Alex Jesaulenko
Encyclopedia
Alex 'Jezza' Jesaulenko dʒɛzəˈlɛŋkoʊ (Ukrainian: Олександр Єсауленко, Oleksandr Yesaulenko) MBE
(born 2 August 1945 in Salzburg
, Austria
) is a former Australian rules football
er and coach. He is regarded as one of the game's greatest-ever players and is an official Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame
. He immortalized his reputation in the game by taking the Mark of the Century in the 1970 VFL Grand Final
. In 2009 The Australian
nominated Jesaulenko as one of the 25 greatest footballers never to win a Brownlow medal
.
, Austria
to a Ukrainian
father and Russian
mother. The family emigrated to Canberra, Australia in 1949 from Ukraine
. The family name was originally spelled Esaulenko, but on arrival in Australia a 'J' was mistakenly added to the name by immigration officials. Initially the young Jesaulenko played soccer
and rugby union
at St Edmund's College
and did not start playing Australian Rules Football
until he was fourteen years old. He began playing at the Eastlake Football Club
in Canberra.
. In total he kicked 424 goals and won 4 premierships with the club 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1979. Jesaulenko was selected for All-Australian honours in 1969 and 1972. He has the dubious record at Carlton for the most inaccurate score of 5 goals and 12 behinds, against Hawthorn in 1969.
A spectacular and popular player Jesaulenko was renowned for his high marking, mercurial ground play, superb balance and goal kicking. In 1970 he kicked 115 goals in the season (making him the only Carlton player so far to kick 100 goals or more in a season) and went on to play in the famous 1970 VFL Grand Final
against Collingwood
. In front of an all-time record MCG
crowd of 121,696 fans Carlton
came from a 44-point deficit at half-time to win by 10 points.
In 1979 Jesaulenko was the playing coach of Carlton's premiership team, perhaps his finest moment in football. "Jezza" was in fact the last playing coach in the VFL
to win a premiership.
Jesaulenko had pay disputes with Carlton in 1977. Subsequently he tied his ongoing presence at the club to then Carlton club president George Harris
. At the end of the 1979 season Harris was ousted from his position and Jesaulenko cut all ties with Carlton.
, Jesaulenko moved to the St Kilda Football Club in 1980. While initially appointed as an on-field player only Jesaulenko was then appointed playing coach when the incumbent St Kilda coach, Mike Patterson
, was sacked by Fox after Round 2. He played 23 games and kicked 20 goals for the Saints in 1980–1981 and stayed on for a further season as coach. Jesaulenko retired as player after round 8, 16-May-1981. He was the final captain-coach (Malcolm Blight
would be the playing coach until 16, but was not captain during his time as coach.)
, their eighth in ten games, the board finally lost patience and sacked Robert Walls
. Jesaulenko was appointed caretaker coach for the remainder of the season, eventually leading the Blues to a respectable 8th-placed finish. He stayed on until the end of the 1990 season, when he was replaced by David Parkin
.
Graeme Jenkin
in the 1970 VFL Grand Final
. The commentary has Mike Williamson
shouting "Oh Jesaulenko, you beauty!". This "specky"
is acclaimed by some to be the "Mark of the Century" and was the first to be recognised officially as the Mark of the Year
; the medal awarded to the annual winner is called the Alex Jesaulenko Medal
. The mark is captured in Jamie Cooper's painting the Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport
in 1996, and in 2008 became the twenty-second man elevated to Legend status. He works today with VISY Recycling in Melbourne.
In 2006, Jesaulenko was featured in a Toyota Memorable Moments
commercial with Stephen Curry and Dave Lawson
, which involved spraypainting Jesaulenko's navy suit and trying several methods to recreate that mark he took almost 40 years ago, including a small trampoline, a stepladder and finally successfully with a large crane.
Jesaulenko revealed to Inside Football one day that his last name was actually Esaulenko instead of Jesaulenko. The famous Carlton champion said when he migrated to Australia
as a young lad from Europe, he had arrived in Australia, immigration officials actually listed "Esaulenko" with a "J" in front of the "E", thinking that they had heard a "J" in his name.
Jezza is mentioned in the song "The Back Upon Which Jezza Jumped" by Melbourne band TISM [This Is Serious Mum]. The song depicts Graeme 'Jerker' Jenkin being left to be forgotten because of Jezza's spectacular mark (TISM, 1985).
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 2 August 1945 in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
) is a former Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and coach. He is regarded as one of the game's greatest-ever players and is an official Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
. He immortalized his reputation in the game by taking the Mark of the Century in the 1970 VFL Grand Final
1970 VFL Grand Final
The 1970 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 26 September 1970. It was the 74th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
. In 2009 The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
nominated Jesaulenko as one of the 25 greatest footballers never to win a Brownlow medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
.
Early life
Alexandr Jesaulenko was born in SalzburgSalzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
to a Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
father and Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
mother. The family emigrated to Canberra, Australia in 1949 from Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. The family name was originally spelled Esaulenko, but on arrival in Australia a 'J' was mistakenly added to the name by immigration officials. Initially the young Jesaulenko played soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
at St Edmund's College
St Edmund's College, Canberra
St Edmund's College, is a private, Catholic, day school for boys, located in Griffith, a suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.The college was established in 1954 by the Christian Brothers as St Edmund's War Memorial College...
and did not start playing Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
until he was fourteen years old. He began playing at the Eastlake Football Club
Eastlake Football Club
Eastlake Football Club is a semi-professional Australian rules football club based in the inner-south of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory. They compete in the North East Australian Football League.-Championship Success:...
in Canberra.
Carlton career
Jesaulenko made his senior VFL debut in 1967, after interest from other clubs, such as North Melbourne, whom he later revealed had selected him in their senior side, but when the letter was posted through the slot in his door, it went under the carpet and wasn't opened for another two or so years. Alex went on to play 256 senior games for the Carlton Football ClubCarlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. In total he kicked 424 goals and won 4 premierships with the club 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1979. Jesaulenko was selected for All-Australian honours in 1969 and 1972. He has the dubious record at Carlton for the most inaccurate score of 5 goals and 12 behinds, against Hawthorn in 1969.
A spectacular and popular player Jesaulenko was renowned for his high marking, mercurial ground play, superb balance and goal kicking. In 1970 he kicked 115 goals in the season (making him the only Carlton player so far to kick 100 goals or more in a season) and went on to play in the famous 1970 VFL Grand Final
1970 VFL Grand Final
The 1970 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 26 September 1970. It was the 74th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. In front of an all-time record MCG
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
crowd of 121,696 fans Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
came from a 44-point deficit at half-time to win by 10 points.
In 1979 Jesaulenko was the playing coach of Carlton's premiership team, perhaps his finest moment in football. "Jezza" was in fact the last playing coach in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
to win a premiership.
Jesaulenko had pay disputes with Carlton in 1977. Subsequently he tied his ongoing presence at the club to then Carlton club president George Harris
George Harris (Carlton President)
George Harris was a President of Carlton Football Club in the Victorian Football League from 1964 to 1974 and again from 1978 to 1980. He was regarded as a highly significant figure in VFL-AFL history....
. At the end of the 1979 season Harris was ousted from his position and Jesaulenko cut all ties with Carlton.
St Kilda Football Club
In a deal managed by trucking millionaire and St Kilda club president, Lindsay FoxLindsay Fox
Lindsay Edward Fox AC is an Australian businessman. As of 2009, he was the 10th richest person in Australia, with a net worth of around 1.5 billion . He is best known as the founder and chairman of his family-owned trucking and logistics company, Linfox.- Early life :Lindsay Fox was brought up in...
, Jesaulenko moved to the St Kilda Football Club in 1980. While initially appointed as an on-field player only Jesaulenko was then appointed playing coach when the incumbent St Kilda coach, Mike Patterson
Mike Patterson (footballer)
Michael 'Mike' Patterson was an Australian rules footballer and coach. Affectionately known as the "Swamp Fox", Patterson was a premiership ruckman with the Richmond Football Club in 1967, and also captain/coach of the 1972 Australian Champions, the North Adelaide Football club.-Richmond:Patterson...
, was sacked by Fox after Round 2. He played 23 games and kicked 20 goals for the Saints in 1980–1981 and stayed on for a further season as coach. Jesaulenko retired as player after round 8, 16-May-1981. He was the final captain-coach (Malcolm Blight
Malcolm Blight
Malcolm Jack Blight AM is a former champion Australian rules football player and coach, and current television commentator. During the 1970s and 1980s Blight played for the Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and the North Melbourne Football Club in the...
would be the playing coach until 16, but was not captain during his time as coach.)
Return to Carlton
In the first half of the 1989 season, Carlton was in disarray and after a three-point loss to the lowly Brisbane BearsBrisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
, their eighth in ten games, the board finally lost patience and sacked Robert Walls
Robert Walls
Robert Walls is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who now works primarily as a television commentator and newspaper columnist on the sport. On 22 June 2006 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.- Carlton :...
. Jesaulenko was appointed caretaker coach for the remainder of the season, eventually leading the Blues to a respectable 8th-placed finish. He stayed on until the end of the 1990 season, when he was replaced by David Parkin
David Parkin
David Parkin is a former Australian rules footballer and four-time premiership coach.- Pre-football career :He attended Melbourne High School and during his time there, was the school vice-captain and captain of football....
.
"Oh Jesaulenko, you beauty!"
Jesaulenko's marking skill was perhaps best highlighted by a spectacular mark over big Collingwood ruckmanRuckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
Graeme Jenkin
Graeme Jenkin
Graeme 'Jerker' Jenkin is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and Essendon in the VFL during the 1960s and 1970s....
in the 1970 VFL Grand Final
1970 VFL Grand Final
The 1970 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 26 September 1970. It was the 74th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
. The commentary has Mike Williamson
Mike Williamson (broadcaster)
Mike Williamson OAM is a former Australian television broadcaster.Williamson was a well-performed professional runner. Having been banned from professional foot-running for "running dead", he turned his efforts towards acting as a sports commentator of Australian rules football matches in the...
shouting "Oh Jesaulenko, you beauty!". This "specky"
Specky
A spectacular mark is a term for a type of mark in Australian rules football...
is acclaimed by some to be the "Mark of the Century" and was the first to be recognised officially as the Mark of the Year
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
; the medal awarded to the annual winner is called the Alex Jesaulenko Medal
Alex Jesaulenko Medal
The Alex Jesaulenko Medal refers to three unrelated medals in Australian rules football, all named in honour of Alex Jesaulenko, a legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. The medals are currently awarded annually to the best player in the grand final of the AFL Canberra league and to the...
. The mark is captured in Jamie Cooper's painting the Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport
Post football
Jesaulenko was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Football Hall of FameAustralian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996, and in 2008 became the twenty-second man elevated to Legend status. He works today with VISY Recycling in Melbourne.
In 2006, Jesaulenko was featured in a Toyota Memorable Moments
Toyota Memorable Moments
The Toyota Memorable Moments series is a series of television advertisements produced over several years for the Australian Football League by its major sponsor, Toyota....
commercial with Stephen Curry and Dave Lawson
Dave Lawson
Dave Lawson is an Australian comedian and TV and radio personality. He is currently participating in a talk back radio segment on the Nova 100 Australian commercial radio station, and is also a regular performer on the stand up comedy circuit...
, which involved spraypainting Jesaulenko's navy suit and trying several methods to recreate that mark he took almost 40 years ago, including a small trampoline, a stepladder and finally successfully with a large crane.
Jesaulenko revealed to Inside Football one day that his last name was actually Esaulenko instead of Jesaulenko. The famous Carlton champion said when he migrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as a young lad from Europe, he had arrived in Australia, immigration officials actually listed "Esaulenko" with a "J" in front of the "E", thinking that they had heard a "J" in his name.
Cultural references
The main character in the Australian children's book "Jezza" is a dog named after Alex Jesaulenko. "Ordinary dogs chase tennis balls or fetch silly sticks. But not me. Football's my game. My new family called me Jezza because that was the name of a famous footballer. He was brilliant. I don't mean to brag, but I'm quite a footballer too." (Bell, 1991).Jezza is mentioned in the song "The Back Upon Which Jezza Jumped" by Melbourne band TISM [This Is Serious Mum]. The song depicts Graeme 'Jerker' Jenkin being left to be forgotten because of Jezza's spectacular mark (TISM, 1985).
External links
| Alex Jesaulenko Premiership Teams |
|---|