Jack Crane

John Edward "Jack" Crane (26 August 1913 – 5 January 1974) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon, Richmond and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Jack Crane
Personal information
Full name John Edward Crane
Date of birth 26 August 1913
Place of birth Melbourne, Victoria
Date of death 5 January 1974(1974-01-05) (aged 60)
Original team(s) Preston (VFA)
Height 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1936 Essendon 002 0(7)
1937–1942 Richmond 102 (25)
1945–1946 North Melbourne 018 0(0)
Total 122 (32)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1946.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Although recruited from Preston, Crane played originally for the South Melbourne seconds. He started his VFL career at Essendon and kicked five goals on his debut, against Hawthorn at Windy Hill.[1]

A dispute with a teammate meant that he was cleared to Richmond after just one more league game and he was used as a full-back at his new club. He spent much of the 1940 VFL season as a key forward, kicking 21 goals.[1] In the grand final that season he was Richmond's centre half-back, but couldn't prevent a 39-point loss.[1]

Crane served with the Australian armed forces during the war, having enlisted in 1943.[2] He returned to football in 1945, playing 17 games for North Melbourne.

He later coached the Caulfield Football Club.[3]

Two brothers, Len and Tom Crane, were also league footballers.[4]

References
  1. "AFL Tables: Jack Crane". afltables.com.
  2. "WW2 Nominal Roll". Government of Australia.
  3. "Crane, Jack". Essendon Football Club official website. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  4. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
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