Syd Jackson (footballer, born 1944)

Syd Jackson
Personal information
Date of birth	(1944-07-01) 1 July 1944
Place of birth	Leonora, WA
Original team(s)	South Bunbury
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	73 kg (161 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1963–1967	East Perth	104 (78)
1969–1976	Carlton	136 (165)
1977	Glenelg	13 (21)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1976.
Career highlights
East Perth Fairest and Best 1966 2x VFL Premiership player: 1970, 1972 "The Galahs" representative: 1968 Australian Football World Tour Indigenous Team of the Century member East Perth Team of the Century Post War
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Syd Jackson (born 1 July 1944) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Carlton Blues during the 1970s. He usually played in the centre or half forward flank.

An Indigenous Australian, Jackson, a Wongai man born in Leonora near Kalgoorlie was a Stolen Generations child taken from his mother at age 3 because he had a non-Indigenous parent as part of Aboriginal Protector for WA A.O. Neville's strategy of 'breeding out the colour'. After time at Moore River and Sister Kate's missions he was taken thousands of miles away to Roelands Mission in South West WA. He lived on the Mission until age 16 and played football with South Bunbury after being recruited by the local Mayor, Ern Manea. He lived with Dr Manea for 6 months after leaving the Mission, started a trade in carpentry and moved in with another family closer to his employment. Dr Manea was a member of Legacy as was Ron Barassi and the two organised several Legacy exhibition games in Bunbury. Barassi saw Jackson play while in Bunbury and filed away the idea to recruit him to the VFL. Jackson started his professional footballing career at East Perth in 1963. He was equal first in that year's Sandover Medal count although he was ineligible due to suspension and in 1966 he was named East Perth's best and fairest.

Jackson made his debut in the number 5 guernsey with Carlton in 1969 after being recruited by Ron Barassi in 1968, but he had to stand down for one year to be eligible to play in the VFL as the WAFL decided they wouldn't give clearances to WAFL players to transfer to the VFL. Fellow player Robert Walls noted Jackson was probably the most popular player for Carlton during his time. Jackson was also popular with football fans generally for his sublime skills, goal kicking and ability to break a game open with creative and explosive play. His stunning left foot kick over his right shoulder from the boundary in the 1970 Grand Final reinforced the team's belief they could maintain the momentum that carried them from a 44 point half time deficit to a 10 point win. He won premierships with the Blues in 1970 and 1972.

He was exonerated by the tribunal after striking Lee Adamson, with the tribunal accepting that he was racially provoked. At the Tribunal hearing Jackson was told by the Club President George Harris, to say nothing and let the Player Advocate make his case. The advocate implied provocation to explain a fight with Adamson. Twenty-two years later he explained that there had been no racial provocation and as can be seen in film of the game, he responded to a boot pressed on his fingers after a tackle. Carlton president George Harris had devised the defence to ensure that the talented Jackson was available to play in the grand final. Adamson is quoted as saying he blamed Harris who 'set it up and I have despised him ever since for what he did'. In 2023 Jackson met Adamson along with the Club President to apologise for implying racism at the Tribunal hearing. Adamson was generous in accepting Jackson's and the Club's apology and even gifted Jackson a framed action shot of Jackson from the 70s from Adamson's extensive sports memorabilia business collection.

External links

• Syd Jackson at AustralianFootball.com