John Harris
Collingwood and Hawthorn · “Jiggy”
AFL career
122 games58 goals
- Debut
- R3 1925 v HAW16 May 1925
- Most recent
- R17 1931 v RCH5 Sept 1931
Coaching career
36 games9 wins27 losses0 draws
- First
- R1 1930 v STK3 May 1930
- Most recent
- R18 1931 v ESS12 Sept 1931
Stats
Bio
Born in Mildura and recruited from VFA club Brighton, John "Jiggy" Harris was a diminutive but electrifying wingman and half-forward who became a crowd favourite at Collingwood during the famous "Machine" era. Standing just 165cm, Harris compensated for his lack of size with exceptional evasiveness and pace, earning his nickname for the way he would "jig" about to elude opponents. He overcame initial clearance difficulties to become a regular fixture in the Magpies' lineup, playing a crucial role in the club's back-to-back premierships in 1927 and 1928, where his clever ball use and terrier-like tenacity were instrumental.
Harris's time at Victoria Park ended in controversial fashion when, after playing every game of the 1929 season, he was sensationally dropped for the Grand Final, costing him a chance at a third consecutive flag. Deeply aggrieved by the decision, he immediately requested a clearance to Hawthorn, where he was appointed captain-coach for the 1930 season. Harris led the club for two years in a playing-coach capacity, battling hard at the bottom of the ladder, before eventually departing to finish his career in the VFA with Coburg.
Profile
- Full name
- John D. Harris
- Born
- 04 Nov 1903
- Died
- 29 June 1993 (aged 89y 237d)
- Birthplace
- Mildura, VIC
- Deathplace
- Camberwell, VIC
- Height
- 165 cm
- Weight
- 63 kg
Teams
Coaching
- Hawthorn (Senior Coach)1930–193136 games (W9 L27 D0), 25.0%
Honours
- Premiership(2×) 1927, 1928
- Hawthorn captain(2×) 1930, 1931
Family
- Brother:Stan Harris
Bio
1 revisionBorn in Mildura and recruited from VFA club Brighton, John "Jiggy" Harris was a diminutive but electrifying wingman and half-forward who became a crowd favourite at Collingwood during the famous "Machine" era. Standing just 165cm, Harris compensated for his lack of size with exceptional evasiveness and pace, earning his nickname for the way he would "jig" about to elude opponents. He overcame initial clearance difficulties to become a regular fixture in the Magpies' lineup, playing a crucial role in the club's back-to-back premierships in 1927 and 1928, where his clever ball use and terrier-like tenacity were instrumental.
Harris's time at Victoria Park ended in controversial fashion when, after playing every game of the 1929 season, he was sensationally dropped for the Grand Final, costing him a chance at a third consecutive flag. Deeply aggrieved by the decision, he immediately requested a clearance to Hawthorn, where he was appointed captain-coach for the 1930 season. Harris led the club for two years in a playing-coach capacity, battling hard at the bottom of the ladder, before eventually departing to finish his career in the VFA with Coburg.