Tasmanian football has lost one of its all-time greats with the passing of legend Des James

Tasmanian football has lost one of its all-time greats with the passing of legendary backman Des James.

Tasmanian Devils draft prospect Jack Callinan of Hobart who is the son of AFL player Ian Callinan and grandfather Des James who represented Tasmania in state football and is in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame playing club football for Sandy Bay. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmanian football has lost one of its all-time greats with the passing of legendary state, Sandy Bay and later Clarence backman Des James, aged 71.

Known as Dessy to teammates and opponents alike, James played 209 games for Sandy Bay (1974-84) and 34 games for Clarence (1985-86), represented Tasmania 24 times and was selected as back-pocket in the All-Australian team at the 1979 State-of-Origin carnival.

A Legend in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, James was also shortlisted for the Indigenous Team of the Century.

Football player Des James, Sandy Bay player 1977.

He was the younger brother of the AFL’s 2023 Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree, well-known field umpire Glenn James.

A member of the Yorta aboriginal people, James was born in Shepparton in 1952 and started his football career with Lemnos-Shepparton Football Club in the Goulburn Valley Football League.

Footballer Graham Cornes (l) and Des James. Football - SA vs Tasmania State-of-Origin imatch at Football Park 11 Oct 1980.

He won the competition’s under-17s best-and-fairest in 1969 and aged 20 finished third in the competition’s senior award despite missing almost half the season.

James then moved to Sydney where he played under former Sandy Bay premiership coach Gordon Bowman, and on his recommendation was approached to play for the Bay, and he moved to Hobart in 1974.

Australian Football Indigenous Team of the Century - nominated Tasmanian Des James

James played in consecutive grand final defeats before he was part of the Seagulls’ golden age when they won three in a row (1976-77-78) _ the only TFL club to achieve the threepeat.

Michael Seddon was a star onballer for Sandy Bay and teammate of the dashing back-pocket.

“We played together in the triple premiership teams,” Seddon said.

“He was a wonderful player, calm and collected, very skillful, had fantastic reflexes and a great reader of the game.

“I watched him as a youngster. I watched him as a fan to start with before we played together.”

James was appointed Sandy Bay captain for 1983-84, and moved to Clarence for the next two season, which included the Roos’ grand final loss to Glenorchy in ‘85.

He went on to coach Brighton (2003-04) and was also reserves coach and senior assistant –coach at North Hobart.

Sport Football SFL Brighton Football Club from left president Ross Howard coach Des James and players Michael Thompson and Tom James discuss the clubs future Picture: Raoul Kochanowski

In a statement, AFL Tasmania said: “Des was a trailblazer, not just in Tasmanian footy but for the game as a whole.

“Des leaves a legacy as not only one of the finest players of his generation, but as arguably the greatest indigenous player in the history of Tasmanian football.

“Most importantly, he did so as a beloved member of the football community, respected and admired by all.”