943. p. 9. Retrieved 21 June 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "REGAN MAY AGAIN BE FULL BACK AT COLLINGWOOD". The Argus. Melbourne. 5 April 1946. p. 17. Retrieved 22 June 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "SPORT". The Daily News (HOME ed.). Perth. 5 March 1947. p. 16. Retrieved 22 June 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "JACK REGAN (COLLINGWOOD) MY IDEAL FULL BACK". The Argus. Melbourne. 3 July 1947. p. 16. Retrieved 21 June 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Bibliography
  • Atkinson, Graeme; Atkinson, Brant (2009). The Complete Book of AFL Finals. Australia: The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd. ISBN 978 1 74211 275 6.
  • Ross, John (1999). The Australian Football Hall of Fame. Australia: HarperCollinsPublishers. p. 112. ISBN 0-7322-6426-X.
  • Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2009). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers – Eighth Edition. Australia: Bas. ISBN 9781921496004.
  • Terrell, John (1998). Kangas: Times and Tales of the Kalgoorlie City Football Club. Australia: Kalgoorlie City Football Club. ISBN 0 646 35462 0.
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