Mark Jackson

[Mr_Bojangles]

Mark Jackson was a better footballer than most give him credit for. He loved playing for Geelong, he loved Tommy Hafey, I loved him, members loved him and privately he rarely spoke in a high pitched voice like he did in public. Clever man, who with an innovative management group carved a great life for himself outside of footy with TV ads/music clips (a bit dodgy)/boxing/US TV show - The Highwayman etc. Yes he may have been an individual, but he got kicked out of Geelong for basically standing up for Neville Bruns out at Princess Park (now Visy) when Lethal Leigh went ballistic and busted his jaw. Jacko was the scapegoat for the club at a time when we were run by wannabe's whose personal business interests from the GFC were of more importance than that of the rank and file supporters and members of the club. This thread has opened up a lot of personal anger for me at the time when it was hard to justify to your mates about Geelong especially after 1980 and 1981 finals debacles. We slowly rebuilt a half decent team with Hafey and he rightly or wrongly took Toohey, Bolton and Diesel who were offered ridiculous money to move North with him to play with the good doctor in Sin City. Yes it was only 5k that Diesel wanted ... this is fact! We got Devine as coach... What a joke! The gag going around at the time was that Devine's missus coached the Catter's and had more influence over the playing group than he did! Funny story also about G.Ablett snr coming late to training for the 50th time and Devine telling him one more time and he will be on his way to the Brisbane Koala Bears...he replied that Devine had more chance of ending up at Brisbane Bears then he did!! LOL. Geelong at the time hated outsiders and were perceived rightly or wrongly as a very mediocre country club. The social club and football club were at loggerheads and there was a lot of infighting and powerplays. Hafey was a great bloke had time for everybody. Jacko was a breath of fresh air who could actually play and was a 'deadeye' shot for goal. God it was great to go watch him play...Those were the days! They make 07/09/11 that much sweeter...



J

That incident was the reason I became a Cat as an 8yo in Perth after watching that happen on TV. I loved Jacko as a kid but he did seem like a bit of a dick so I can't really bag the guy was too young to realise how awful and amatuer we were.

He did find Pugwall's wallet and returned it to his house after a Geelong Richmond game at the G, heart of gold Jacko.

 

[Go Hoops]

Mark Jackson was a better footballer than most give him credit for. He loved playing for Geelong, he loved Tommy Hafey, I loved him, members loved him and privately he rarely spoke in a high pitched voice like he did in public. Clever man, who with an innovative management group carved a great life for himself outside of footy with TV ads/music clips (a bit dodgy)/boxing/US TV show - The Highwayman etc. Yes he may have been an individual, but he got kicked out of Geelong for basically standing up for Neville Bruns out at Princess Park (now Visy) when Lethal Leigh went ballistic and busted his jaw. Jacko was the scapegoat for the club at a time when we were run by wannabe's whose personal business interests from the GFC were of more importance than that of the rank and file supporters and members of the club. This thread has opened up a lot of personal anger for me at the time when it was hard to justify to your mates about Geelong especially after 1980 and 1981 finals debacles. We slowly rebuilt a half decent team with Hafey and he rightly or wrongly took Toohey, Bolton and Diesel who were offered ridiculous money to move North with him to play with the good doctor in Sin City. Yes it was only 5k that Diesel wanted ... this is fact! We got Devine as coach... What a joke! The gag going around at the time was that Devine's missus coached the Catter's and had more influence over the playing group than he did! Funny story also about G.Ablett snr coming late to training for the 50th time and Devine telling him one more time and he will be on his way to the Brisbane Koala Bears...he replied that Devine had more chance of ending up at Brisbane Bears then he did!! LOL. Geelong at the time hated outsiders and were perceived rightly or wrongly as a very mediocre country club. The social club and football club were at loggerheads and there was a lot of infighting and powerplays. Hafey was a great bloke had time for everybody. Jacko was a breath of fresh air who could actually play and was a 'deadeye' shot for goal. God it was great to go watch him play...Those were the days! They make 07/09/11 that much sweeter...



J

Wrong mate. Matthews hit Bruns after he saw Jackson hit Langford. It was retaliation. A gutless act by Matthews but it would not have happened had Jackson not hit Langford. The day he left the Cats was a great day for the club. A self centred waste of space.

 

[Catters4me!]

Wrong mate. Matthews hit Bruns after he saw Jackson hit Langford. It was retaliation. A gutless act by Matthews but it would not have happened had Jackson not hit Langford. The day he left the Cats was a great day for the club. A self centred waste of space.

Each to his own Hoops... Mark Jackson was no angel and was in it for himself I agree (chip on his shoulder after spells with Tiges, Dees,Saints), but as a footballer he performed well for the Catters and his stats do stack up. It was a different era back then. I just liked him on his ability to kick goals and put some spice back into the game...

FYI - Leigh Matthews admitted he hit Bruns because he (Bruns) was sniping others. Check out the article:

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/04/17/13135_geelong_sports.html

 

[FredLeDeux]

Of course, perish the thought that gentlemen like Ayres, Langford and Mew would ever have done anything to annoy Jackson before he snapped. He obviously just belted them out of the blue. Must have been them Hafey was talking about on WOS when he said "a bloke can only stand so much".
The bit I like about the weekend was Newman's opening TV remarks "I'd like to congratulate Steve Hocking..."

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

Of course, perish the thought that gentlemen like Ayres, Langford and Mew would ever have done anything to annoy Jackson before he snapped. He obviously just belted them out of the blue. Must have been them Hafey was talking about on WOS when he said "a bloke can only stand so much".
The bit I like about the weekend was Newman's opening TV remarks "I'd like to congratulate Steve Hocking..."

Hawthorn were and still are gutless whining snipers. Jacko gave Langford what he deserved. And, anyone who reckons Jacko was a dud can GAGF. 4 goal a game average at a time we had very little to cheer about. There would be thousands who literally went from the hickey stand to the city and every week to specifically watch Jacko.

I loved him.

 

[romeoh]

Hawthorn were and still are gutless whining snipers. Jacko gave Langford what he deserved. And, anyone who reckons Jacko was a dud can GAGF. 4 goal a game average at a time we had very little to cheer about. There would be thousands who literally went from the hickey stand to the city and every week to specifically watch Jacko.

I loved him.

Well you have a point re Hawthorn players, a tradition continued to this day, but I never for a moment took our club seriously when he was on board. Exulted in his departure so we could try and be a credible club again. Thought he represented everything the club didn't need (self interest, lack of character, not a team player, empty barrel syndrome), regardless of how many goals he could kick.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

Well you have a point re Hawthorn players, a tradition continued to this day, but I never for a moment took our club seriously when he was on board. Exulted in his departure so we could try and be a credible club again. Thought he represented everything the club didn't need (self interest, lack of character, not a team player, empty barrel syndrome), regardless of how many goals he could kick.

Hard to say this without sounding like a big head but will try. I was lets just say "involved" with the Cats for several years from the mid 80's to the early 90's. I remain good mates with several of the boys, and can honestly say even Gary Ablett had no beef with Jacko. Jacko was generally considered a strange cat but was appreciated for

A)his goal Kicking
B) the fact that he made Opposition defenders nervous and even in some cases flat out scared.
C) he actually gave them a good target as even dishes out assists.

Gazza when asked laughs at Jackos high pitched complaining after Gaz used him as a stepladder on one occasion. No huge issue from teammates.

 

[romeoh]

Hard to say this without sounding like a big head but will try. I was lets just say "involved" with the Cats for several years from the mid 80's to the early 90's. I remain good mates with several of the boys, and can honestly say even Gary Ablett had no beef with Jacko. Jacko was generally considered a strange cat but was appreciated for

A)his goal Kicking
B) the fact that he made Opposition defenders nervous and even in some cases flat out scared.
C) he actually gave them a good target as even dishes out assists.

Gazza when asked laughs at Jackos high pitched complaining after Gaz used him as a stepladder on one occasion. No huge issue from teammates.

Yep and you are probably correct about those details, but I still thought we were never going anywhere good with him on board. eg. If I couldn't have respect for a team with him in it, how could the opposition?
Are you sure about B?

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

Hahaha yep.
Plenty of backmen shit themselves knowing Jacko was in a mood.

 

[Catters4me!]

Hard to say this without sounding like a big head but will try. I was lets just say "involved" with the Cats for several years from the mid 80's to the early 90's. I remain good mates with several of the boys, and can honestly say even Gary Ablett had no beef with Jacko. Jacko was generally considered a strange cat but was appreciated for

A)his goal Kicking
B) the fact that he made Opposition defenders nervous and even in some cases flat out scared.
C) he actually gave them a good target as even dishes out assists.

Gazza when asked laughs at Jackos high pitched complaining after Gaz used him as a stepladder on one occasion. No huge issue from teammates.

Right on the money brother....

Romeoh needs to understand that back then as much as as we wanted a team first philosophy, the game was more centred around individuals either as out and out champs or pesty villians - Lockett, Dermie, Rotten Ronnie Andrews, Fabulous Phil Carmen, Lethal Leigh (both champ and villian),Paul Roos, Maddog Robbie Muir, classy Robert Flower (who we all felt sorry for) etc etc

No salary cap or draft back then, just open chequebooks, poaching of gun players for $$ and only realistically a handful of cashed up clubs who could really challenge for a flag by building, and in some cases buying a competitive team. Zones partly 'equalised' the scene. Much like what the English Premier League is today - 5 cashed up clubs out of 20 who stand a chance of a title. Minnow clubs play for survival or a who cares cup. And as soon a one their players break through to an elite level, they are sold to either one of the top clubs or overseas.

Geelong did well out of its zones at the time but were severe 'tight arses' when it came to recruiting big name players. Also, we developed and recycled some decent players but were also 'tight arses' in offering them any decent contracts to stay. Couldn't happen today, all clubs pay out roughly the same wages - TPP

That's why Jacko, I believe was fantastic for Geelong. Paid mercenary wages, played his role most weeks, kept us entertained up at the City end of KP. He was good for the team and club back then on field...off field let's say he attracted the attention to build rightly or wrongly to build his career. He did allright there as well.

 

[Commando]

Bump!

Was wondering if Jacko could actually play, bit too young to remember but a 3.75 goal avg would suggest so.
Very interesting read.

Did anybody actually see Jacko "putting on his own concert" as Sandy Roberts put it in the commentary box, during that infamous hawks game? I've read he served a hefty suspension, was it one king hit or a free for all?

And was it all false bravado or was he a genuinely fearless crazy nutter??

 

[Cosmic Energy]

Bump!

Was wondering if Jacko could actually play, bit too young to remember but a 3.75 goal avg would suggest so.
Very interesting read.

Did anybody actually see Jacko "putting on his own concert" as Sandy Roberts put it in the commentary box, during that infamous hawks game? I've read he served a hefty suspension, was it one king hit or a free for all?

And was it all false bravado or was he a genuinely fearless crazy nutter??

Below is an interview with Tommy & Yabby after that Matthews/Bruns game. Below that are some of his antics.

I was pretty young when Jacko was getting around. I'm pretty sure I recall him climbing a goal post up his end while the ball was up the other one time, sorta standing on top of where the padding ended. Don't think it was at KP, some other suburban ground. But I haven't seen that on video anywhere. I think it's fair to say nobody has been as silly as him on-field in the history of the game. But he called himself an entertainer first and footballer second, he was a visionary in that regard Some of the modern day post goal celebrations might owe a bit to Jacko. He got reported a bit, but I don't think he was a particularly vicious or crazy player like say Robbie Muir, maybe that was part of the act a bit as well. From everything I've seen and recall he had a big set of mits, could take a strong grab, wasn't particularly mobile but a nice kick for goal.

I think in the Playing God book on Ablett book he also talks about being frozen out on-field by our players - them refusing to kick it to him and going to Mick Turner or Gazza at the time.

 

[Commando]

Thanks cosmic

 

[RogersResults]

Geelong: Average goals per match played.
(Minimum 30 games played.)

Gary Ablett Sr 4.22
Doug Wade 4.01
Mark Jackson 3.71
Lindsay White 3.67
George Goninon 3.56
George Moloney 3.44
Larry Donohue 3.23

 

[winty]

I think in the Playing God book on Ablett book he also talks about being frozen out on-field by our players - them refusing to kick it to him and going to Mick Turner or Gazza at the time.

Jacko would've been used to that. Same thing happened to him at Melbourne at the end of his stint there too.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Jacko would've been used to that. Same thing happened to him at Melbourne at the end of his stint there too.

And the players voted him out of the finals team in WA.