John Solomon
St Kilda · “Jack”
AFL career
36 games21 goals
- Debut
- R4 1948 v FIT8 May 1948
- Most recent
- R7 1952 v FIT7 June 1952
Stats
Bio
Born John "Jack" Solomon, this St Kilda local was a dual-sport talent who balanced VFL duties with District Cricket for St Kilda, eventually making his mark as one of the game's most fascinating post-career characters. On the field, he was a lightly-framed small forward and rover who played 36 games for the Saints during a difficult era for the club, managing a modest 21 goals while struggling to cement a permanent spot in the senior 18. While his on-field contributions were serviceable rather than spectacular, Solomon is best remembered for his complete reinvention after retiring; in 1955, he legally changed his name to Jonathan Crawford to pursue a career as a high-end fashion designer. He became a well-known Melbourne socialite and "playboy," later running the Pacific Hotel in Lorne, ensuring his legacy endured far beyond his brief stint at the Junction Oval.
Profile
- Born
- 15 June 1928
- Died
- 14 July 2011 (aged 83y 29d)
- Height
- 177 cm
- Weight
- 71 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionBorn John "Jack" Solomon, this St Kilda local was a dual-sport talent who balanced VFL duties with District Cricket for St Kilda, eventually making his mark as one of the game's most fascinating post-career characters. On the field, he was a lightly-framed small forward and rover who played 36 games for the Saints during a difficult era for the club, managing a modest 21 goals while struggling to cement a permanent spot in the senior 18. While his on-field contributions were serviceable rather than spectacular, Solomon is best remembered for his complete reinvention after retiring; in 1955, he legally changed his name to Jonathan Crawford to pursue a career as a high-end fashion designer. He became a well-known Melbourne socialite and "playboy," later running the Pacific Hotel in Lorne, ensuring his legacy endured far beyond his brief stint at the Junction Oval.