If you say the name ‘Allen Jakovich’ to any of his former teammates - let alone his coach - you’ll no doubt get a wry grin, and a shake of the head.

‘Jakka’ was an enigma, a meteor, a cameo story all wrapped in one chunky, mullet enhanced package.  He made his senior debut in Round One, 1991 - a loss against West Coast, with no goals.  Then, after a break and a return to the Reserves (where he kicked 60 goals in ten games), the totals began increasing - two bags of six, two bags of eight, and a seven in the Round 19 win over Carlton, just to split the difference.

Then came Round 20, against North Melbourne.  Jakovich was building up to something special, and this match found him in sublime form.  With ruckman Jim Stynes hitting his straps on the way to a Brownlow win, the Melbourne forward line was well supplied, and Jakovich took full advantage.  He kicked all his side’s goals - six of the best - in the first half, and went on to stun all those watching with an over the shoulder scissor kick goal in the third term.  This was followed by a banana goal from the boundary after the siren.  In between times, he talked to the crowd, turning on a show for all.  Unfortunately, he also talked a little too much to umpire Peter Cameron, being reported for abusive language, which resulted in a $750 fine.

So it is with some justification that Todd Viney says now ‘he came onto the scene with a big bang.  It took a while, he played plenty of reserves matches - but he seized the opportunity.’  Ruminating on the freakish goal kicking ability of the former No. 13, Viney is still full of admiration.  ‘He was one of the best kicks for goal.  He could kick them with both feet, and from the boundary, too - in fact, the closer to the boundary, the better.’

Warming to his memories of Jakovich, Viney analyses his unique qualities even further, while chuckling at the memories of finger twirling a la Russell Robertson a generation on, and the brotherly love that saw hugs and kisses being inflicted by Allen on a noticeably reticent Glen in the Eagles’ colours.  ‘He wasn’t really big enough for a key position.  Normally they had to be taller than 193 cm plus.  But he was so strong, and he could turn on a five cent piece, as well as get right under the ball - he was a brilliant mark.’  Viney remembers one particular game at Victoria Park, where Jakovich was ‘firing up the Collingwood supporters. I thought someone would jump the fence.  He gave the bird to the crowd!’  This was the other facet of Jakovich - a showman, an enigma, and, as Rod Grinter concurs with Viney, ‘a freak of a player.’

Noteworthy for his ability to kick goals at speed - the fastest player to score fifty goals, Jakovich can also be mentioned in the same breath as the great John Coleman, with both reaching their 100 goal milestone in their 21st game.  Was he a wasted talent, with 208 goals in his 54 AFL games (including seven games, seven goals with Footscray in 1996)?  Or did he pack everything into a short space and run out of magic?  According to Grinter, Jakovich ‘could have kicked hundreds and hundreds of goals.  He was a great guy to hang around with, great fun, but he didn’t do what was needed for a long career.’  Viney takes it further, saying, ‘He had great confidence and bravado, and he was a fantastic showman.  Everyone warmed to him.  His back injury slowed him down, though.’

In the end, that was probably the essence of the Jakovich story.  After the magic of 1991 and 71 goals, he kicked 40 in eleven games in 1992, 39 in nine games in 1993, and 51 in 13 games in 1994, before he and Melbourne parted company.  A brief comeback in 1996 with the Bulldogs was notably bereft of magic, but perhaps that is the way it was meant to be.  Mentioning him to Melbourne coach of the day, John Northey, brings a slight sigh and a brief comment.  ‘He was exciting.  It was a pity he didn’t have longer in AFL football.’

Indeed it was.  But, by being best with both feet, there can be no doubt that Jakovich had double the impact in his time in the game - and one amazing purple patch.