John Edward Crane (26 August 1913 – 5 January 1974) was an
Australian rules footballer who played with
Essendon Essendon may refer to:
Australia
*Electoral district of Essendon
*Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington
* Essendon, Victoria
**Essendon railway station
**Essendon Airport
* Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League
United Ki ...
,
Richmond and
North Melbourne
North Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Melbourne local government area. North Melbourne recorded a population of 14,953 at ...
in the
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...
(VFL).
Although recruited from
Preston, Crane played originally for the
South Melbourne
South Melbourne is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Port Phillip local government area. South Melbourne recorded a population of 11,548 at ...
seconds. He started his VFL career at Essendon and kicked five goals on his debut, against
Hawthorn at
Windy Hill.
A dispute with a teammate meant that he was cleared to Richmond after just one more league game and he was used as a full-back at his new club. He spent much of the
1940 VFL season as a key forward, kicking 21 goals.
[ In the grand final that season he was Richmond's centre half-back, but couldn't prevent a 39-point loss.][
Crane served with the Australian armed forces during the war, having enlisted in 1943. He returned to football in 1945, playing 17 games for North Melbourne.
He later coached the Caulfield Football Club.
Two brothers, Len and Tom Crane, were also league footballers.]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crane, Jack
1913 births
Essendon Football Club players
Richmond Football Club players
North Melbourne Football Club players
Preston Football Club (VFA) players
Australian rules footballers from Melbourne
1974 deaths
Caulfield Football Club coaches
Australian military personnel of World War II
Military personnel from Melbourne