Jason Rodgers

Jason Rodgers (born July 17, 1956) was a footballer with NWFL (North West Football League) side Tewlang between the years of 1971 and 1993, he played 388 games, 287 as captain. Jason was one of six brothers to have played for the club in the 70's, 80's and 90's, his father Tom also played for the club in the early 1950's.

Early Life

Jason Rodgers was the son of Tom (born March 12, 1929) and Mary (born Januray 28, 1933) Rodgers, he had eight silbings including six brothers who all played for Tewlang between 1970 and 1991. They grew up on a farm just outside Tewlang and played football there thoughout the winner and cricket on a home made turf wicket in the summer.

His brothers Tom Jnr (Born November, 1952) played 78 games for the club between 1970 and 1978, Harry (born May 14, 1954) played 209 games between 1971 and 1983, Chris (born December 26, 1957) played 100 games between 1975 and 1982, John (born August 1, 1960) played 245 games between 1978 and 1993 and David (born September 29, 1962) played once in 1978. They all played in one game together in 1978 the first and last game of David's (who kicked six goals) he died in a car accident on the way home from the football club along with his friend Roger Johnson.

Junior Career

Jason was always a good supporter of Tewlang says his grandfather John Rodgers (born February 23, 1900) who was the president between 1958 and 1962, "he would always ran the water for the seniors from about the age of 8 or 9, and would do the boundary umpiring for his brothers Tom and Harry sides".

Jason grow up playing fooball in the backyard with his older brothers and younger ones Chris and John, "I remember Dave always wanted to play with us, and eventually we would give in and let him play. Tom or Harry would knock him over and off he would go crying to Mum, and Tom and Harry would get a big telling off for letting him play, I think she realised that he always complained when we didn't let play, though".

Tom played his fist game in the u17's when he was 10 and kicked 3 goals, he was named in the best and many believed he would be the best of the Rodgers yet. Tom had made the interleague side many times and Harry the best of the brothers (according to his Grandfather) made the Victorian u15's, u16's and u17's sides.

Tom made the Victoria side in 1971, 72' and 73' and was named in the All Australian side in all those years and captain of the u17's in 1973. He played mostly as a small forward and midfielder with the u17's and played 17 games in his first year with the senior side.

Hawthorn

In 1972 Justin was asked to train with the Hawthorn side, he did the pre season and played eight reserves games and a senior game, before he decided to give up VFL football and return to the NWFL to win the flag with Tewlang.

The death of David

On May 23rd 1978 after a good win by 167 points over rival Finon, which was the one and only match that all the Rodgers brothers played in David Rodgers the youngest of the brothers went into the car of his friends Roger Johnson. The boys turn a bend into David's family's street when a truck, going at about 130km/h, hit them killing both of the boys instantly. His mother Mary ran from the house only to be herded back inside the house by a neighgour, her youngest son was dead at just 16 years old.

The funeral was attended by most of the town of about 2000, and Justin remembered thinking that this was the saddest day of his life and he didn't believe his mother would ever get over the shock death of her youngest son.

Tewlang Football Club won the primership that year, in memory of the young man who was looking forward to representing his state against South Australia in July of that year.

Mid to late Career

In 1978 Tom Jnr retired after saying he could never play football again after the death of his brother, and hasn't return to the club since the Grand Final of that year. Chris retired and moved to Melbourne to start a career as a lawyer and Harry quit in 1983, and took up the coaching position which gave him two primerships to go with his five as a player.

Justin won his first of 8 best and fairest the award in 1978 that was named after his Grandfather in 1968, he won again in 82',84,85',86',88' and 1990. Tewlang won the flag in 1972,78',79',80',83' as well as 1990 and 91' Justin was in all of them as well as Chris and John.

He won the NWFL league best and fairest inn 1982 and 1986, and was in the interleague side in 72',78',79',80',83' and 87 and made VCFL (Victorian County Football League)'s interleague side in 1972 and 1979 and was All Australia and captain in 1979.

He played his 300th game in 1985 and his 350th in 1989, he broke the games record held by John Thompson of 366 in 1990. He retired in 1991 after 388 games, 8 John Rodgers best and fairest, 2 NWFL best and fairest, 6 interleague gureseys, 2 Big V guresenys and a All Australia jumper, he was twice a club leading goalkicker and once in 1991 a league goalkicking winner with 128 goals, he won 7 flags over the years.

Coaching

Justin took up the coaching role in 1992 and won primerships in 92',93',96',2000,01',02',05',07' and 08', he won the NWFL Coach of the Year in 92',93',2002,05' and 2007. He was the interleague coach from 1992 to 2008, coached the VCFL side in 2002 and was All Australian coach in 2002. He had finished with 16 primerships a record for a coach and player in the NWFL and the VCFL hisotory.

After Football

Justin became president in 2007 and 2008 as well as coach he followed in his Father and Grandfathers footsteps, his Grandfather died at 107 in 2007, his mother Mary died in grief in 1989, his brother Chris died shortly after his retirement from football in another car accident in 1989.

He married Judy Jocson in 1984 and are still married his children David, Joe and Sean all played juniors with Tewlang. Sean played 124 games with WAFL (Western Australia Football League) side Clarmont as well as 56 games with Tewlang, David played 256 games between 1994 and 2009 and Joe played 88 games with Tewlang and followed his father and Uncles in making the u16 Victorian side in 1994.