35 Facts About Jack Dyer

Jack Dyer later turned to coaching and work in the media as a popular broadcaster and journalist.

The second of three children, Jack Dyer had an elder brother, Vin, and a younger sister, Eileen.

Jack Dyer first played football at the Yarra Junction primary school.

One of the brothers running the school offered Jack Dyer a sporting scholarship to De La Salle College, Malvern.

Jack Dyer's desire was to play for Richmond in the VFL as he admired one of the Tigers' players, George Rudolph.

In 1930, Jack Dyer won the Metropolitan League's award for the best player at the age of 16.

Richmond officials had not yet attempted to sign him, and Jack Dyer applied for a clearance to play with the Tigers' main rival, Collingwood.

The Richmond officials wanted to see him in action before any decision was made and Jack Dyer was in training with Richmond for the start of the 1931 season.

Jack Dyer hardly touched the ball and was disheartened about his prospects until Hughes consoled him by explaining the pairing with Murdoch was a trial of courage, not skill.

Jack Dyer got another couple of chances and showed some form, but by mid-season found himself in the seconds team, with players who were not quite league standard, but wanted to stay on at the club and earn an extra few shillings per week to support their families.

At one point, Jack Dyer walked away from Richmond for a few weeks and returned to suburban football.

Coghlan played roughly against Jack Dyer; Jack Dyer had only four touches for the day and admitted many years later to being intimidated.

In 1932, partnering Bentley in the ruck, Jack Dyer played successfully in the first half of the season before suffering a serious knee injury that put him out for the rest of the year.

In ten matches, Jack Dyer received 12 Brownlow medal votes for four best afield performances.

Jack Dyer was chosen for Victoria after fewer than a dozen league matches.

On Grand Final day, Jack Dyer was back in reserve as his teammates won Richmond's third premiership after several finals failures.

Jack Dyer did reappear in 1933, wearing a dirty knee bandage.

Jack Dyer preferred the 'hip and shoulder' method of meeting an opponent rather than grabbing him in a tackle.

Occasionally, the hip and shoulder could go awry and Jack Dyer's forearm would come into play, which was a reportable offence.

Jack Dyer was keen to take on a coaching role, and had reportedly been promised the position of playing coach by the Richmond committee at the end of 1939 before it reneged and re-appointed Percy Bentley.

Jack Dyer received a lucrative offer to become captain-coach of the Yarraville Football Club in the Victorian Football Association, and he lodged a request with Richmond for a clearance to the VFA club.

Richmond rejected the clearance, and Jack Dyer was unwilling to transfer without a clearance.

Jack Dyer ultimately decided to remain with Richmond as a player in 1940, and he was appointed captain-coach in 1941.

Jack Dyer went on to play 312 games for Richmond, being voted the club's best and fairest player in 1937,1938,1939,1940, and 1946.

Jack Dyer played in seven Grand Finals for two premierships in 1934 and 1943, one as captain and playing coach of the side.

In 1947, Jack Dyer crashed into Melbourne's Frank Hanna in round 15.

Jack Dyer gradually played less as a ruckman and more as a forward later in his career.

Jack Dyer invented the drop punt, a kicking style that gradually gained popularity over the intervening decades and is almost universal, and has now spread to Rugby union, rugby league and American football.

Jack Dyer kicked 443 goals, fifth on Richmond's list of all-time goalkickers.

The "Jack Dyer Medal" is awarded each season to the winner of the Richmond Football Club's best and fairest count.

Jack Dyer married Sybil Margaret McCasker, the cousin of Keith "Bluey" Truscott, on 25 November 1939 at St Ignatius' Church, Richmond.

Jack Dyer served in the police for nine years, before he resigned to conduct a milk bar, The Tiger Milk Bar and Newsagency at 394 Church Street, Richmond.

Jack Dyer had a regular column which went under the name "Dyer 'ere" in Melbourne's Truth newspaper.

Jack Dyer showed dash, cleverness, anticipation, and good marking to outwit the opposition, and, with [Leo] Merrett darting in and out of the packs to lead attacks from the wing, and the rucks functioning well, the bombardment was so intense that Essendon wilted.

John Raymond Jack Dyer was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division, in the 1990 Queen's Birthday Honours List, "for service to Australian Rules Football".