John Blair (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Blair is a former Australian rules football
er who played with South Melbourne
, Fitzroy
and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). He has since become a successful coach in Queensland and is currently senior coach of Morningside
.
A utility, Blair spent a lot of his career as a centre-half back but was also used up forward. He had begun his career at Springvale
and it was from there was he was recruited to South Melbourne. He made his VFL debut in 1975, against Footscray
at Waverley Park
, but it was the only game he played that season. Over the next two years he put together 23 senior appearances, only to be traded to Fitzroy during the 1978 season
. He didn't play a VFL match in 1979 and in 1980 was playing for his third club, St Kilda. He appeared just twice for St Kilda and left at the end of the year, to captain-coach Queensland club Morningside.
Blair, who won the Grogan Medal
in 1982, steered Morningside to the QAFL
grand final ever year from 1982 to 1984. Each time they lost, but Blair would later captain-coach Windsor-Zillmere
to a premiership in 1988, before retiring. He had been their best forward that season, with 96 goals. It was the second time he had been the league's leading goal-kicker, having kicked 86 goals with Morningside in 1985. Before coming to Windsor-Zillmere, he had a brief stint with Sandgate
. During the 1980s he had been a regular interstate football representative, playing for Queensland 19 times.
In the early 1990s, Blair was involved in coaching with the Brisbane Bears
and after some time away returned to the QAFL in 2002 to again coach Morningside. He twice coached them to back to back premierships, first in 2003 and 2004, then again in 2009 and 2010. In total he has coached 11 QAFL grand finals, for a return of five premierships.
He is the father of television actress, Natalie Blair
, and the uncle of Collingwood
premiership player Jarryd Blair
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL). He has since become a successful coach in Queensland and is currently senior coach of Morningside
Morningside Australian Football Club
Morningside Australian Football Club, also known as Morningside AFC or the Panthers, is an Australian Rules football club based at Jack Esplen Oval in the suburb of Hawthorne in Brisbane...
.
A utility, Blair spent a lot of his career as a centre-half back but was also used up forward. He had begun his career at Springvale
Casey Scorpions
The Casey Scorpions Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League . The club was founded in 1903 as the Springvale Football Club and played under the name Springvale. In its history it has won 21 premierships...
and it was from there was he was recruited to South Melbourne. He made his VFL debut in 1975, against Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
at Waverley Park
Waverley Park
Waverley Park was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian based Victorian Football League/Australian Football League clubs. However, during the 1990s it became the home ground of...
, but it was the only game he played that season. Over the next two years he put together 23 senior appearances, only to be traded to Fitzroy during the 1978 season
1978 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1978.-Grand final:Hawthorn defeated North Melbourne 18.13 to 15.13 , in front of a crowd of 101704 people...
. He didn't play a VFL match in 1979 and in 1980 was playing for his third club, St Kilda. He appeared just twice for St Kilda and left at the end of the year, to captain-coach Queensland club Morningside.
Blair, who won the Grogan Medal
Grogan Medal
The Grogan Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the best and fairest player in home and away rounds of each season's QAFL/Queensland State League competition. It was first awarded in 1946, previously the league's best player won the De Little Medal.-Winners:-External links:*...
in 1982, steered Morningside to the QAFL
Queensland Australian Football League
The Queensland Australian Football League was an Australian rules football competition for clubs from South East Queensland.Up until 2010, the QAFL was the premier semi-professional competition in Queensland, with salary cap rules and regulations in place.It was previously known as the Queensland...
grand final ever year from 1982 to 1984. Each time they lost, but Blair would later captain-coach Windsor-Zillmere
Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club
Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football clubs which once competed in the AFL Queensland State League competition. The club is based in the suburb of Zillmere in the northern suburbs of Brisbane...
to a premiership in 1988, before retiring. He had been their best forward that season, with 96 goals. It was the second time he had been the league's leading goal-kicker, having kicked 86 goals with Morningside in 1985. Before coming to Windsor-Zillmere, he had a brief stint with Sandgate
Sandgate Football Club
Sandgate Football Club are an Australian rules club which played its home games in the Brisbane suburb of Taigum. They were nicknamed both the Hawks and Sea Hawks and their club colours were bottle green and red.-History:...
. During the 1980s he had been a regular interstate football representative, playing for Queensland 19 times.
In the early 1990s, Blair was involved in coaching with the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
and after some time away returned to the QAFL in 2002 to again coach Morningside. He twice coached them to back to back premierships, first in 2003 and 2004, then again in 2009 and 2010. In total he has coached 11 QAFL grand finals, for a return of five premierships.
He is the father of television actress, Natalie Blair
Natalie Blair
Natalie Louise Blair is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Carmella Cammeniti on Neighbours, an Australian TV series.-Career:...
, and the uncle of Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
premiership player Jarryd Blair
Jarryd Blair
Jarryd Blair is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League . Standing at only 172 centimetres, he is a small, pacy wingman/half forward flanker who made his AFL debut in Round 14, 2010 against West Coast at Etihad Stadium.Blair was...
.