Jack Cassin Explained

Jack Cassin
Fullname:John William Cassin
Birth Date:1 July 1915
Birth Place:Richmond, Victoria
Death Place:Colac, Victoria
Originalteam:Seville
Height:183 cm
Weight:82 kg
Statsend:1951
Years1:1935
Club1:Seville (YVFA)
Years2:1936–1944
Club2:Essendon (VFL)
Games Goals2:129 (116)
Years3:1946–1947
Club3:Essendon (VFL)
Games Goals3:  21 (29)
Years4:1948
Club4:Euroa (WNEFL)
Years5:1949–1951
Club5:Colac (HFL)
Sooteam1:Victoria
Sooyears1:1941
Soogames Goals1:1
Coachyears1:1948
Coachclub1:Euroa (WNEFL)
Coachyears2:1949–1951
Coachclub2:Colac (HFL)
Careerhighlights:
  • VFL premiership 1942, 1946
  • HFL premiership 1950
  • Essendon Semi-Final Team: 1940, 1941, 1943, 1944
  • Essendon Preliminary Final Team: 1940, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1946 (drawn), 1946
  • Essendon Grand Final Team: 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1947
  • VFL Inter-State Representative Team: 1941.
  • Life member Essendon Football Club: 1946.
  • Euroa Grand Final Team: 1948
  • Colac Grand Final Team: 1949, 1950

John William Cassin (1 July 1915 – 3 September 1994) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL) over eleven seasons in twelve years, and served as the captain coach of the Euroa Football Club in 1948, and of the Colac Football Club from 1949 to 1951. He served with the RAAF in World War II.

Family

The son of William John Cassin (1885-1928),[1] and Margaret Evelyn Cassin (1887–1929), née Priestly,[2] John William Cassin was born at Richmond, Victoria on 1 July 1915.

He married Edna May Falcke (1915-1971) in 1941.[3] [4] One of their seven children, John, played for Essendon (1971-1974), North Melbourne (1977-1981), and Fitzroy (1981-1982) in the VFL, and West Torrens (1975-1976) in the SANFL.

Football

"A rugged and tenacious utility who played the game hard and not always fair, Jack Cassin was a noteworthy identity for many years at Essendon … A controversial figure at times, Cassin was a renowned "stirrer" of opposition players,[5] and might be said to have played his football according to the adage "hit first and ask questions later". Not surprisingly, this approach sometimes attracted the ire of opposition supporters on one occasion he was actually attacked on the field by an angry fan and he was no stranger to the Tribunal either, making a total of eight visits there during his career, and being found guilty three times." John Devaney, Australian Football.[6]

"Cassin … [a] big, fast man … is a remarkable player. As well as doing a great job in the ruck, he gives team mates plenty of leads and pops up all over the place as a loose man." — Dick Reynolds, Essendon coach, 16 July 1946.[7]

Seville (YVFA)

Cassin was recruited to Essendon from the Seville Football Club in the Yarra Valley Football Association,[8] [9] where he had won the team's trophy for "the most improved player" in the 1935 season.[10]

Essendon (VFL)

Although he was residentially tied to Richmond, Richmond had expressed no interest in him.[11] [12] Also, some Fitzroy officials had gone to see him play the week before he was signed by Essendon (by former Essendon player and Committeeman Harry Gregory),[13] and had left the match without even speaking to him.

One of Essendon Second XVIII's best players in the opening round of the 1936 season (scoring 4 goals), in its match against North Melbourne,[14] he made his senior debut, at centre half-forward (opposed to Carlton's centre half-back Gordon Mackie), against Carlton at Princes Park on the following Saturday, 9 May 1936,[15] when Carlton thrashed Essendon 21.19 (145) to 5.13 (43), with Harry "Soapy" Vallence kicking 9 goals in what remains (as of April 2022) as Carlton's greatest ever winning margin against Essendon.[16]

Over his eleven seasons at Essendon, Cassin was mainly used in the first ruck, resting either in the forward-pocket or on the half-forward flank, combining well with Hugh Torney over Torney's last eight seasons (1936-1943) with Essendon, and his hard and tenacious style of play meant that he was a controversial figure during his career, often having to visit the tribunal and, even once, was attacked on the field by an angry opposition supporter.

6 July 1946

On 6 July 1946, Essendon defeated Carlton, 12.12 (84) to 9.9 (63), at Windy Hill.[17] [18] [19]

WANTED TO FIGHT BUT SHOOK HANDS
In the second quarter of the Essendon-Carlton match a man in a brown suit ran from the grandstand reserve to the centre, and attempted to hit [Essendon's first-ruck Jack] Cassin, who was standing (Carlton's centreman Ray) Garby's mark.
Cassin grabbed the intruder by his waistcoat. The man slipped, got up, shook hands with (Carlton's half-back flanker Vin) Brown, and ran off again.
Police constables moved towards the man, but made no attempt to arrest him. — The Sporting Globe, 6 July 1946.[20]

Essendon Reserves

He retired from senior football at the end of the 1946 season; and, having withdrawn his application to coach the Hawthorn First XVIII, spent the entire 1947 season as captain-coach of the Essendon Reserves.[21]

1947 VFL Grand Final

In September 1947, due to the extensive injuries of those on Essendon's senior list, Cassin was recalled to the senior team to play in the 1947 VFL Grand Final although he had not played a senior match in 1947; he was in good form, however, having been one of the best players in the Second's losing Preliminary Final team on the preceding Saturday.[22] He replaced Gordon Lane, who had suffered leg and rib injuries in the preceding week's Preliminary Final.[23]

Playing in the first-ruck with Perc Bushby, Cassin, who scored a goal, was one of Essendon's best players in a team that, despite having 30 scoring shots to Carlton's 21, lost by a single point 11.19 (85) to 13.8 (86), with Carlton's half-forward flanker, Fred Stafford, scoring a left-foot goal in the last few moments of the match.[24] [25] [26]

Euroa (WNEFL)

In 1948, he was appointed captain-coach of the Euroa Football Club in the Waranga-North-Eastern Football League.[27] [28]

Euroa lost the 1948 WNEFL Grand-Final match against Seymour, at Avenel on 4 September 1948, by two points: 9.6 (60) to 7.20 (62).[29]

Colac (HFL)

In 1949 he was appointed as the captain-coach of the Colac Football Club team, which had been founded in late 1948 specifically to compete in the Hampden Football League in the 1949 season. He coached the team for its first three seasons: 1949, 1950, and 1951.

After football

Having retired at the end of the 1951 season,[36] [37] he was succeeded as captain-coach by the ex-Footscray player George "Binga" McLaren.[38] Cassin remained in Colac for the rest of his life.[39]

VFL Tribunal

Career

His football record is impressive:

Military service

He served with the RAAF in World War II.[76]

Death

He died at Colac, Victoria on 3 September 1994.[77]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204169210 Deaths: Cassin, The Age, (Friday, 3 February 1928), p.1.
  2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204107491 Deaths: Cassin, The Age, (Wednesday, 24 July 1929), p.1.
  3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244578892 Engaged to Marry, The Herald, (Wednesday, 18 December 1940), p.16.
  4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5eBUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qZADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3184%2C4785911 Deaths: Cassin, The Age, (Thursday, 24 June 1971), p.22.
  5. According to Jack Dyer, in 1965, "Cassin had the knack of irritating his opponents [and] had more football enemies than any [other] player [that] I can recall" ("Essendon through the eyes of Jack Dyer", australianfootball.com.)
  6. https://australianfootball.com/players/player/jack%2Bcassin/5976 Devaney, John, "Jack Cassin", australianfootball.com.
  7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245550126 Reynolds, Dick, "Essendon Being Trained On Collingwood Lines", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Tuesday, 16 July 1946), p.13.
  8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60452836 Football Notes: Seville Sayso, The Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, (Saturday, 17 August 1935), p.3.
  9. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60453681 Football: Seville, The Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, (Saturday, 11 April 1936), p.4:
  10. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60453059 Seville: Footballers' Ball, The Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, (Saturday, 12 October 1935), p.3.
  11. He was cleared to Essendon, from Richmond, in April 1936: Richmond keeps Seven New Men, The Argus, (Wednesday, 29 April 1936), p.18.
  12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11030876 Essendon Keeps 30: Nine New Men on List, The Argus, (Wednesday, 29 April 1936), p.18.
  13. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244826469 New Players for Essendon, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Tuesday, 4 February 1936), p.22.
  14. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11031980 League Seconds: Essendon 13-17 d. North Melbourne 3-7, The Argus, (Monday, 4 May 1936), p.15.
  15. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204837812 Essendon try Cassin, The Age, (Friday, 8 May 1936), p.4.
  16. http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+2%2C+1936 Round 2, 1936, Blueseum.
  17. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article178116852 'Scriptor', "Dons Defeat Carlton in Grim Fight", The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 6 July 1946), p.3.
  18. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206376315 Beames, Percy, "Dons win Grim Struggle", (Monday, 8 July 1946), p.6.
  19. https://www.blueseum.org/Round+11%2C+1946 Round 11, 1946, Blueseum.
  20. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article178116744 Wanted To Fight But Shook Hands, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 6 July 1946), p.3.
  21. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245861106 Brown, Alf, "Cassin will lead Dons' Second 18", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Wednesday, 26 February 1947), p.15.
  22. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245086864 North Easily Wins Seconds Semi-Final, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Saturday, 20 September 1947), p.28.
  23. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22509599 Rib not broken, but Lane cannot play, The Argus, (Wednesday, 24 September 1947), p.32
  24. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245086833 Brown, Alf, "Carlton Snatch Win in Hectic Finish: Costly Forward Errors by Dons Ruin Chances", The (Melbourne) Herald, Saturday, 27 September 1947), p.26.
  25. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206044514 One of the High Marks, The Age, (Monday, 29 September 1947), p.14.
  26. http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Grand+Final%2C+1947 Grand Final, 1947, Blueseum.
  27. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70383365 Football Notes: Leading Essendon Player Likely Coach at Euroa, The Benalla Ensign, (Friday, 30 January 1948), p.1.
  28. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22547827 Cassin for Euroa, The Argus, (Wednesday, 10 March 1948), p.16.
  29. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61193879 (Miscellaneous News Item), The Alexandra and Yea Standard, and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express, (Friday, 10 September 1948), p.2.
  30. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22775475 New Hampden Team Succeeds, The Argus, (Thursday, 1 September 1949), p.19.
  31. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22777998 Hampden League, The Argus, (Monday 12 September 1949), p.17.
  32. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224951172 Colac Football Team, Runners-Up in the Hampden League, The Weekly Times, (Wednesday, 26 October 1049), p.62:
  33. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22901363 On the Farm: Footballlers round up Rabbits at Colac, The Argus, (Monday, 7 August 1950), p.10.
  34. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23576495 Football: Colac Has Narrow Hampden Premiership Win, The Camperdown Chronicle, (Tuesday, 26 September 1950), p.4.
  35. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article193643431 Andrew, George, "Cassin retires as Colac's bid fails", The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 15 August 1951), p.12.
  36. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23087574 Jack Cassin Retires, The Argus, (Tuesday, 23 October 1951), p.11.
  37. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205328002 Cassin Retires from Coaching, The Age, (Tuesday, 23 October 1951), p.14.
  38. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23174823 Hampden Teams Pep Up, The Argus, (Friday, 18 April 1952), p.10.
  39. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71673581 He's just won one, The Argus, (Saturday, 13 August 1955), p.5.
  40. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12427641 Teams for Tomorrow: League: Essendon, The Argus, (Friday, 1 July 1938), p.21.
  41. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12456553 Kelly Given Benefit, The Argus, (Wednesday, 3 August 1938), p. 22.
  42. https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/90060/bill-brew Bill Brew, essendonfc.com.au.
  43. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Pv1UAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z5MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6431%2C4813540 Essendon President dies suddenly, The Age, (Monday, 30 December 1968), p.14.
  44. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205131717 Mistaken Identity, The Age, (Wednesday, 3 August 1938), p.8.
  45. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12456553 Kicking charge adjourned: Tribunal asks for more Evidence,The Argus, (Wednesday, 3 August 1938), p.22.
  46. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12463364 Charges Dismissed, The Argus, (Wednesday, 10 August 1938), p.22.
  47. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205122966 Cassin's Disclaimer, The Age, (Friday, 5 August 1938), p.6.
  48. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12461244 League Teams: Fitzroy v. Essendon, The Argus, (Friday, 17 May 1940), p.19.
  49. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12462249 Taylor, Percy, "St. Kilda—Melbourne Share Lead: Four More Players Reported", The Argus, (Monday, 20 May 1940), p.11.
  50. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12462992 Football: Three Charges not Proved, The Argus, (Wednesday, 22 May 1940), p.17.
  51. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188809701 Players Reported, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 13 July 1940), p.4.
  52. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11316325 League Teams: Melbourne v. Essendon, The Argus, (Friday, 12 July 1940), p.16.
  53. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11305629 Cassin Reprimanded, The Argus, (Wednesday, 17 July 1940), p.14.
  54. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11316325 League Teams: Melbourne v. Essendon, The Argus, (Friday, 12 July 1940), p.16.
  55. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11305389 More Incidents: Two Men Reported, The Argus, (Monday, 23 September 1940), p.11.
  56. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244459386 Three before Tribunal, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Tuesday, 1 October 1940), p.16.
  57. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11329384 Football: Three Cases Dismissed: League Tribunal, The Argus, (Wednesday, 2 October 1940), p.14.
  58. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8174471 Player Reported, The Argus, (Monday, 12 May 1941), p.9.
  59. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205152706 Cassin (Ess.) Four Weeks, The Age, (Saturday, 17 May 1941), p.18.
  60. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206829752 Football: League Tribunal, The Age, (Thursday 5 November 1942), p.4.
  61. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164980578 Matthews Exonerated by V.F.L. Tribunal, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 7 November 1942), p.1.
  62. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225562468 Players Reported, The Weekly Times, (Wednesday, 23 September 1942), p.25.
  63. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12010525 4 Footballers Suspended, The Argus, (Monday, 21 December 1942), p.9.
  64. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11804778 Eight Footballers Reported, The Argus, (Monday, 29 May 1944), p.8.
  65. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11815054 Four Footballers Suspended, The Argus, (Wednesday 31 May 1944), p.11.
  66. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11804660 Players Exonerated, The Argus, (Saturday, 3 June 1944), p.15.
  67. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206370999 Players Reported, The Age, (Monday, 15 July 1946), p.6.
  68. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77821773 Buttsworth Charged with Striking, The (Perth) Daily News, (Tuesday, 16 July 1946), p.8.
  69. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206829752 Incidents At Essendon on Saturday: League Players Exonerated, The Argus, (Wednesday 17 July 1946), p.8.
  70. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206044510 Players Reported, The Age, (Monday, 29 September 1947), p.14.
  71. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206061062 Football: Reprimand for Cassin, The Age, (Wednesday, 15 October 1947), p.18.
  72. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article180837848 Remarkable Leap, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 7 August 1937), p.4.
  73. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205597910 Football: Essendon Awards, The Age, (Friday, 3 November 1939), p.12.
  74. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55836042 Johnson, Vic, "Victoria's Great Display: Hold Home Side in Thrilling Last-Term Rally", The (Adelaide) Mail, (Saturday, 12 July 1941), p.15.
  75. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142418894 Last Year's Runners-Up Strive for 1944 Honours, The Australasian, (Saturday, 20 May 1944), p.11.
  76. Nominal Roll.
  77. https://billiongraves.com/grave/John-William-Cassin/37215945 John William Cassin, billiongraves.com.