South Adelaide hero Jim Deane and his lethal left boot finally recognised in Australian Football Hall of Fame

He remains one of South Adelaide’s greatest players and heroes. Now Jim Deane is part of the roll call of Australian football greats as a Hall of Famer.

Everyone talks of the left-foot stab kick … and the larrikin’s smile that made Jim Deane a champion footballer and champion bloke.

The South Adelaide legend is — finally — a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

The resume should have commanded earlier induction: Two Magarey Medals and three times runner-up for SA football’s highest individual honour while playing for an SANFL club stuck in the cellar. Six best-and-fairest titles with the Panthers. Regular SA state player.

And a reputation that carried to the VFL — and the Victorian country Ovens and Murray league at a time when it was loaded with VFL stars still in the prime of their football capabilities.

Jim Deane, middle, with fellow SANFL stars Bob Simunsen, left, and Bob Hank, right, in 2001.

Now the Deane honour roll is complete putting “Jimmy” alongside his lauded contemporaries — in particular fellow Hall of Famer Bob Hank — from the SANFL’s post-war golden era in the 1950s.

SA football’s “king”, Neil Kerley, makes the comparison with a Hall of Fame Legend, Bob Skilton, who also never lost his love for the game despite playing for a club locked to the foot of premiership tables.

“Super courageous, tough as nails, brilliant at ground level … and that left foot,” said Kerley.

Fellow Hall of Famer — and Magarey Medallist — John Halbert had grown up at Unley knowing of Deane’s reputation beyond the radio calls and newspaper articles. Deane’s sister Heather was his class mate and insight to one of SA league football’s most-dedicated and skilful players.

And then Halbert was introduced to the Deane left-foot stab kick.

“State training … and I was paired with Jim for the end-to-end warm-up,” Halbert recalled. “Jim asked me, ‘Where do you want it … left tit or right tit?’”.

Jim Deane in full flight in 1957.

Jim Deane at Richmond in 1955 is remembered for his lethal left boot.

Deane’s rise to league football as a teenager in 1945 highlighted the start of a brilliant career. He played in South Adelaide’s under-19 team for the first 12 weeks — before promotion to the league team — and scored first-preference, best-on-ground votes in all 12 games to win the SANFL’s Tomkins Medal, the junior equivalent of the Magarey Medal.

Such was his status in the SANFL that at the end of the 1949 season — his first as runner-up in the Magarey Medal — Port Adelaide boss Bob McLean sought Deane to be the Magpies saviour as captain-coach (a role later handed to Fos Williams).

South Adelaide simply refused to release its champion, just as it had done in 1945 when Richmond great Jack Dyer wanted 16-year-old Deane at the VFL club. He eventually did become a Tiger, for 33 VFL games in 1954-55, but mis-timed his arrival at Punt Road.

“(Tigers’ great) Tom Hafey said Richmond was a disorganised club at that time,” Halbert said. “But they did think so highly of Jim that they made him acting captain … and offered him the coaching job (after Alby Pannam was dismissed at the end of 1955).”

South Adelaide great Jim Deane with his Magarey Medals in 2001.

Instead, Deane returned to South Adelaide completing an SANFL league career at 157 games … but no final. There was no premiership until Deane was at the end of his playing career in the mid-1960s at Port Pirie in the Spencer Gulf Football League.

But, like the equally unfortunate Skilton, Deane was the star in that before television elevated a footballer’s status.

His son, Michael, recalls following his father through Adelaide’s inner city southern streets.

“It was like being in the entourage of a world champion boxer or a rock star; wherever you went, he was recognised,” Michael said.

Deane died in 2010, aged 82. The SANFL in 1998 had corrected the countback loss to West Adelaide half-forward Ron Benton in the 1957 Magarey Medal with its retrospective medals. And the SANFL recognised Deane in 2002 as an inaugural inductee to the SA Football Hall of Fame.

“His record and achievements speak for themselves,” said Peter Darley, a South Adelaide great who followed Deane’s footsteps with the Panthers. “He became more of a legend after his career had ended when people realised just how good he was.”

A 24-year wait for national Hall of Fame status equates to the 21 years it took for Deane to finally taste champagne from a premiership trophy. “And he belongs (in the Hall of Fame),” says Legend Malcolm Blight.

Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Jim Deane's family, clockwise back from left, Anne Williams, Michael Deane, Julie Deane, Sally Angel, Colleen Deane and Tracey Thompson. Picture: Brad Fleet

‘He would have celebrated’

Jim Deane’s family party at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Melbourne on Tuesday night was 23 strong — and very clear on how the South Adelaide great would have accepted his honour.

“Humbly,” said his son Michael, who collected Deane’s Hall of Fame certificate in place of his father who died in 2010. “And then we would have celebrated … he was a good celebrator.”

There is precedent. In 1998, the SANFL finally recognised Deane for the second Magarey Medal he lost on countback in 1957 to West Adelaide half-forward Ron Benton.

“He loved that night — it was a great thrill,” recalled Michael Deane of the night his father rolled from the official function to the South Adelaide clubhouse in a black limousine.

“This would have been bigger.”

Jim Deane at the Hotel Franklin in 1987.

ABC Radio presenters Malcolm McDonald, Jim Deane and Roger Wills in 1989.

Michael Deane recalls his father’s life was sport, the pubs that carried his name … and his wife, Colleen.

“Football and my Mum set him up for life,” said Michael Deane.

“He not only lived football, but cricket, tennis … and he wished he was better at golf. He was filthy he was not better at golf (at which he played off 10); he would hit golf balls until his hands bled to get better.

“As a publican, Dad loved a beer … but he also took care of himself. He was very serious about keeping himself fit.”

Deane’s football career moved from playing and coaching — both in SA and Victoria — to becoming a key part of the ABC radio football coverage in a 20-year stint with Malcolm McDonald and Roger Wills to the start of AFL football in Adelaide 1990s.

“He loved being part of the commentary on football,” Michael Deane said. “But most of all he loved playing the game.

“He never played a final with South Adelaide, but he took solace from his (15) state games with South Australia.

“He enjoyed every chance to play with the greats of SA football in the 1950s — Bob Hank, Len Fitzgerald, John Marriott, Peter Aish, Lindsay Head and Geof Motley, with whom he became good friends away from football.

“It is sad he is not here for this moment with the Hall of Fame. But he would have been celebrating this moment as much as all his other success in a game he loved.”

Jim Deane is congratulated by Lindsay Head, Fred A'Court and Neil Kerley after winning The Advertiser Trophy for the outstanding player in the minor round in 1957.

TRIBUTES

NEIL KERLEY

(King of SA football)

A super courageous player — as tough as nails. And a deadly stab kick with his left foot. Sadly, he played at a bottom club and was carrying so much on his shoulders. The only way for those outside SA to understand how good was Jimmy is to make the comparison with Bobby Skilton. And it fits.

MALCOLM BLIGHT

(Hall of Fame Legend)

Jim was one player I wanted to know as soon as my father told me of his two favourite players — Bob Hank and Jim Deane. Now both are in the Hall of Fame — and Jim’s amazing record in the SANFL says he belongs in the Hall.

JOHN CAHILL

(Port Adelaide legend)

As a boy growing up as a South Adelaide supporter, Jimmy was my hero — and I modelled my game on his. Left foot, courageous, so gifted and so skilful. And courageous. But so humble and quiet — a great man.

Jim Deane with fellow South Adelaide greats Mark Naley, Peter Darley and Andrew Osborne in 2002.

PETER DARLEY

(South Adelaide great)

A great man. His record and achievements speak for themselves. Jim was extremely well respected in football — and the community where he was a benefactor to many.

Jim played in the days when football heroes were few in a club that did not enjoy a lot of success. He became more of a legend after his career had ended when people realised just how good he was. His trophies — Magarey Medals and Knuckey Cups — are a testament to his ability. He also had a most affable personality.

JOHN HALBERT

(Magarey Medallist)

Superb player who stayed on top of the ground while others sunk in the mud. Marvellous stab kick — and a wonderful larrikin. Tom Hafey always said it was disappointing the VFL did not get to see the best of Jimmy because he came to Richmond when it was a disorganised club.

MAX BASHEER

(Former SANFL president)

Jim was naturally brilliant and had all the attributes — particularly with his speed and that left-foot stab kick — that made him a first-class player. He was a champion, for club and State. And a very determined player. He also was a charming man.

RUSSELL EBERT

(Magarey Medallist)

Jim’s reputation as a player echoed with all of us who followed in the SANFL in the 1960s and 1970s. His name was mentioned in the same enthusiastic way we heard the stories of Bob Hank and Bob Quinn. For Bob McLean to have wanted Jimmy as Port Adelaide’s playing coach in 1950 says so much.

Jim Deane presented with the 1953 Magarey Medal.

JIM DEANE HONOUR ROLL

Born: January 2, 1928.

Died: November 13, 2010.

Played: 157 SANFL league games with South Adelaide (1945-1953 and 1956-57), 33 VFL league games with Richmond (1954-55) and represented South Australia 15 times.

Scored: 124 goals (95 with South Adelaide, 17 with Richmond and 12 for South Australia).

Non-league football: Five seasons as captain-coach at Myrtleford in the Ovens and Murray Football League (1958-62); five seasons as captain-coach at Ports (Port Pirie) in the Spencer Gulf Football League (1963-67) with 1965 premiership win; one season with Props (Port Pirie) in SGFL as coach with 1968 premiership win.

Honours: Captain, South Adelaide (1951-1953, 1956-1957); Magarey Medallist, 1953 and 1957; runner-up, 1949, 1950 and 1951); South Adelaide best-and-fairest, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1956 and 1957; Tomkins Medallist, SANFL under-19s in 1945; SA Football Hall of Fame, 2002.

Coached: South Adelaide, 1951-1953 and 1970-1971.

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