John A McCarthy

John McCarthy attracted the attention of the Glenelg Football Club through his efforts as a wingman for Gladstone. John had been posted to Gladstone in 1930 for his first teaching appointment and impressed with his good kicking on the run, a feature of his game, and his strong desire to win the ball. Above all else, his greatest asset as a footballer was his speed that was unequalled in the Northern Areas association.

John was a key member of Gladstone’s 1930 premiership being named fourth best. He was elected vice captain for the 1931 season and in 1932 John was awarded the Budge Medal. This medal was presented to the runner up best and fairest player in the Northern Areas association.

Late in the 1933 season, John made his league debut with Glenelg in the second last minor round game. He impressed greatly on debut showing fine pace and a good knowledge of the game. John played his first SANFL game on the wing after he was recruited directly from Gladstone without playing a reserves game for Glenelg.

Earlier in 1933, John entered the ‘Back to Gladstone’ Gift and won the event easily. In 1934, John decided to begin a professional running career inspired by that win. Glenelg were also keen for John to continue his football with Glenelg and he applied for and was granted a teaching transfer to Adelaide High School.

John found it difficult to break into the strong Glenelg team that would go onto win their first premiership in 1934. He injured an ankle in the first game of the season, which hampered his progress and he was not selected in the grand final team. John regained full fitness in 1935 and became a regular in Glenelg’s first eighteen.

John’s professional running career was also improving under the coaching of highly credentialed coaches Les Cossey and Charlie Shea. He was runner up in the 1935 Bay Sheffield, narrowly beaten by another Glenelg player, A B ‘Jumbo’ James in front of 50,000 spectators at Colley Reserve.

In 1936, John sought a clearance to North Adelaide and when his clearance was refused, he concentrated solely on his running career. Finding success in both the Solomontown and Norwood Gift’s, John was encouraged to enter the prestigious Stawell Gift. He ran a great race, finishing runner up and losing by the barest of margins to Collingwood footballer Ron McCann.

John was eventually cleared to North Adelaide in 1937 after playing 19 games for Glenelg over three seasons. While he showed good form in the preseason trial matches, he was dropped after the first match and did not play league for North Adelaide from that time. Prior to the start of the season John made another visit to Stawell but was unluckily eliminated in the semi finals.

After his football career, John dedicated his time to school athletics becoming a highly credentialed coach and was a long serving chairman of the Combined School Sports Committee.

John’s uncle James Francis McCarthy played 82 games for West Adelaide from 1908 to 1914. ‘Jimmy’ kicked 5 goals against Carlton in West Adelaide’s Champion of Australia victory in 1908 after playing only a handful of games. ‘Jimmy’ was also a member of West Adelaide’s Champions of Australia victory in 1911 against Essendon. Recruited from Tarlee, ‘Jimmy’ also played in four West Adelaide premierships.