The Allen Jakovich Appreciation Thread

[dee-eee 231]

Jako's amazing debut year (1991) produced 71 goals in only 14 games. Can someone tell me how many goals he scored in the Reserves earlier in that season.

Also I remember reading that he shares a record with the great John Coleman. I am pretty sure it's to do with the fastest first 50 or 100 goals from debut.

[Demonic Ascent 0]

I'm pretty sure he kicked ~60 goals in the reserves in 1991 in addition to his 70 in the seniors. And I think he holds the record for the fastest player to reach 100 goals not sure if he shares it with Coleman or not.

He is still one of my favourite ever players to watch when he was on to this day along with Farmer, Schwarz, Davey and now Jurrah. Its such a pity how injury and, umm, absent-mindedness combined to curtail his career.

[John Crow Batty 8,764]

He could have been the biggest ever superstar in the game if he had his brothers attitude. I'm not sure how many goals he kicked in the reserves but he did have one obvious problem. He was quite fat and looked like he never trained, thats why it took a while for him to break into the seniors. I believe he was the fastest ever to reach 50 goals from debut.

I recall what I think was his third senior game played down at Moorabin where we beat St Kilda. He kicked 8.7 up to 3/4 time then did nothing else. He was so unfit. He upstaged Tony Lockett who was at his prime then and killed Danny Frawley. The saints fans were shocked and going wild. They couldn't believe what was going on.

Edited October 17, 2010 by america de cali

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,748]

I'm pretty sure he kicked ~60 goals in the reserves in 1991 in addition to his 70 in the seniors. And I think he holds the record for the fastest player to reach 100 goals not sure if he shares it with Coleman or not.

He is still one of my favourite ever players to watch when he was on to this day along with Farmer, Schwarz, Davey and now Jurrah. Its such a pity how injury and, umm, absent-mindedness combined to curtail his career.

I think he holds the record of being quickest to 100 goals by himself( though it was over 2 seasons). Coleman scored 100 in his first season, but took more games than Jako to get there.(he probably reached 100 in his first or 2nd final, ie his 19th or 20th game)

Incidentally, included in the games leading up to Jako's first 100 was one where he played a considerable amount of time on the halfback flank(against Adelaide at AAMI while we were getting thrashed). So it could have been quicker!

I'll never forget those long bomb torp goals from near the players' race on the MCG!

[Demonic Ascent 0]

My favourite memories of Jako were against Collingwood and Essendon in '93 when he kicked 8 then 9 in successive weeks. Against the Pies he kicked one and then put his shirt over his head like a soccer player running around with his arms out to his sides.

Another one was against the Hawks at Waverley where he missed a goal from about 15 metres out right in front then about 5 minutes later kicked one on the run from 50 out on the boundary.

Not to mention his epic game against North in '91 when he almost outscored the Kangas on his own and kicked one out of mid-air. I am currently trying to get my hands on some footage of these games as most of my tapes are from 1987-1990 and 1994 onwards and so I don't have much left of the Jakovich era other than a few games at the start of '94 before he got injured.

[Sir Why You Little 36,588]

He could have been the biggest ever superstar in the game if he had his brothers attitude. I'm not sure how many goals he kicked in the reserves but he did have one obvious problem. He was quite fat and looked like he never trained, thats why it took a while for him to break into the seniors. I believe he was the fastest ever to reach 50 goals from debut.

I recall what I think was his third senior game played down at Moorabin where we beat St Kilda. He kicked 8.7 up to 3/4 time then did nothing else. He was so unfit. He upstaged Tony Lockett who was at his prime then and killed Danny Frawley. The saints fans were shocked and going wild. They couldn't believe what was going on.

He had a bad back always, so i think jako trained very little and relied on pure talent. jako was a true freak when he was switched on.

[dee-eee 231]

My favourite memory of Jako was when he had a mark or free after the half-time siren against Collingwood at the G. He was a ridiculously long way out from goal near the players' race northern side. He put on a time wasting theatrical perfomance by checking the mark and arguing with EVERYBODY and meanwhile the thoroughly irritated Pie fans were booing to a crescendo. Of course he went back and kicked the torp of his life straight through the middle. To cap it off he runs and leaps up the race high-fiving supporters on each side. What a character !

[Red Sox 2]

Another one was against the Hawks at Waverley where he missed a goal from about 15 metres out right in front then about 5 minutes later kicked one on the run from 50 out on the boundary.

That day at Waverley was Jako at his best. He was turning Langford inside/out. Yes he did miss that one right in front, the 15 mtr's you gave him might be a bit kind.

But then, that 5 minute later effort from the boundary was sublime, you forgot to mention it was with his left foot!

Freakin star he was.

[jayceebee31 697]

Alan Jakovich and Liam Jurrah have something in common - ABILITY. However, one shows the ability reguarly - the other AJ wasted it.

[Harrisonrules 273]

A story from a club official telling of the dilemma in recruiting him was that that they knew his mind wasn't really right. Kicking for his 100th in the SANFL and kicking from a set shot went back and kicked it with his left foot just for fun.

[The Great One 99 125]

One of the best games I went to. Melb V Coll at 'G'. Cant remember the year but it was about 55000 in half a ground. The Southern stand was being built.The Jacko V Daicos show. I think Daicos beat him by 1. Maybe 6 to 5. Cant even remember who won, but it is an early memory that I still remember as awsome. Someone surely has a better memory than me with the details.

[olgreydingo 51]

I am not 100% but I think AJ has a record of the fastest 50 goals, plus the fastest 100 goals but in was a combination of both the seniors and the seconds. Can anyone confirm?? Thanks

[Guest Thomo]

Alan Jakovich and Liam Jurrah have something in common - ABILITY. However, one shows the ability reguarly - the other AJ wasted it.

A bit early for that. Allen Jakovich at the same stage of his career was a mile in front of LJ. LJ after 17 games has kicked 41 goals, Allen Jakovich had kicked 89. Seemed to be showing abiliity pretty regular. LJ has not done much yet, but looks like a fantastic prospect.

[John Crow Batty 8,764]

One of the best games I went to. Melb V Coll at 'G'. Cant remember the year but it was about 55000 in half a ground. The Southern stand was being built.The Jacko V Daicos show. I think Daicos beat him by 1. Maybe 6 to 5. Cant even remember who won, but it is an early memory that I still remember as awsome. Someone surely has a better memory than me with the details.

If it s the same game I remember, we lost. It was being hyped in the media as the Jackovich/Daicos shootout. Both Jackovich and Daicos turned on the razzle dazzle with unbelievable goals before half time but we as a team faded badly in the second half. Perhaps the same game Dee-eee recalls.

Edited October 18, 2010 by america de cali

[John Crow Batty 8,764]

Further it must be remembered that Allen was a deeply troubled person. Apparently, he had all the usual character flaws and vices plus many more. He was allegedy sacked from his first club South Fremantle after being accused of stealing money from his team mates"'wallets in the change rooms. Compounded with injuries perhaps one of the most tragic waste of talent in the AFL. Last I heard he was working on a prawn trawler up north a few years ago.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

A bit early for that. Allen Jakovich at the same stage of his career was a mile in front of LJ. LJ after 17 games has kicked 41 goals, Allen Jakovich had kicked 89. Seemed to be showing abiliity pretty regular. LJ has not done much yet, but looks like a fantastic prospect.

to be fair though, AJ is in a class of his own with that stat. Fevola/Riewoldts/J.Brown etc none of these guys had anything like 41 after 17

[StevenStretch 1]

Would love a Youtube clip, I don't have the greatest memory and was a bit young to appreciate his abilities.

[H_T 3,032]

Would love a Youtube clip, I don't have the greatest memory and was a bit young to appreciate his abilities.

[The Great One 99 125]

Cheers. Great footage. Part 3 the best. Todd Viney, Brett Lovett, Jimmy. What memories. I am getting all emotional.

[John Crow Batty 8,764]

Thanks HT for the Youtube link. This was the game I mentioned earlier. One to never forget. We hardly ever won at Moorabin. The Saints supporters bellyache was music to my ears.

Edited October 18, 2010 by america de cali

[Guest Thomo]

to be fair though, AJ is in a class of his own with that stat. Fevola/Riewoldts/J.Brown etc none of these guys had anything like 41 after 17

Not a knock on LJ, but to say that he is delivering more than Jakovich at this early stage is way off the make.

[Demonic Ascent 0]

Just been looking at this stats website and Jakovich kicked 50 goals in his first 9 games. He didn't score in either of his first 2 games either (against WCE in R1 and Adelaide in R10) meaning he kicked 50 goals in 7 games at an average of over 7 goals per game!!!

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/seas/1991.html

EDIT: This sounds like the Jakovich v Daicos game referred to earlier. Looks like we got smashed after half time though it was even in the first half.

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1991/041119910810.html

Edited October 18, 2010 by Demonic Ascent

[Sir Why You Little 36,588]

Thanks HT that was so good to see that again, i was at that game standing down the St.kilda goal end, (extremely Feral) & it was amazing to hang on & win.

Question. Stephen Clark (32) did his knee against Essendon in about Round 4 of that year. How did he get back so early to play again?? Does anybody remember.

Todd Viney & Brett Lovett how good and Tough were those Blokes....Ahh those good old Northey years, where we just hung on to win so many times-Not good for the Heart!! B)

Edited October 18, 2010 by why you little

[John Crow Batty 8,764]

Thanks HT that was so good to see that again, i was at that game standing down the St.kilda goal end, (extremely Feral) & it was amazing to hang on & win.

Question. Stephen Clark (32) did his knee against Essendon in about Round 4 of that year. How did he get back so early to play again?? Does anybody remember.

Todd Viney & Brett Lovett how good and Tough were those Blokes....Ahh those good old Northey years, where we just hung on to win so many times-Not good for the Heart!! B)

I think they tried some new type of knee reconstruction which is common now. I'm no medical expert but I believe it was a record or close to record time recovery for the period.

Edited October 18, 2010 by america de cali

[Sir Why You Little 36,588]

J

EDIT: This sounds like the Jakovich v Daicos game referred to earlier. Looks like we got smashed after half time though it was even in the first half.

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1991/041119910810.html

Melb v Collingwood '91

Yeah the scores were almost level at Half time, and then we hardly scored in the 2nd Half, at all.

But in the 1st half there were at least 2 Freak goals from Jako that make the day somewhat worth remembering.

Edited October 18, 2010 by why you little