Is this Melbourne’s most impressive footy jumper collection?

Football jumper enthusiasts would struggle to rival the trove of Ashwood resident Wayne Jordan, who houses a triple-figure collection worn by a galaxy of stars.

It started as a mild curiosity and turned into an obsession.

Football jumper enthusiasts would struggle to rival the trove of Ashwood resident Wayne Jordan, who houses a collection of more than 100 player-worn guernseys from the VFA and VFL eras.

They span from wall to wall in a home museum – some behind glass under lock and key – with the collection insured for $170,000.

Footy jumper enthusiast Wayne Jordan has a private collection of footy jumpers but is thinking of opening up his collection to the public. Picture: David Caird

His keen eye for jumper-hunting has seen him shake hands with many of the game’s greats.

From Carlton games record-holder Craig Bradley’s South Australian State of Origin jumper to an all-star kit worn by Footscray’s Doug Hawkins, Rodney Eade’s Brisbane Bears strip to a lace-up worn by Essendon great Simon Madden.

The VFA and VFL era jumpers hang proudly in Jordan’s home museum. Picture: David Caird

They’re just a mere few the avid collector showcases among the gallery-like set-up.

“It’s just a hobby that’s taken off,” Jordan says.

“I deal with the players directly, I know that way it’s the real deal.”

Jordan’s jumper odyssey began around 2015 after a four-year Port Melbourne stint in the 1970s sparked his curiosity.

“I never played in the seniors but I’ve always had that interest in the VFA,” he says.

“I retired and I just sort of had that interest and thought I’d see how I’d go collecting a few jumpers.”

The haul just kept “building and building”.

Footy jumpers in the collection are all player-worn. Picture: David Caird

Goal-machines Gary ‘Happy’ Hammond (Camberwell) and Frank Rugolo (Sandringham) headline the home museum’s wall showcasing the halcyon days of the Sunday competition.

“Everyone I met along the way have been great people – they’ve put me onto others who might have another club’s jumper – and I just found myself accumulating jumpers and I thought ‘I think I’ve got a chance of collecting the whole set here’,” Jordan says.

Once he ticked off on all VFA clubs, attention turned to the VFL – where he tracked down all 12 strips of the time.

The collection doesn’t stray beyond the VFL era, but the hunting wasn’t limited to match-day guernseys with a stack of one-offs also featuring.

A ‘Big V’ guernsey worn by triple Coleman medallist John Peck in a state match cannot be missed upon entry to the exhibition, sitting high and centred.

Jordan’s collected a galaxy of stars but perhaps one stands out above all.

He proudly displays the jumper worn by five-time Fitzroy club champion John Murphy on the day the players greeted the Queen at the MCG in 1970.

“John Murphy’s actually shaken the Queen’s hand (wearing it),” Jordan says.

April 5, 1970: Fitzroy president Ern Joseph introduces players to the Queen who is shaking hands with rover John Murphy during half time of their opening round match against Richmond at the MCG. On Murphy's right are Bob Hodgkin and Daryl Herrod.

Wayne Jordan with John Murphy’s Fitzroy jumper from the Queen’s 1970 MCG visit. To his right: a North Melbourne jumper worn by Wayne Schimmelbusch. Picture: Daniel Cencic

The value continues to grow among buyers and sellers.

A 1970s Hawthorn jumper worn by two-time premiership half-forward John Hendrie hangs proudly in Jordan’s gallery – and a spare commanded a pretty penny.

“The John Hendrie one I’ve got is really rare … I managed to get two of those, and I managed to sell one for $6000 – that’s how rare it was,” he says.

While there’s no shortage of legends among the hoard, there’s still a number the ex-Borough man is in hot pursuit of.

“A Collingwood lace-up would be pretty good,” Jordan says.

“Ronnie Wearmouth’s was around a little while back – he’d swapped his with (Carlton’s) Jimmy Buckley in the ‘79 grand final.

“I was hoping to get it, but I don’t know what’s happened to it.

“I’m hoping to get (the late) Merv Neagle’s lace-up but his wife just can’t part with it at the moment, which is understandable.”

David Cloke’s Collingwood gear is on the wishlist, as is the get-up of 1981 South Melbourne Brownlow medallist, Barry Round.

Lace-up jumpers are hot on the radar – with Emmett Dunne’s Richmond Tetley-sponsored jumper a popular item among buyers.

Footy jumper enthusiast Wayne Jordan sporting Emmett Dunne’s lace-up. Picture: David Caird

“From what I paid for it, I was offered double for it the next day,” Jordan recalls.

“Anything Richmond-Tetley is just valuable, it comes back to the sponsor.

“Tetley, Avco (Carlton) and Yakka (Collingwood) – they’re the ones that people are after, especially from that golden era of the late ‘70s and ‘80s.”

Such is the staunch interest among footy fans, Jordan is hoping to showcase his collection to the public.

“It may not be this year (but) I was thinking of opening it up grand final week and maybe charge a gold-coin donation and give half the proceeds to the Royal Children’s Hospital,” he says.

A South Melbourne supporter earlier in life, Jordan jumped to Hawthorn as he idolised Don Scott and Geoff Ablett – he says he “couldn’t follow an interstate team being a Victorian” after the Swans relocated.

He adds: “But while they wear the red and white there’s always that passion.”

Jordan’s “just about completed the Fitzroy collection” and he’ll soon move on to tracking more Swans items and lace-ups.

But what began as a mild curiosity could carry on for years yet.

“Hopefully that’ll be it, but you never say never – it’s just a hobby.”

Any interested sellers can contact Wayne Jordan at [e-mail].