John Devine (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Devine is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong
in the VFL
during the 1960s, and Tasmanian Football League side North Hobart between 1967 & 1973.
A defender, Devine was a member of Geelong's premiership team in 1963. In 1967 while still under suspension from the VFL 1966 season, he coached Tasmanian Football League side North Hobart over the boundary fence until his 6 week suspension was finished. Devine went on that year to lead his very young team from last place in 1966 to a TFL Premiership. He was best on ground in the 1967 Tasmanian State Premiership Final
in which North Hobart took part, and (now playing as a forward) kicked five goals; the game is part of Aussie Rules folklore because the supporters of opposing team Wynyard, tore down the goal posts before North Hobart's Dickie Collins, could take his kick from point blank range from a mark just before the siren.
Devine captain coached two more TFL Premierships in 1969 & 1973, and also took out the Tasmanian State Premiership
in 1969 following wins over NWFU
premiers Latrobe
, led & coached by Darrel Baldock, and NTFA Premiers Launceston coached by Bob Withers. The State Premiership final against Launceston at York Park (now Aurora Stadium) saw Devine's North Hobart win by a record 20 goals. His club nickname of 'Dead Legs' Devine referred to his loping running style, which belied his speed & very hard at the ball playing style.
Devine returned to Geelong in an official capacity in 1986, when he became Geelong
's coach after the sacking of Tom Hafey
.
During his tenure, Devine recruited many players such as future Geelong Team of the Century ruck-rover, Garry Hocking
, future captain Mark Bairstow
, Billy Brownless
, Bruce Lindner
, Gavin Exell
, Barry Stoneham
and David Cameron
. All players would play a role in the team reaching the VFL Grand Final in 1989, with only Excel missing out due to injury.
At the end of the 1988 season when Geelong finished 10th, Devine was not retained as coach.
Devine was also a Labor Party
member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
from 1979 to 1984 in the Denison
electorate.
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
during the 1960s, and Tasmanian Football League side North Hobart between 1967 & 1973.
A defender, Devine was a member of Geelong's premiership team in 1963. In 1967 while still under suspension from the VFL 1966 season, he coached Tasmanian Football League side North Hobart over the boundary fence until his 6 week suspension was finished. Devine went on that year to lead his very young team from last place in 1966 to a TFL Premiership. He was best on ground in the 1967 Tasmanian State Premiership Final
1967 Tasmanian State Premiership Final
The 1967 Tasmanian State Premiership Final was an Australian rules football match played between the Wynyard Cats and the North Hobart Robins on Saturday 30 September 1967 at West Park Oval, Burnie, to decide the winner of the 1967 Tasmanian State Premiership...
in which North Hobart took part, and (now playing as a forward) kicked five goals; the game is part of Aussie Rules folklore because the supporters of opposing team Wynyard, tore down the goal posts before North Hobart's Dickie Collins, could take his kick from point blank range from a mark just before the siren.
Devine captain coached two more TFL Premierships in 1969 & 1973, and also took out the Tasmanian State Premiership
Tasmanian State Premiership
The Tasmanian State Premiership was an Australian rules football tournament which was competed originally between the reigning TFL/TANFL and NTFA premiers, with the NWFU joining in from 1954....
in 1969 following wins over NWFU
North West Football Union
The North West Football Union was an Australian rules football competition which ran from 1910 to 1986. In its time it was one of the three main leagues in Tasmania, with the Tasmanian Football League and Northern Tasmanian Football Association representing the rest of the state...
premiers Latrobe
Latrobe Football Club
The Latrobe Football Club is an Australian rules football club which competed in the NWFU between 1910 and 1986. The club has been a playing member of the NTFL since 1987. Latrobe were one of the most successful NWFU clubs and their tally of 12 premierships in a joint record, shared with Burnie and...
, led & coached by Darrel Baldock, and NTFA Premiers Launceston coached by Bob Withers. The State Premiership final against Launceston at York Park (now Aurora Stadium) saw Devine's North Hobart win by a record 20 goals. His club nickname of 'Dead Legs' Devine referred to his loping running style, which belied his speed & very hard at the ball playing style.
Devine returned to Geelong in an official capacity in 1986, when he became Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
's coach after the sacking of Tom Hafey
Tom Hafey
Thomas Stanley Raymond Hafey is a former Australian rules football Victorian Football League player and coach. Hafey played for Richmond between 1953 and 1958, and coached four clubs—Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney—between 1966 and 1988, leading teams to a total of four premierships...
.
During his tenure, Devine recruited many players such as future Geelong Team of the Century ruck-rover, Garry Hocking
Garry Hocking
Garry Andrew "Buddha" Hocking , is a former Australian rules footballer and currently an assistant coach with the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League.-Early Years:...
, future captain Mark Bairstow
Mark bairstow
Mark Bairstow is a former Australian rules footballer who played in both the Australian Football League and the West Australian Football League .-WAFL career:...
, Billy Brownless
Billy Brownless
Anthony William "Billy" Brownless is a former Australian rules footballer with the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League and media personality.- Football career :...
, Bruce Lindner
Bruce Lindner
Bruce Norman Lindner is a former Australian Rules footballer who played for Geelong and Adelaide in the AFL and for West Adelaide in the SANFL.-SANFL Career:...
, Gavin Exell
Gavin Exell
Gavin Exell is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong and Fitzroy in the VFL/AFL.Exell started his career at Carlton where he played reserves football but after being unable to break into the seniors he joined Geelong. He played as a forward and when Gary Ablett was not...
, Barry Stoneham
Barry Stoneham
Barry Stoneham is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club between 1986 and 2000.Originally from St Joseph's, Stoneham appeared 241 times for Geelong in the AFL and kicked 223 goals....
and David Cameron
David Cameron (footballer)
David Cameron is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong and the Brisbane Bears in the VFL/AFL.Cameron came to Geelong from Echuca and had a solid second season, kicking 28 goals in 1987. That tally included a bag of eight goals against North Melbourne at the MCG to help spoil...
. All players would play a role in the team reaching the VFL Grand Final in 1989, with only Excel missing out due to injury.
At the end of the 1988 season when Geelong finished 10th, Devine was not retained as coach.
Devine was also a Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
from 1979 to 1984 in the Denison
Division of Denison (state)
The Electoral Division of Denison is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir William Denison, who was Lieutenant Governor of Van_Diemen's Land 1847-55, and Governor of New South Wales 1855-61. The division shares its name and boundaries with the...
electorate.