Jack Regan
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Jack Regan
| fullname = John Vincent Regan
| image = Jack Regan 1930-1943.jpg
| caption = Regan during his Collingwood career
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1912|9|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Northcote, Victoria
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1988|8|11|1912|9|12}}
| death_place = Heidelberg West, Victoria
| originalteam = Northcote (VFA)
| debutdate = Round 3, 1930
| debutteam = Collingwood
| debutopponent = South Melbourne
| debutstadium = Lake Oval
| height = 185 cm
| weight = 83 kg
| position = Full-back
| club1 = Collingwood
| years1 = 1930–41, 1943, 1946
| games_goals1 = 196 (3)
| sooteam1 = Victoria
| sooyears1 =
| soogames_goals1 = 14
| statsend = 1946
| careerhighlights =
- Collingwood premierships 1935, 1936
- Copeland Trophy 1936
- Collingwood captain 1940–41, 1943
- Collingwood Team of the Century
- Inducted into Australian Football Hall of Fame 1996
}}
John Vincent Regan (12 September 1912 – 11 August 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who represented Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1930s and 1940s.
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.Holmesby & Main, 2009, p. 693
Taking on and matching full-forwards like South Melbourne's Bob Pratt (whom Regan regarded as his most difficult opponent),[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38328080 Jack Regan Retires: Praises Star Forward], Army News, (Thursday, 29 January 1942), p.8. 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.Atkinson & Atkinson, 2009, p. 134Atkinson & Atkinson, 2009, p. 140
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,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11160958 |title=Regan Happy in Hospital. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=24 May 1938 |access-date=22 June 2012 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8228765 |title=NOTED FOOTBALLER JOINS RELIGIOUS ORDER. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=21 January 1942 |access-date=21 June 2012 |page=8}}
In February 1943, with Australia now involved heavily in the Second World War, Regan enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF){{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11341879 |title=FOOTBALL THIS SEASON AS LAST YEAR. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=24 February 1943 |access-date=21 June 2012 |page=9}} 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{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22257471 |title=REGAN MAY AGAIN BE FULL BACK AT COLLINGWOOD. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=5 April 1946 |access-date=22 June 2012 |page=17}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78550791 |title=SPORT. |newspaper=The Daily News |location=Perth |date=5 March 1947 |access-date=22 June 2012 |page=16 |edition=HOME}}
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.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22446105 |title=JACK REGAN (COLLINGWOOD) MY IDEAL FULL BACK. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=3 July 1947 |access-date=21 June 2012 |page=16}}
During his playing career, Regan had worked as a clerk for the Commonwealth Social Service in Melbourne. 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. He was considered for the full-back position in the VFL/AFL Team of the Century, although that honour ultimately went to Carlton's Stephen Silvagni.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/stephen-silvagnis-selection-as-fullback-in-the-afl-team-of-the-century-is-a-little-known-secret/news-story/4a9a84e1de322a183883081ccaa96d4f|title=Stephen Silvagni’s selection as full-back in the AFL Team of the Century is a little known secret|author=Mark Robinson|date=6 June 2014|accessdate=4 August 2024|newspaper=Herald Sun}}{{cite web |url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/newsfeatures/news/newsarticle/tabid/5586/newsid/124627/default.aspx |title=Jack Regan Trophy - COLLINGWOODFC.com.au/ |access-date=2012-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230132532/http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/newsfeatures/news/newsarticle/tabid/5586/newsid/124627/default.aspx |archive-date=30 December 2012 |df=dmy-all }} In 1997, when the Collingwood Team of the Century was announced, Regan was named at full-back.{{cite web |url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/team%20of%20the%20century/tabid/9236/default.aspx |title=- Official AFL Website of the Collingwood Football Club |access-date=2012-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604032156/http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/team%20of%20the%20century/tabid/9236/default.aspx |archive-date=4 June 2012 |df=dmy-all }}
In 2004, at the launch of the Collingwood Hall of Fame, Regan was one of 18 inducted players.{{cite web|url=http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/hall%20of%20fame/tabid/8157/default.aspx |title=Hall of Fame - Official AFL Website of the Collingwood Football Club |access-date=21 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531221850/http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/hall%20of%20fame/tabid/8157/default.aspx |archive-date=31 May 2012 }}
The Collingwood player who finishes fifth in the club's best-and-fairest count is awarded the Jack Regan Trophy.
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- [http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205601985 Renn, Ronald Percy, "Renn looks on Saturday's games", The Age, (Monday, 26 April 1937), p.6.]
- {{cite book|last1=Atkinson|first1=Graeme|last2=Atkinson|first2=Brant|title=The Complete Book of AFL Finals|year=2009|publisher=The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd|location=Australia |isbn=978-1-74211-275-6}}
- {{cite book|last=Ross |first=John|title=The Australian Football Hall of Fame|year=1999|publisher=HarperCollinsPublishers|location=Australia |isbn=0-7322-6426-X | page=112}}
- {{cite book|last1=Holmesby|first1=Russell|last2=Main|first2= Jim|title=The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers – Eighth Edition|year=2009|publisher=Bas|location=Australia |isbn=9781921496004}}
- {{cite book|last=Terrell|first=John|title=Kangas: Times and Tales of the Kalgoorlie City Football Club|year=1998|publisher=Kalgoorlie City Football Club|location=Australia |isbn=0-646-35462-0}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070108053158/http://collingwoodfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=history&spg=teamcentury Collingwood Team of the Century]
- {{AFL Tables|ref=J/Jack_Regan.html}}
- [http://australianfootball.com/players/player/jack+regan/5080 Profile] at Australian Football
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212446/http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=R&veteranId=966263 Jack Regan's Service Record] at the RAAF (archived)
{{1935/36 Collingwood dual premiership players}}
{{Collingwood Football Club captains}}
{{Collingwood Team of The Century}}
{{Copeland Trophy}}
{{VFL/AFL club best and fairest winners in premiership years}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Regan, Jack}}
Category:Collingwood Football Club players
Category:Collingwood Football Club premiership players
Category:Copeland Trophy winners
Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Northcote Football Club players
Category:Kalgoorlie City Football Club players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Melbourne
Category:Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II
Category:Royal Australian Air Force airmen
Category:VFL/AFL premiership players
Category:People from Northcote, Victoria