Jim Cleary
South Melbourne · “Gentleman Jim”
AFL career
222 games6 goals
- Debut
- R5 1934 v HAW2 June 1934
- Most recent
- R12 1948 v RCH10 July 1948
Stats
Bio
Jim Cleary was a stoic and widely respected full-back for South Melbourne, earning the moniker "Gentleman Jim" for his fair play and sportsmanship during a rough era of league football. Recruited from Thornbury CYMS, Cleary established himself as a pillar of the Bloods' defence, renowned for his clean marking and ability to read the play deep in the backline. His loyalty to the club was absolute; he rejected lucrative offers to defect to the VFA during the "throw-pass" era, choosing instead to remain at the Lake Oval where he became a fixture of the side for 15 seasons.
Despite his reputation for fairness, Cleary's career is ironically remembered for his involvement in the infamous 1945 "Bloodbath" Grand Final against Carlton. In a match defined by violence, the usually disciplined defender was suspended for eight weeks for striking Ken Hands—a rare blemish on an otherwise clean record. He claimed two Best and Fairest awards (1942 and 1944) and polled well in the Brownlow Medal, though his peak years coincided with the medal's suspension during World War II. After 222 games, he departed to captain-coach Port Melbourne in the VFA, leaving a legacy as one of the club's finest defenders.
Profile
- Born
- 13 July 1914
- Died
- 02 May 1993 (aged 78y 293d)
- Birthplace
- Carlton, VIC
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 89 kg
Teams
Honours
- Sydney B&F(2×) 1942, 1944
- Brownlow Medal
- Top 10
- 1939, 1941
Bio
1 revisionJim Cleary was a stoic and widely respected full-back for South Melbourne, earning the moniker "Gentleman Jim" for his fair play and sportsmanship during a rough era of league football. Recruited from Thornbury CYMS, Cleary established himself as a pillar of the Bloods' defence, renowned for his clean marking and ability to read the play deep in the backline. His loyalty to the club was absolute; he rejected lucrative offers to defect to the VFA during the "throw-pass" era, choosing instead to remain at the Lake Oval where he became a fixture of the side for 15 seasons.
Despite his reputation for fairness, Cleary's career is ironically remembered for his involvement in the infamous 1945 "Bloodbath" Grand Final against Carlton. In a match defined by violence, the usually disciplined defender was suspended for eight weeks for striking Ken Hands—a rare blemish on an otherwise clean record. He claimed two Best and Fairest awards (1942 and 1944) and polled well in the Brownlow Medal, though his peak years coincided with the medal's suspension during World War II. After 222 games, he departed to captain-coach Port Melbourne in the VFA, leaving a legacy as one of the club's finest defenders.