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Syd Jackson inducted into WA Football Hall of Fame

Friday, July 17, 2015 - 12:16 PM

From the tiny community of Leonora to East Perth and Carlton, Syd Jackson has had a colourful life and a successful career in football which saw him inducted into the WA Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday, July 15 at the State Reception Centre in King's Park, Perth.

Syd Jackson's brilliant ball handling and kicking skills helped earn him the reputation as one of the games most gifted and dangerous players to grace a football field. Jackson played 104 games for the Royals, kicked 78 goals and was the club's best and fairest in 1966. He played five seasons of WAFL football and was named in East Perth's 'Team of the Century 1945 - 2005'. A key feature for the East Perth lineup, Jackson was quickly picked up by the Carlton Football Club where he went on to play in two grand finals (1970 & 1972) and represented Australia in the 1968 Football World Tour as part of the "Galahs".

He was one of very few indigenous players in the VFL competition, subsequently playing a pioneering role for the aboriginal people. He suffered the racism that characterised football in those less enlightened times but his gentlemanly demeanour and popularity did much to alter perception. In retirement he remains very proud of his legacy and status as a trailblazer for Aboriginal footballers. “I’m just so proud that a lot of Aboriginal players who came after me appreciated I’d gone before them and made it a bit easier for them”.

As a three year old, Syd was stolen by authorities and made a ward of the state along with his two sisters. The children were separated and Syd did not see them or his parents again for more than 30 years. By this time the only thing they shared was blood. Staying briefly as a toddler with a white family called Jackson, Syd was given their surname and a nominal date of birth (1st of July 1944).

He was then sent 980 km south west to Roelands Native Mission near Bunbury. This place of strict discipline and occasional violence was his home until the age of 15 but the one saving grace was football. In the highly competitive Roelands environment, young Syd began to develop significant skills in the Australian game.

The greatest positive influence in Jacksons early life was Dr Ern Manea, then President of South Bunbury Football Club and later a three time mayor of Bunbury. He took Jackson into his home and treated him like a son. He also did much to mould and promote Syds football career which blossomed. By the age of 18 he had won two Hayward medals as the best player in the South West National Football League.

Steered to East Perth in 1963 through a rapport between their officials and Manea, Jackson became an overnight sensation. Playing in the centre, his uncanny ball handling skills and brilliant kicking with both feet attracted much favourable comment. After Round 5 the Football Budget noted that he “turned the game for his side and outpointed Denis Marshall” and after Round 13 he was noted to have “had the call over Ray Sorrell at the centre to play a key role in his teams victory”. Unfortunately, during a blockbuster Round 16 encounter with West Perth, Jackson was reported for striking and subsequently suspended for 2 weeks. Speaking in 2011 he recalled. “I hardly did a thing. I was running with the sun in my eyes and put my hand up and made light contact with a guys head. It was disappointing to miss a medal on that”. Sorrell and Jackson subsequently finished equal first in the count with 20 votes and whereas the East Fremantle man would have won on a countback, ineligibility cost at least a retrospective medal some years later.

Despite this disappointment, Syd Jackson continued to impress and after twice finishing runner up for the club fairest and best award he topped the count in 1966 from Keith Doncon. The East Perth Annual Report noted “What a colossal year this young player has had. He is the most dynamic centre man in the state at present and one of the most courageous and brilliant young footballers this state has seen” Perhaps surprising was the fact that Jackson did not first represent Western Australia until 1967 when WA resoundingly defeated South Australia. In five years at East Perth Syd Jackson never played reserves football and played 104 games from a possible 112.

A friendship between Dr Manea and Ron Barassi, established during a Perth trip by Melbournes 1964 premiership side, saw Jackson depart for Carlton at the beginning of 1968. As was frequently the case prior to the national era however, a clearance dispute ensued and Jackson had no choice but to stand out of football for a year. During 1968, Jackson acted as Carltons runner and missed a premiership opportunity when the Blues broke a 20 year drought. Once eligible to play in 1969, he quickly stood out for his genius on a half forward flank. Jackson saw opportunities that few others did and dazzled with his ball handling, kicking and evasive skills. He was regarded as one of the best on-the-run drop kicks in the game and had a highly developed goal sense. He played an important role in the epic come from behind 1970 Grand Final victory with a freakish left foot snap goal from the boundary during the third quarter fightback and also contributed well in another premiership win in 1972.

After 8 seasons and 136 games for Carlton, Syd Jackson accepted an opportunity to play in the SANFL with Glenelg (13 games in 1977). His senior career thus spanned 15 seasons and 3 states during which he played 254 games.