WITH the recent announcement that Jamie Bennell will be moving to the No. 7 guernsey in 2011, a delighted response came from the family of early indigenous star, Eddie Jackson, who also wore the same number.
Jackson was named as one of the Club’s 150 ‘Heroes’ in 2008, and nineteenth man in the 1948 premiership side.
Eddie’s widow, Olive, along with his daughter Karen and son Steven, sent this message to Bennell:
‘Good luck to Jamie for the upcoming season, and in wearing No. 7. We are extremely proud and honoured that finally an Indigenous player is able to wear Dad’s old number and from Dad’s five children and 13 grandchildren we’ll be cheering him on every week - and for the Dees to make the Final 8!
‘For someone like Jamie who has stacks of Indigenous mentors for support, we appreciate how the time for Indigenous players has changed.
‘Our Dad had little support from other Indigenous players, given their scarcity across the league at the time - though he did love to talk about how good Norm McDonald was for Essendon!
‘But - he did have tremendous support from the club and the players around him. We understood that Dad enjoyed the time he had playing for Melbourne, the camaraderie and mateship - both on and off the field. We also know that a lot of our old Yorta Yorta Aunties are true and through Melbourne supporters because of Dad.
‘I think from our point of view, our father, as among the first Indigenous players at Melbourne, achieved plenty at the time.
He had to move from a small country town, away from his family, and fit in to the top league of football as a lone Indigenous player. He took some really hard knocks and, as a smaller player, his body paid for that. They are very similar players, Dad and Jamie - quick on their feet, and also quick thinking.
‘The Jackson family would love the opportunity to meet Jamie and also introduce the grandchildren, who are Melbourne supporters.
Steven has five boys, all of whom barrack for the mighty Dees ... and who used to wear No. 7 on their jumpers, but swapped to Aaron Davey’s number in recent times. Perhaps they will change back now that an Indigenous player has No. 7!
‘We hope Jamie realises what the No.7 means to us as a family - which in a way now makes him one of our family, too.’
