Jack Oatey
Encyclopedia
Jack Oatey, AM was a former Australian rules football
player and coach.
between 1940 and 1952 and acted as playing-coach from 1945 to 1952.
While on service for World War II
in 1944, he played 5 games for the South Melbourne Football Club
.
where he coached until 1960, reaching the finals each year but never winning the premiership. Not involved in coaching at any team in 1961, Oatey saw the Bloods win the SANFL premiership, convincing him to return to the league. He went to Sturt
, coaching there from 1962–1982, and leading the league team to 7 SANFL Premierships (a record at the time) including the famous five in a row from 1966–1970.
A long-standing coaching rival to Port Adelaide
's Fos Williams
, Sturt defeated Port Adelaide four times in Grand Final
s under Oatey's tutelage.
Oatey was one of the instigators of the greater use of handball
, which is often solely attributed to the VFL's Ron Barassi
, particularly within Victoria. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 1996. Overall, Oatey coached 37 seasons in the SANFL, winning ten premierships (three with Norwood, seven with Sturt), reaching seventeen grand finals (six with Norwood, two with West Adelaide and nine with Sturt) and reaching the finals on 33 occasions.
Since 1981, while Oatey was still active as a coach, the Jack Oatey Medal has been awarded for the best player in the SANFL grand final.
His son Robert played for and coached Norwood and another son, Peter
, was both a Norwood footballer and tennis player.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player and coach.
Playing career
Oatey played 181 games for the Norwood Football ClubNorwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
between 1940 and 1952 and acted as playing-coach from 1945 to 1952.
While on service for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1944, he played 5 games for the South Melbourne Football Club
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
.
Coaching career
Following his retirement from playing in 1952, Oatey remained the coach of Norwood until 1956. In 1957, Oatey moved to West AdelaideWest Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
where he coached until 1960, reaching the finals each year but never winning the premiership. Not involved in coaching at any team in 1961, Oatey saw the Bloods win the SANFL premiership, convincing him to return to the league. He went to Sturt
Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
, coaching there from 1962–1982, and leading the league team to 7 SANFL Premierships (a record at the time) including the famous five in a row from 1966–1970.
A long-standing coaching rival to Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
's Fos Williams
Fos Williams
Foster Neil "Fos" Williams AM was a leading Australian rules footballer who played for and coached the Port Adelaide and West Adelaide Football Clubs and coached South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League in a career spanning 1946-1978...
, Sturt defeated Port Adelaide four times in Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
s under Oatey's tutelage.
Oatey was one of the instigators of the greater use of handball
Handball (Australian rules football)
Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball...
, which is often solely attributed to the VFL's Ron Barassi
Ron Barassi
Ronald Dale Barassi, Jr AM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. During a long and decorated career, Barassi has been one of the most important figures in the history of Australian football. His father, Ron Barassi, Sr., was the first Australian footballer killed at Tobruk during...
, particularly within Victoria. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996. Overall, Oatey coached 37 seasons in the SANFL, winning ten premierships (three with Norwood, seven with Sturt), reaching seventeen grand finals (six with Norwood, two with West Adelaide and nine with Sturt) and reaching the finals on 33 occasions.
Since 1981, while Oatey was still active as a coach, the Jack Oatey Medal has been awarded for the best player in the SANFL grand final.
His son Robert played for and coached Norwood and another son, Peter
Peter Oatey
Peter E. Oatey is a former South Australian sportsman who played both Australian rules football and tennis. He appeared in two Australian Championships and played for the Norwood Football Club in the South Australian National Football League .Oatey played 120 SANFL games with Norwood, from 1965 to...
, was both a Norwood footballer and tennis player.