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Jim Sullivan (Australian footballer)

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For the English association footballer, see Jim Sullivan (footballer).
Jim Sullivan
Personal information
Full name James Sullivan
Nickname(s) Sleepy
Date of birth 1942
Height 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Centreman
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1961–1964 Carlton (VFL reserves) 17 (25)
1962–1964 Coburg (VFA) 86 (53)[a]
Career highlights

James Sullivan (born 1942) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).[3] He is a member of Coburg's hall of fame, and the club's best and fairest award − the Jim Sullivan Medal − is named after him.[4][5]

Career

[edit]

Sullivan first came to prominence when he won the Gillon Medal (best-and-fairest medal) in the VFA under-19s while playing for Coburg in 1960.[1] He joined the Carlton Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) the following year, where he finished equal second in the VFL under-19s best-and-fairest.[6][7]

In 1962, Sullivan was promoted to Carlton's reserves list, although he had played at least five reserves games in 1961.[6][8] He played two games in the 1963 Night Series Cup, including a semi-final loss to Footscray where he kicked one goal.[9] He moved to North Melbourne in May 1964 in an attempt to get on their senior list, but it didn't happen as he "was a relaxed character who wouldn't let the game rule his life".[1][6]

Sullivan returned to Coburg in 1965 where he made his senior debut for the club.[3] He won the J. J. Liston Trophy in 1967 as the best and fairest player in Division 1, polling 38 votes.[10][11][12]

Following the end of the 1967 VFA season, Sullivan was recruited by Claremont Football Club and moved to Perth to play in the West Australian National Football League (WANFL).[6] However, after only one season, he returned to Coburg for the 1969 VFA season.[13]

By 1969, Coburg had been relegated from Division 1. Sullivan amassed 54 kicks in a match that season (the second-highest recorded in senior football competition and the highest in the VFA) and he later won the Division 2 best and fairest, the J. Field Medal.[14][15] He then played in Coburg's 1970 Division 2 grand final victory over Box Hill.[1][16]

Sullivan played around 90 VFA games, although Coburg notes that "strangely" he never won a senior award at the club.[1] He later moved to Reservoir Lakeside in the Diamond Valley Football League (DVFL), before injury forced him into retirement in 1973.[6]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Coburg's website lists Sullivan as playing 86 games for the club, although the club has also previously claimed he played 92 games.[1][2] The VFA Project lists Sullivan with 66 games and 53 goals, although that website notes that records are incomplete.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Hall of Fame". Coburg Football Club. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Coburg Football Club Team of the Century". GameDay. Coburg Football Club. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Sullivan, James 'Jim'". The VFA Project. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  4. ^ Michell, Tim (28 September 2015). "Coburg midfielder Daniel Venditti joins the club's elite after claiming third-straight Jim Sullivan Medal alongside defender Michael Hartley". Herald Sun. Moreland Leader. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Who was your best: The top 5 in the B&F from every Smithy's VFL team". AFL.com.au. 18 November 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Jim Sullivan". Blueseum. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  7. ^ De Bolfo, Tony (6 July 2017). "McColl reflects on football and fate". Carlton Football Club. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  8. ^ "1961 Reserves". Blueseum. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  9. ^ "1963 Night Series". Blueseum. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Sullivan wins Liston Trophy". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne. 31 August 1967. p. 64.
  11. ^ Rees, Mic (11 May 2012). "Happy Anniversary Mr Zeuschner". The Footy Almanac. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Death of Paul Ladds sparked YCW Road Safety campaign". cardijncommunityaustralia.org. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  13. ^ "1968 Claremont League Squad Photo". claremontfchistory.com.au. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Club History". cfc.memberjungle.com. Coburg Football Club. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  15. ^ Noel Pascoe (21 August 1969). "Sullivan top in three divisions". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne. p. 59.
  16. ^ "Coburg Premiership Teams". GameDay. Coburg Football Club. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
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