Jim Craig (Australian footballer)

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Jim Craig

| image = Jim Craig (West Perth).jpg

| image_size = 200px

| alt =

| caption =

| fullname = James Craig

| nickname = Gibraltar

| birth_date = {{birth date|1900|10|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|1978|11|23|1910|10|15|df=y}}

| death_place = Embleton, Western Australia

| height =

| weight =

| position = Centre half-back

| years1 = 1918–31

| club1 = {{WAFL|WP}}

| games_goals1 = 203 (57)

| sooyears1 = 1924–29

| sooteam1 = Western Australia

| soogames_goals1 = 18 (2)

| careerhighlights = * Sandover Medal 1927

{{WAFL|WP}} captain 1928, 1930
{{WAFL|WP}} Team of the Century (2000)

}}

James Craig (15 October 1900 – 23 November 1978) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the West Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He was the winner of the 1927 Sandover Medal as the "fairest and best" player in the league.

Family

James Craig was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia on 15 October 1900.[http://wafootball.com.au/resources/doc_download/4-hall-of-fame-inductees West Australian Football Hall of Fame members] – West Australian Football Commission. Retrieved 20 May 2012.

Football

=West Perth=

He began playing with West Perth in 1918.

Craig captained West Perth during part of the 1928 season and for the entire 1930 season.

Having announced his retirement prior to the 1931 season,[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article83925404 'Kudex', "Jim Craig's Retirement", The (Perth) Daily News, (Friday, 17 April 1931), p.3.] he resumed training in late June,[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32530763 'Follower', "Football: Among the Players: J. Craig's Reappearance", The West Australian, (Wednesday, 1 July 1931), p.6.] and played several matches in the latter half of the 1931 season. He retired at the end of 1931,[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32635348 Football: West Perth Club's Meeting, The West Australian, (Friday, 4 March 1932), p.11.] having played 203 games for West Perth.australianfootball.com.

=Western Australia=

He made his debut for Western Australia at the 1924 Australasian Football Carnival, held in Hobart. Craig also played in the 1927 carnival held in Melbourne, in total playing in 18 interstate and carnival matches for the state.

=Sandover Medal=

With seven votes, Craig was the winner of the 1927 Sandover Medal.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78750485 "Fairest and Best Player for 1927", The (Perth) Daily News, (Friday, 16 September 1927), p.8.]

West Perth's "Team of the Century"

In 2000, he was included as an interchange player in West Perth's "Team of the Century".{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120111062756/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/all_star_teams_(n-z).htm#West%20Perth West Perth – Official 'Team of the Century']}} – FullPointsFooty. Retrieved 4 February 2012.