Bill Jackson
Essendon and St Kilda · “Newhaven”
AFL career
33 games25 goals
- Debut
- R8 1898 v FIT25 June 1898
- Most recent
- R9 1903 v ESS20 June 1903
Stats
Bio
A champion cyclist nicknamed "Newhaven" after the 1896 Melbourne Cup winner, Bill Jackson was a dual-threat athlete recruited to Essendon from Ballarat Imperials. Standing out as a bulky yet artistic ruckman and forward, he was renowned for his aggressive approach, magnificent high marking, and penetrating kicking. He featured in Essendon's 1898 Grand Final side, but his tenure at the club ended in heartbreak during the 1900 semi-final when a severe knee injury forced him from the field, leaving the Dons with 17 men in a knockout loss. After initially retiring to focus on road racing—where he won the prestigious Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic—Jackson made a surprise return to the VFL three years later, crossing to the Junction Oval to serve as St Kilda's captain for a final six-game stint.
Profile
- Born
- 13 Apr 1874
- Died
- 11 Sept 1921 (aged 47y 151d)
- Birthplace
- Stawell, VIC
- Deathplace
- Collie, WA
Teams
Honours
- St Kilda captain1903
Bio
1 revisionA champion cyclist nicknamed "Newhaven" after the 1896 Melbourne Cup winner, Bill Jackson was a dual-threat athlete recruited to Essendon from Ballarat Imperials. Standing out as a bulky yet artistic ruckman and forward, he was renowned for his aggressive approach, magnificent high marking, and penetrating kicking. He featured in Essendon's 1898 Grand Final side, but his tenure at the club ended in heartbreak during the 1900 semi-final when a severe knee injury forced him from the field, leaving the Dons with 17 men in a knockout loss. After initially retiring to focus on road racing—where he won the prestigious Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic—Jackson made a surprise return to the VFL three years later, crossing to the Junction Oval to serve as St Kilda's captain for a final six-game stint.