Jock McHale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jock McHale |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | James Francis McHale | ||
| Date of birth | 12 December 1882 | ||
| Place of birth | Botany, New South Wales | ||
| Date of death | 4 October 1953 (aged 70) | ||
| Place of death | Coburg, Victoria | ||
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James Francis "Jock" McHale (born 12 December 1882, died 4 October 1953) was a famous Australian rules football player and coach. He played and coached for the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League. His amazing career lasted a very long time, from 1903 to 1949.
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Jock McHale's Early Life
Jock McHale was born in Sydney, New South Wales. When he was five years old, his family moved to Melbourne. He went to primary school in North Fitzroy and Coburg. Then, he attended Christian Brothers' College in East Melbourne. At just 15, he left school to work at a brewery.
Jock McHale's Playing Career
Jock McHale started playing football for a junior club called Coburg. He was a very consistent player. This led to an invitation to play for the Collingwood Football Club. He made his first league game in 1903. He started as a half-back player and later moved to the centre.
Jock was known for being very tough and always available to play. He set a VFL record by playing 191 games in a row! This amazing streak lasted from 1906 to 1917. This record was not broken until 1943.
He was the team's captain-coach from 1912 to 1913. He continued as a playing coach until the 1917 premiership. This was his second premiership win, as he was also part of the 1910 premiership team. After 1917, he played only a few more games. From 1918 to 1949, he became famous as the most successful coach in VFL/AFL history. As a player, McHale played 261 games and kicked 18 goals. He also represented the state of Victoria.
Jock McHale's Coaching Career
Jock McHale coached a total of 714 VFL games. He won 467 of these games and had 10 draws. This means he won about 66.1% of his games. He coached in a record 59 finals matches and 16 Grand Finals. He led his team to eight premierships (championships). His record of 714 games coached was the most in VFL/AFL history until 2015.
Jock McHale was known for his smart thinking about the game. He was also great at inspiring his players. He earned a lot of respect from his players and football fans. He had three very successful periods as coach:
- From 1917 to 1922, his team played in five Grand Finals in six years, winning two.
- From 1925 to 1930, they played in six Grand Finals in a row, winning four.
- From 1935 to 1939, they played in five Grand Finals in a row, winning two.
Collingwood was strong under McHale because everyone played as a team. He made the team like a machine, where no single player was more important than the whole team. He and his players even accepted the same amount of pay each week. He was very good at knowing his players' strengths and how fit they were. He would check on his players every week during a special training session.
Collingwood achieved the greatest feat in VFL football history under McHale. They won four premierships in a row, from 1927 to 1930. This is a record that has never been equaled.
During World War II, Collingwood had a tough time. But McHale helped the team get back on track. They became a strong team again in 1945. However, the club lost some important finals games. Jock McHale decided to retire early in 1950. He stayed involved with the club and helped plan for the 1953 Grand Final. When Collingwood won that game, ending a 17-year wait for a premiership, McHale was very emotional. The next day, he had a heart attack.
Jock McHale's Recognition
In 1996, Jock McHale was added to the Australian Football Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was given "Legend" status, which is the highest honor.
Since 2001, the coach of the premiership-winning team receives the Jock McHale Medal. This medal honors McHale's amazing coaching record. The AFL has also given this award to every premiership coach since 1950.
A crime novelist named Kerry Greenwood wrote a short story in 1991 called The Vanishing of Jock McHale's Hat. This story was later made into an episode of the TV show Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries in 2013.
The 1930 Grand Final
The AFL officially says that Jock McHale coached 714 games and won eight premierships. However, there is a small debate about the 1930 VFL Grand Final. McHale coached the team all year and leading up to the Grand Final. But he was sick with the flu on the day of the game. The club's treasurer, Bob Rush, coached the team instead that day. For many years, Bob Rush was given credit for coaching that game. But in 2014, AFL historians decided that McHale should be credited as the coach for that game.
Jock McHale's Death
Jock McHale died from a heart attack on 4 October 1953. He was 70 years old. This happened at his home in Coburg, just one week after Collingwood won the 1953 premiership. He is buried at Coburg Cemetery in Preston, Victoria, with his wife and children. You can find information about his life on a sign at his graveside.
