TWENTY years ago, Allen Jakovich booted 11 goals against North Melbourne at the MCG - an outstanding effort as melbournefc.com.au editor Matt Burgan reflects
IT WAS 20 YEARS ago today
Jakovich showed a way to play
And he brought a certain style
And he guaranteed to raise a smile
So I may I introduce to you
The act you’ve known for all these years
Eleven goals from Allen Jakovich …
OK, SO THE LAST line may not work so well … but it was in fact 20 years ago today when Allen Jakovich - one of football’s greatest cult figures - booted 11.8 in just his ninth AFL match.
It was a stunning performance against North Melbourne at the MCG in round 20, and one the red and blue faithful still recall with fondness.
Even in such a difficult week for the club, the thought of celebrating the Jakovich milestone has gained momentum throughout the Melbourne community, particularly via Twitter.
Jakovich burst on the scene in 1991, although it wasn’t until the second half of the season that he took the AFL fraternity by storm.
He kicked an outstanding 71 goals from 14 appearances, at an average of 5.07 per match that season. On top of his 60 goals kicked in the reserves in the first half of the season, Jakovich had 131 goals to his name in 1991.
Along the way, the flamboyant Demon reached the 50-goal milestone quicker than any player in VFL/AFL history.
It was a remarkable achievement by the then 23-year-old, who entered the AFL having booted 101 goals for Woodville the previous year in the SANFL.
Despite several bags of goals, Jakovich’s 11-goal haul was his finest in the AFL.
In the process, he became the 14th Melbourne player to kick 10 or more goals in a match. Only one other Demon has kicked 10 or more goals since: Garry Lyon.
The Melbourne great booted 10 in the 1994 first semi-final against the Bulldogs.
But Jakovich’s effort back on August 3, 1991 was something to behold, as Mike Sheahan, then with The Sunday Age and now chief football writer of Herald Sun, said at the time.
“No one since [Phil] Carman has done it with more pizzazz. Carman in 1975 won Collingwood’s Copeland Trophy in his first year, finished sixth in the Brownlow Medal after missing almost half of the season with a broken foot, and kicked 11 goals in white boots against St Kilda.”
From Jakovich’s 19 registered scores, he booted Melbourne’s opening six goals and produced a soccer-style scissor goal, which remains firmly in the minds of Melbourne supporters today.
It was an achievement only players with rare talent could attempt - and execute.
Post-match, Jakovich did not speak to the media.
Sheahan reported: “Jakovich was out of bounds to the media last night, but he was heard to say: ‘It’s great, we’re winning and hanging in there’.”
Jakovich duly received three Brownlow Medal votes for his performance. Jim Stynes, the eventual ‘Charlie’ winner that year, gained two votes, and defender Graeme Yeats gained one.
Following Melbourne’s 52-point win over the Roos, Jakovich had 46 goals to his name from his previous six matches - almost at an average of eight per match.
Quite simply, he was red hot.
The only blip was an alleged abusive language report in the fourth quarter. He received a $750 fine, and played the following week against Collingwood, booting five goals in a losing side.
It was a big year for the Jakovich family. Allen’s younger brother Glen played in West Coast’s inaugural grand final against Hawthorn at Waverley Park, and was an emerging champion of the game.
While Allen was a rock star, Glen became a great.
By the end of 1994, Glen was regarded by many as the AFL’s best player or at least in the top five. Clearly, he was the No.1 key defender in the competition.
In comparison, Allen’s career with Melbourne was over.
A back injury curtailed his time in the red and blue.
Not surprisingly, his last game for Melbourne was an eight-goal haul against Hawthorn in round 17. The Demons defeated the Hawks by 38 points at Princes Park.
Injury forced Jakovich out of the 1994 finals series.
Melbourne’s '94 team was arguably the most talented assembled since its most recent premiership 30 years earlier.
The Demons got as far as the preliminary final. Glen helped end Melbourne’s run that season.
Jakovich finished his AFL career averaging 3.85 goals per match - the 14th greatest average of all-time.
He finished with 47 matches, and 201 goals for the red and blue.
After a season out of the game, Jakovich reemerged at the Bulldogs for one season. He added seven games and seven goals. And after 54 AFL games and 208 goals, Jakovich was no longer an AFL player.
He soon drifted from the game and became part of football folklore.
These days, he’s understood to be working on an oil rig.
Words such as enigmatic, nomadic and reclusive have been bandied around with Jakovich over the years. Freakish, exhilarating and brilliant are equally pertinent.
But for Melbourne supporters, Jakovich will always be a much-loved figure, even if he managed fewer than 50 games and played just four seasons.
As Sheahan said in The Sunday Age on August 4, 1991, “He’s something special, the Jakovich boy. It runs in the family.”
It was a stunning performance against North Melbourne at the MCG in round 20, and one the red and blue faithful still recall with fondness.
Even in such a difficult week for the club, the thought of celebrating the Jakovich milestone has gained momentum throughout the Melbourne community, particularly via Twitter.
Jakovich burst on the scene in 1991, although it wasn’t until the second half of the season that he took the AFL fraternity by storm.
He kicked an outstanding 71 goals from 14 appearances, at an average of 5.07 per match that season. On top of his 60 goals kicked in the reserves in the first half of the season, Jakovich had 131 goals to his name in 1991.
Along the way, the flamboyant Demon reached the 50-goal milestone quicker than any player in VFL/AFL history.
It was a remarkable achievement by the then 23-year-old, who entered the AFL having booted 101 goals for Woodville the previous year in the SANFL.
Despite several bags of goals, Jakovich’s 11-goal haul was his finest in the AFL.
In the process, he became the 14th Melbourne player to kick 10 or more goals in a match. Only one other Demon has kicked 10 or more goals since: Garry Lyon.
The Melbourne great booted 10 in the 1994 first semi-final against the Bulldogs.
But Jakovich’s effort back on August 3, 1991 was something to behold, as Mike Sheahan, then with The Sunday Age and now chief football writer of Herald Sun, said at the time.
“No one since [Phil] Carman has done it with more pizzazz. Carman in 1975 won Collingwood’s Copeland Trophy in his first year, finished sixth in the Brownlow Medal after missing almost half of the season with a broken foot, and kicked 11 goals in white boots against St Kilda.”
From Jakovich’s 19 registered scores, he booted Melbourne’s opening six goals and produced a soccer-style scissor goal, which remains firmly in the minds of Melbourne supporters today.
It was an achievement only players with rare talent could attempt - and execute.
Post-match, Jakovich did not speak to the media.
Sheahan reported: “Jakovich was out of bounds to the media last night, but he was heard to say: ‘It’s great, we’re winning and hanging in there’.”
Jakovich duly received three Brownlow Medal votes for his performance. Jim Stynes, the eventual ‘Charlie’ winner that year, gained two votes, and defender Graeme Yeats gained one.
Following Melbourne’s 52-point win over the Roos, Jakovich had 46 goals to his name from his previous six matches - almost at an average of eight per match.
Quite simply, he was red hot.
The only blip was an alleged abusive language report in the fourth quarter. He received a $750 fine, and played the following week against Collingwood, booting five goals in a losing side.
It was a big year for the Jakovich family. Allen’s younger brother Glen played in West Coast’s inaugural grand final against Hawthorn at Waverley Park, and was an emerging champion of the game.
While Allen was a rock star, Glen became a great.
By the end of 1994, Glen was regarded by many as the AFL’s best player or at least in the top five. Clearly, he was the No.1 key defender in the competition.
In comparison, Allen’s career with Melbourne was over.
A back injury curtailed his time in the red and blue.
Not surprisingly, his last game for Melbourne was an eight-goal haul against Hawthorn in round 17. The Demons defeated the Hawks by 38 points at Princes Park.
Injury forced Jakovich out of the 1994 finals series.
Melbourne’s '94 team was arguably the most talented assembled since its most recent premiership 30 years earlier.
The Demons got as far as the preliminary final. Glen helped end Melbourne’s run that season.
Jakovich finished his AFL career averaging 3.85 goals per match - the 14th greatest average of all-time.
He finished with 47 matches, and 201 goals for the red and blue.
After a season out of the game, Jakovich reemerged at the Bulldogs for one season. He added seven games and seven goals. And after 54 AFL games and 208 goals, Jakovich was no longer an AFL player.
He soon drifted from the game and became part of football folklore.
These days, he’s understood to be working on an oil rig.
Words such as enigmatic, nomadic and reclusive have been bandied around with Jakovich over the years. Freakish, exhilarating and brilliant are equally pertinent.
But for Melbourne supporters, Jakovich will always be a much-loved figure, even if he managed fewer than 50 games and played just four seasons.
As Sheahan said in The Sunday Age on August 4, 1991, “He’s something special, the Jakovich boy. It runs in the family.”
