Syd Jackson: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:20, 3 February 2026

Career : 1969 - 1976
Debut : Round 1, 1969 vs St Kilda, aged 24 years 278 days
Carlton Player No. 808
Games : 136
Goals : 165
Last Game : Preliminary Final, 1976 vs North Melbourne, aged 32 years 79 days
Guernsey No. 5
Height : 172 cm (5 ft. 8 in.)
Weight : 72.5 kgs (11 stone, 6 lbs.)
DOB : July 1, 1944
Premiership Player 1970, 1972
Carlton Hall of Fame (2006)

Before St Kilda's Nicky Winmar made his celebrated stand against racism at Victoria Park, before North Melbourne’s Jim and Phil Krakouer redefined the art of ball-handling, and before a succession of brilliant aboriginal small forwards transformed the forward pocket from a respite station for tired rovers into a major avenue to goal, there was the mercurial Syd Jackson; a gifted, courageous aboriginal footballer from Western Australia who was a star in two Carlton Premiership teams.

Jackson’s remarkable ability on the football field was first discovered by the East Perth Football Club in 1963. Back then Syd was a scrawny, spindly-legged teenager from Roelands Mission near Bunbury. There wasn’t much of him, but he certainly knew how to find and use the football, and within a few months he was entrenched in the centre for the Royals. In that first season in the WANFL, he scored more votes than anyone else in the Sandover Medal (WA’s equivalent of the Brownlow) but was ruled ineligible for the honour because he had been suspended during the year.

That effort brought strong overtures from two VFL clubs; North Melbourne and Carlton. Syd was reluctant to leave WA at first, but after repeated invitations he eventually agreed to join the Blues in 1968. By then he was a mature 24, with more than 100 senior games to his credit. A lucrative transfer fee was agreed on, and East Perth agreed to clear Syd to Carlton. Then the WANFL stepped in.

Alarmed by the drain of their finest players from Perth to Melbourne, the West Australians decided to make a stand, and refused to endorse Jackson’s transfer. Syd’s only option then was to stand out of football for a year. Under ANFC rules, players who took this course of action were granted automatic clearance after twelve months. Consequently, Jackson spent his first year at Carlton as coach Ron Barassi’s runner – which at least gave him some valuable insights into Barassi’s methods. It also got his career at Princes Park off to a positive start, when the Blues beat Essendon for the 1968 Premiership.

Syd pulled on the famous navy blue guernsey number 5 for his first match in round one of 1969, against Richmond. He had played almost all of his senior football in WA in the centre, but Barassi had reservations about Jackson’s slim frame in heavy traffic at VFL level. Instead, he preferred to use him as a creative half-forward flanker, and like most of Barassi’s ideas at the time, it proved a winner.

Jackson had an impressive debut season, using his lightning pace and accurate disposal with telling effect. An intuitive reader of the ball as it spilled off packs, and a driving drop-kick on the run, Syd was instrumental in Carlton finishing second on the ladder by percentage to Collingwood. But after jumping to outright favouritism for the flag with a decisive six goal defeat of the Magpies in the Second Semi, Carlton were no match for a rampaging Richmond in the ‘69 Grand Final, losing by 25 points.

At the same time, Jackson’s protracted entry into VFL football was not without controversy. He was the only aboriginal playing at the top level, and a potential match-winner every week. So as his career progressed, he was subjected to increasingly racist taunts from opponents and opposition supporters. Much of this he ignored, but occasionally the physical and verbal pressure reached a point where retaliation was an understandable response. Only his team-mates knew what Syd was going through, and he was highly respected for his dignified response on most occasions. However when Jackson did occasionally snap, the Blueboys were always there in numbers to support him.

One such blow up occurred at a crucial time for Jackson and for Carlton, during the Blues’ Second Semi-Final loss to Collingwood in 1970. Syd was reported for striking Magpie defender Lee Adamson, and seemed likely to be suspended for the rest of the finals. Enter Carlton President George Harris, who persuaded Jackson to tell the tribunal that Adamson had racially abused him. Syd complied, pleading not guilty due to extreme provocation. To Jackson and Carlton’s relief, the tribunal accepted Jackson’s story and exonerated him. Years later, Syd owned up to the truth and apologised to Adamson, saying that while Adamson didn’t say what Jackson said he did, there were many others who had overstepped the mark, so justice was done in the end.

Five days after that tribunal hearing, Carlton beat St Kilda in the Preliminary Final, earning another crack at Collingwood for the flag. In his second season, Jackson, promising youngster Robert Walls and Tasmanian recruit Brent Crosswell had already formed one of Carlton’s best-ever half-forward lines. However they, along with the rest of the team, seemed headed for defeat when the siren sounded for half-time in the Grand Final. The Blues had been totally outplayed by their bitter rivals to that point, and were seven goals down.

Carlton’s epic comeback that day was sparked by coach Ron Barassi, and led by 19th man Ted Hopkins, who came off the bench to post four goals in the greatest of all of Carlton’s Grand Final victories. Crosswell was widely regarded as Best on Ground, while Walls and Jackson together chopped up the Collingwood defence with their pace and marking power. Carlton’s fabulous ten-point win sent Lygon Street into raptures, and shattered Collingwood’s finals confidence for more than a decade.

Two years later, Jackson won his second Premiership medal when Carlton upset another traditional rival; Richmond, in another Grand Final triumph. Coming off three successive hard-fought lead-up finals, Carlton faced a full-strength Tiger team refreshed after a week’s break. With nothing to lose, Blues’ captain-coach John Nicholls opted for a bold plan of outright attack, and shuffled his team in a bid to unsettle the hot favourites.

Big Nick’s plan worked superbly. The Blues blitzed Richmond from the first bounce, slamming on eight goals in the first quarter, and ten in the second, on the way to a record Grand Final score of 28.9 (177). Richmond outscored the Blues in the last quarter when the game was all over, but the final margin of 27 points flattered the Tigers. Nicholls, Walls and Jackson all starred for the Blues, with 14 goals between them.

That second Premiership medal marked the high point of Syd’s career with the Blues. Injury kept him out of the 1973 final series, although he returned to near his best before John Nicholls retired as coach in ’75. After one last season in 1976, Jackson decided that his playing days at Carlton were over. He left Princes Park as one of the most popular players of his time, and, at the age of 32, played in one last Grand Final for SA club Glenelg in their 1977 loss to Port Adelaide. The big news at Glenelg in 1977 though was the 13 games played by Syd Jackson, lured to Glenelg for one last tilt at the big time by Big Nick. Jackson had already taken up an Adelaide based Indigenous Affairs position and joined mid-way through the season. Starting on the bench in his last game, he overcame some “roughing up” by Port’s Greg Phillips, scoring a handy goal in the losing 1977 Grand Final.

After football, Syd became heavily involved in Aboriginal Affairs. He served as CEO of the National Aboriginal Sports Foundation for a number of years, and has continued to use his profile to advance the cause of indigenous Australia. In 2005 he was named in the AFL Players Association Indigenous Team of the Century, and a year later became the Carlton Heroes’ inaugural inductee into the Carlton Carlton Hall of Fame - an honour that everyone who saw him play would agree, was richly deserved.

Time did not diminish Syd’s standing within the game, and in 2015 he was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame. Later that year, Carlton launched the Syd Jackson Scholarship, which aims to accelerate economic freedom, employment and wellbeing, for young Indigenous Australians. Each year, the recipient of the scholarship will benefit from mentoring sessions with Syd, current Carlton players and other Outback Academy mentors as part of a nationally recognised training course.

Milestones

50 Games : Round 8, 1971 vs Richmond
100 Games : Round 5, 1974 vs Collingwood

100 Goals : Round 20, 1971 vs Hawthorn

Career Highlights

1969 - Best First Year Player Award
1970 - Maurie Sankey Memorial Trophy: 4th Best & Fairest
1970 - Premiership Player
1972 - Premiership Player
1974 - 2nd Reserves Best & Fairest
1975 - 4th Best & Fairest
1975 - B. J. Deacon Memorial Trophy: Best Clubman Award

Video

Links

Articles: [tiki-read_article.php?articleId=20|The 1970 Prelim: Ragsy, Jacko, Jezza and Brent]

Blueseum: Stat Shot for Syd Jackson | Career Breakdown

Gallery

Syd Jackson
Sid Jackson
Sid Jackson 1971
Syd Jackson On Mark
mpfbl002-015 jackson.jpg
mpfbr022-017 jackson.jpg
mpfbl001-004 jackson.jpg
1977 Scanlens Football Card - Syd Jackson.
tcsun001-016 jackson.jpg
tcmob003-028 jackson.jpg
Jacko ready to battle
1977 Syd Jackson cleared to Glenelg (23/06/77).
1977 - Syd Jackson leaves the Blues (30/06/77).
Syd Jackson.
1976 Rd 1 - Bruce Doull pulling a player out of melee with Syd Jackson in foreground.
1975 - Syd Jackson cartoon.
1973 Rd 11 - Ray Byrne fights fights for the ball with Syd Jackson in support.
1976 - Syd Jackson.
Syd Jackson.
1969 - Syd Jackson at pre-season training.Pic; Football Life.
1969 - Syd Jackson at pre-season training.Pic; Football Life.
1969 - Syd Jackson & Bert Thornley at pre-season training.Pic; Football Life.
1969 - Syd Jackson & Bert Thornley at pre-season training.Pic; Football Life.
1969 - Syd Jackson Article (page 3 of 3).
1969 - Syd Jackson Article (page 2 of 3).
1969 - Syd Jackson Article (page 1 of 3).
1969 - Syd Jackson.Pic: Football Life.
1969 - Brent Crosswell & Syd Jackson future stars.
1970 - Syd Jackson with a young fan.Pic: Football Life.
1970 - Syd Jackson.Pic: Football Life.
1968 - Club Runner Syd Jackson.Pic: Football Life.
1973 - Syd Jackson on half back-flankers.Football Life.
1974 - Syd Jackson's wish for a Barassi smile (pg 3 of 3).
1974 - Syd Jackson's wish for a Barassi smile (pg 2 of 3).Pic: Football Life.
1974 - Syd Jackson's wish for a Barassi smile (pg 1 of 3).Pic: Football Life.
1970 Prelim. Final - Syd Jackson takes a screamer.Pic: Football Life.
1975 - Syd Jackson.Pic: Football Life.
1975 Rd 17 - A balanced Syd Jackson.Pic: Football Life.
1975 Rd 17 - Syd Jackson breaks away from Trott.Pic: Football Life.
1976 Rd 8 - Syd Jackson.Pic: Football Life.
1972 Prelim. Final - Big Nick & Syd Jackson after win.
1972 GF - Keith McKenzie hugs Syd Jackson as Kevin Hall looks on.Source: Melbourne Observer.
1972 GF - Cavalier Syd Jackson.
1972 GF - The Victory lap.
1971 Rd 8 - Syd Jackson flies over Geoff Strang.Picture: Footy Week.
1972 Rd 6 - Southby sizzles & Jackson too slippery.
1972 Rd 6 - Superman Syd.
1972 - Syd Jackson swap for Kekovich (15/07/72) page 2 of 2.Inside Football.
1972 - Syd Jackson swap for Kekovich (15/07/72) page 1 of 2.Inside Football.
1972 Rd 21 - Syd Jackson pressures David Parkin.The Australian.
1972 Prelim. Final - Syd Jackson.The Australian.
1986 - Syd Jackson and his stab kick (17/07/86).Inside Football.
Syd Jackson in action.Inside Football.
1990 Fundraiser Game - Syd Jackson gives Ron Barassi a kiss.Pic: Inside Football.
1991 - Ted Whitten catches up with Syd Jackson's foster-father.Inside Football.
$Syd Jackson Clashes With Collingwood\'s Des Tuddenham.$

Syd Jackson Clashes With Collingwood\'s Des Tuddenham.
Syd Jackson 2010Syd Jackson 2010
1993 - Syd Jackson speaks to young Bears (24/02/93).Inside Football.
Syd Jackson in action against Hawk David Parkin.Pic: Inside Football.
1970 GF - Flag at half-mast (Jackson's fib) 05/05/93.Inside Football.
1996 - Syd Jackson.
1981 Article on Syd Jackson.
2000 Rd 18 - Jackson & Fitzpatrick.
Syd Jackson.
1969 2nd Semi - Syd Jackson.
1970 - Syd Jackson.
1970 Rd 8 - Syd Jackson.
1970 Prelim - Jackson takes a ride on Quirk.
1971 - Syd Jackson in boxing bout.
1971 Rd 20 - Syd Jackson in action.
1973 Rd 19 - Brian Walsh & Syd Jackson.
1976 - Only two Jacksons have played in premierships (18/09/76).
1970 2nd Semi - Jackson Vs Adamson.
Syd Jackson in action against the Pies.
1970 GF Magpie Lee Adamson Crashes Into Syd JacksonPic: Melbourne Herald
1970 GF Syd Jackson Beats Two Opponents To The BallPic: Melbourne Herald
Syd Jackson Aboriginal team 1974
Syd Jackson In Full FlightImage courtesy of Carlton Football Club.
Syd Jackson Beats A Collingwood Tackle
The Syd Jackson Scholarship Is Launched 2015Image courtesy of Carlton Football Club.
Syd Jackson Vs North MelbourneImage courtesy of Carlton Football Club.
1990 Richmond Fundraiser Game - Syd Jackson & Ken Sheldon.
1976 Rd 7 - Southby & Jackson vs Richmond.
1975 1st Semi - Syd Jackson gets away a quick kick.
1965 - Future Blue Syd Jackson.
1970 Rd 8 - Syd Jackson & Lee Adamson.
Syd Jackson.
1975 Rd 17 - Syd Jackson cases the ball ahead of Stuart Trott.
1967 - Future Blue Star; East Perth's Syd Jackson.
East Perth's Syd Jackson.
Syd Jackson cartoon.
Syd Jackson - part of the stolen generation.
1970 GF - Crosswell flies for a pack grab with Jackson waiting for the crumbs.
Future Blue; East Perth's Syd Jackson.
1969 GF - Syd Jackson shepherds through a Jesaulenko goal.
1972 GF - Jackson about to collect the footy watched by Dickson & McKay.
1972 GF - Jackson & Lucas at the opening bounce.
1969 GF - Syd Jackson shoots for goal.
1971 Rd 21 - Jackson & Silvagni battle it out with 'Bulldog' Murrray.
1975 Rd 4 - McKay flies for a mark with Jackson & Catoggio waiting for the crumbs.
1971 Rd 20 - Syd Jackson flies for a mark with John Warden in support.
1973 Rd 11 - Syd Jackson flies for a mark.
1973 Rd 11 - Syd Jackson breaks away from Mick Malthouse.
1970 2nd Semi - Syd Jackson is reported for striking Lee Adamson.
Syd Jackson.
1970 GF - Syd Jackson runs onto the ground followed by Phil Pinnell.
Future Blue; East Perth's Syd Jackson at sprint training.
Future Blue; East Perth's Syd Jackson handballing at training.
Future Blue; East Perth's Syd Jackson running onto the ground.
Syd Jackson in action against Hawthorn.
Syd Jackson driving the ball long at VFL Park.
1976 Prelim Final - Syd Jackson back for the Blues.
1979 - Former Blue Syd Jackson to play in ACT.
1970 2nd - Syd Jackson & Lee Adamson exchange words.
Syd Jackson in action against the Magpies.
Syd Jackson on the burst.
Syd Jackson Badge.
Syd Jackson driving the ball forward.
Syd Jackson at Sth Bunbury FC.
Syd Jackson training at East Perth FC.
Syd Jackson.
1977 Glenelg Team - Coach John Nicholls and ex Blue Syd Jackson.
1981 - ACT Rep. Team; former Blue Syd Jackson.
1985 - Syd Jackson meets West Indian great Clive Lloyd.
2015 - Jackson McGuire Cup.
2015 - Syd Jackson at a ceremony at Carlton.
2015 - Syd Jackson with Chris Yarran.
2020 - Syd Jackson.
2020 - Syd Jackson.
2020 - Syd Jackson a proud indigenous man.
1991 - Carton vs Fitzroy Fundraiser for the Roys.
1972 Prelim Final - Jackson evades an opponent to kick a goal.
1970 Grand Final - Syd Jackson snaps a left foot goal.
1970 Grand Final - Syd Jackson & Lee Adamson.
1962 - Future Blue; Syd Jackson.
Syd Jackson Fundraiser cartoon.
1977 - Syd Jackson is recruited to Glenelg by Coach John Nicholls.
1970 - Syd Jackson at training.
1990 - Richmond Fundraiser; Syd Jackson & Royce Hart at coin toss.
1969 Grand Final - Syd Jackson about to swoop on the loose ball.
1977 - Syd Jackson.
1970 - Carlton vs Sturt; Syd Jackson marks in front of Brooks.
Syd Jackson.
Syd Jackson.
1975 Rd 14 - Windy Hill Brawl (Jackson & Jones).
1975 Rd 3 - Syd Jackson about to kick.
Future Blue; East Perth's Syd Jackson.
Carlton's mercurial Syd Jackson in action against the Saints.
Former Blue; East Perth's Syd Jackson's locker.
Future Blue; East Perth's mercurial Syd Jackson.
1968 - Blues secure Syd Jackson.
1995 - Former Blue; Syd Jackson.
Syd Jackson 1970
1973 - Syd Jackson playing a round of golf.
1970 Grand Final Syd Jackson

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:14602.jpg|left]]<br>
+[[File:14602.jpg|left]]
 <b>Career : [[1969]] - [[1976]]<br>
 Debut : [[Round 1, 1969]] vs St Kilda, aged 24 years 278 days<br>