John Jenkins

Recruited from the local Richmond Citizens, John "Jerker" Jenkins was a giant of his era, standing at 196cm and weighing nearly 100kg. Despite his imposing frame, he struggled to cement a permanent position in the Tigers' senior lineup during the mid-to-late 1950s, often finding himself on the fringe of selection despite being a key member of the club’s back-to-back Reserves premierships in 1954 and 1955. After playing just 34 senior games over five seasons at Punt Road, he crossed to North Melbourne during the 1959 season, where he finally found the regular opportunities he craved.

At Arden Street, Jenkins utilised his height and strength as a ruckman and forward pocket, becoming a reliable competitor who used his bulk to advantage in contest situations rather than relying on speed. He played the best football of his career with the Shinboners, notching over 70 games, though he is perhaps inadvertently best remembered as the "stepladder" in one of Australian football’s most iconic photographs—the image of Footscray legend Ted Whitten soaring over his back to take a spectacular mark in front of the Arden Street gasometer. Jenkins departed North Melbourne in 1964, finishing his playing days with stints at Preston in the VFA and Vermont in the Eastern Districts.