John Devine (Australian rules footballer)

Infobox afl player | firstname = John
lastname = Devine




birthdate = 22 June 1940
birthplace =
originalteam = Colac
heightweight = 180 cm / 80 kg
dead =
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = 1960
debutteam = Geelong
debutopponent =
debutstadium =
playingteams = Geelong (1960-66)
* 118 games, 6 goals
coach =
coachingteams =
statsend = 1966
careerhighlights = 1963 Geelong Football Club VFL Premiership, 1967-1969-1973 Tasmanian Football League Premierships (captain coach), 1969 Tasmanian State Premiership (captain coach)

John Devine (born 22 June 1940, Colac, Victoria) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the VFL during the 1960s, and Tasmanian Football League side North Hobart between 1967 & 1973.

A defender, Devine was a member of Geelong's premiership team in 1963. In 1967 while still under suspension from the VFL 1966 season, he coached Tasmanian Football League side North Hobart over the boundary fence until his 6 week suspension was finished. Devine went on that year to lead his very young team to a TFL Premiership. The 1967 State Premiership final in which North Hobart took part, is part of Aussie Rules folklore due to the fact that the supporters of opposing team Wynyard, tore down the goal posts before North Hobart's Dickie Collins, could take his kick from point blank range from a mark just before the siren.

Devine captain coached two more TFL Premierships in 1969 & 1973, and also took out the Tasmanian State Premiership in 1969 following wins over NWFU Premiers Latrobe, led & coached by Darrel Baldock, and NTFA Premiers Launceston coached by Bob Withers. The State Premiership final against Launceston at York Park (now Aurora Stadium) saw Devine's North Hobart win by a record 20 goals. His club nickname of 'Dead Legs' Devine referred to his loping running style, which belied his speed & very hard at the ball playing style.

Devine returned to Geelong in an official capacity in 1986, when he became Geelong's coach after the sacking of Tom Hafey.During his tenure, Devine recruited many players such as future Geelong Team of the Century ruck-rover, Garry Hocking, future captain Mark Bairstow, Billy Brownless, Bruce Lindner, Gavin Exell, Barry Stoneham and David Cameron. All players would play a role in the team reaching the VFL Grand Final in 1989, with only Excel missing out due to injury.

At the end of the 1988 season when Geelong finished 10th, Devine was not retained as coach.

Devine was also a Labor Party member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1979 to 1984 in the Denison electorate.

External links

*AflRleague|ref=J/John_Devine.html
* [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/History/tasparl/devinej627.htm Tasmanian Parliamentary Library profile]