Castlemaine

The last remaining member of Castlemaine’s 1952 BFL premiership team, Jack Jefferies, has passed away aged in his 90's.  The Bendigo Football Netball League extends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Jack.

A wonderful person who has made such a significant contribution to our League over many years and is duly recognised as a BFNL Life Member & Hall of Fame inductee.

JACK JEFFERIES

Jack Jefferies was recognised as one of the more effective ruckmen in the Bendigo Football League during his playing days of the early fifties.

A great team man at Castlemaine, Jefferies’ service to his club and league extended far beyond his on-field exploits. Over the years he was to become one of Castlemaine and Bendigo’s most respected administrators.

Born in Castlemaine in November 1927, his senior football career began with Castlemaine in 1944 at the age of sixteen in a period when the ‘Maine was part of the Castlemaine and District Football League.

In his early years Jefferies played as a ruck-rover, but as he developed physically his on-ball ability made him an ideal ruckman and his high marking, stamina and accurate tapouts was a feature of his game. Jack's first five years of football saw him play in three premiership teams and in 1948 he was invited to train with the Melbourne Football Club, but because of family commitments did not pursue the opportunity.

It was in 1949 that saw Jefferies first enter the Bendigo League. The Castlemaine Football Club resolved to rejoin the Bendigo competition and Jack made his presence felt from the outset. The Magpies very first game that season was against Sandhurst at the Upper Reserve and Jefferies starred for his team being judged best player afield. Castlemaine soon became a competitive force, which culminated in a glorious premiership in 1952.

Vice-Captain of that side, Jefferies was one of the club’s most consistent players all season.

He recalled some great players of the era including Kevin Curran, Peter Pianto, George llsley and Basil Ashman. At his own club, Jack doubts he saw a better player than the late Wally Culpitt. Other greats at the ‘Maine’ included Ron McKnight, Les Murray and Max Gale to name but a few. Jack believes that the Bendigo league was the best in the State in those days and all clubs had ex-Victorian representative players such as Ollie Grieve and Norm McDonald coaching the local clubs.

Jefferies was selected to represent the Bendigo league in all five seasons that he played at Castlemaine and he had the honour of being Vice-Captain for the great Alan McDonald in the Coronation Day game at Echuca on 2 June, 1953.

Jack was granted life membership of Castlemaine in 1952 and records show that he played some 207 games during his career.

Jefferies accepted promotion in his job to Bendigo in 1954 which meant he could no longer play for his beloved Castlemaine. He stated that an imaginary line was drawn across Big Hill and if you lived on the north side of it you had to play for a Bendigo club.

Jack had a great deal of respect for the Eaglehawk club and although it didn't sit too well with him, he joined the Two Blues because he simply loved his footy. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious leg and ankle injury after just eight games that curtailed his career at the age of twenty six.

Jefferies was highly regarded for his administrative abilities and after serving as President of the Castlemaine junior league for twelve years, he joined the committee of Castlemaine around 1977.

Over the ensuing years he would give the Castlemaine club outstanding service, including eight years as club president, three as vice-president and also incorporating roles of treasurer, chairman of selectors, player advocate and BFL delegate.

Jack was right in the thick of the administrative dilemma that struck in the early ‘80's with the amalgamation of the Bendigo and Golden City Leagues and the decision to establish a Board of Management to oversee the affairs of the League.

He was Vice-President of the new amalgamated league and attended countless meetings and debates to sort out the ultimate structure of Bendigo football.

In 1983, Jefferies was honored by the league as recipient of the Personality of the Year Award and in 1993 he received the Bendigo Football League's highest honour - having Life membership of the league bestowed upon him, before becoming inducted in the prestigious BFNL Hall of Fame in 1996.

Jack Jefferies played the game in a exemplary fashion and his contribution to the Castlemaine Football Club and the Bendigo Football League spanning an entire lifetime, has been simply outstanding. 

Jack will be sadly missed.