Darren Jarman
Encyclopedia
Darren Jarman is a former Australian rules football
er who played in the Australian Football League
. An elite midfielder-cum-forward, Jarman amassed a total of 386 games of senior football at SANFL, AFL and Representative level. He was widely reocgnised as one of the most skillful players of his era. Jarman's elder brother Andrew
was also an elite footballer.
., but chose to remain in Adelaide with the Roosters. Once the Demons' three-year rights to Jarman lapsed, Brisbane
claimed him with a concessional pre-draft selection in the 1989 VFL Draft
. Once again Jarman chose to stay in his home state.
In 1990 the turmoil that led to the creation of the Adelaide Crows
and thereby automatically relegated the SANFL to secondary importance within South Australia caused Jarman to reassess his career. Following some friction with the Crows' football manager Neil Kerley
, Jarman chose to head east, signing for Hawthorn after the club traded pick 10 in the 1990 AFL Draft
to the Bears for his contractual rights.
In Round 1, 1991 Jarman made his debut in an 86-point loss Adelaide. Despite this early setback, the highly-skilled midfielder made an immediate impact in his debut year, averaging 18 disposals and booting 41 goals before his infamous performance in the Hawks' winning side on Grand Final day, when he was restricted to just 5 touches on the big stage.
Jarman bounced back in 1992, winning his first All-Australian selection (at centreman) and stamping himself as one of the game's elite players. Following his excellent 1995 season where he won his second All-Australian selection, Hawthorn's Best and Fairest Award and finished runner-up to Sydney
's Paul Kelly
by 3 votes in the Brownlow Medal
count, Jarman sought a return home to Adelaide to play with his brother Andrew at the Crows.
moving from Essendon
to Hawthorn, promising defender Sean Wellman
moving from Adelaide to Essendon and a handful of peripheral draft picks and players exchanged between the three clubs.
As with his move to Glenferrie Oval five years earlier, Jarman had an immediate impact at his new club, winning his third All-Australian selection following a 400 disposal/46 goal season despite playing just 19 games. In the following years as he passed the age of 30, Jarman increasingly spent more time up forward, capturing the imagination of fans everywhere with remarkable performances in the Crows' back-to-back Grand Final wins, booting six goals against St. Kilda in 1997 (five of which were in the last quarter) and five goals in the 1998 triumph over North Melbourne. Jarman's influence as a goalsneak in the twilight of his career was highlighted by his capture of the Crows' leading goalkicker award in 1998, 1999 and 2001.
In 2000 Jarman was named in the forward pocket
in Adelaide's Team of the Decade 1991–2000.
After being inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2006, on 19 July 2007 Jarman's outstanding 17-season career of top-flight football was recognised with induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Jarman was awarded Life Membership of the Adelaide Football Club in March 2008.
.
In 2006 he was appointed assistant coach to brother Andrew Jarman
at North Adelaide, ending in 2007.
In 2008 he is taking over as coach of SA Amateur League side, CBC Old Collegians Football Club.
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 who played in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. An elite midfielder-cum-forward, Jarman amassed a total of 386 games of senior football at SANFL, AFL and Representative level. He was widely reocgnised as one of the most skillful players of his era. Jarman's elder brother Andrew
Andrew Jarman
Andrew Newton Jarman is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Adelaide in the Australian Football League...
was also an elite footballer.
SANFL career (1985–1990)
Jarman played 144 games and kicked 236 goals for North Adelaide in the SANFL between 1985 and 1990. He was selected on the interchange in the club's Team of the Century at a gala dinner held on 7 October 2000.Hawthorn (1991–1995)
Jarman was initially drafted by Melbourne with pick 55 in the inaugural 1986 VFL Draft1986 VFL Draft
The 1986 VFL Draft was the first formal draft to provide recruitment opportunities to clubs participating in Australian rules football's elite Victorian Football League...
., but chose to remain in Adelaide with the Roosters. Once the Demons' three-year rights to Jarman lapsed, Brisbane
Brisbane 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...
claimed him with a concessional pre-draft selection in the 1989 VFL Draft
1989 VFL Draft
The 1989 VFL Draft was the fourth annual National Draft held by the Victorian Football League as the main method for the 14 teams to recruit players for the 1990 season. It consisted of a trading period, pre-draft selections, the main national draft and the 1990 pre-season draft and a...
. Once again Jarman chose to stay in his home state.
In 1990 the turmoil that led to the creation of the Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
and thereby automatically relegated the SANFL to secondary importance within South Australia caused Jarman to reassess his career. Following some friction with the Crows' football manager Neil Kerley
Neil Kerley
Donald Neil Kerley OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. Known to his mates as either Neil or Knuckles and to South Australian football fans as King Kerley or simply "Kerls", he is best known for taking three clubs to four SANFL premierships over three decades as both a...
, Jarman chose to head east, signing for Hawthorn after the club traded pick 10 in the 1990 AFL Draft
1990 AFL Draft
The 1990 AFL Draft was the 5th annual draft of Australian rules footballers to the 14 clubs in the Australian Football League. It consisted of the national draft held at the end of the 1990 season, the pre-season draft, held before 1991 AFL season and a mid-season draft.Clubs receive picks based...
to the Bears for his contractual rights.
In Round 1, 1991 Jarman made his debut in an 86-point loss Adelaide. Despite this early setback, the highly-skilled midfielder made an immediate impact in his debut year, averaging 18 disposals and booting 41 goals before his infamous performance in the Hawks' winning side on Grand Final day, when he was restricted to just 5 touches on the big stage.
Jarman bounced back in 1992, winning his first All-Australian selection (at centreman) and stamping himself as one of the game's elite players. Following his excellent 1995 season where he won his second All-Australian selection, Hawthorn's Best and Fairest Award and finished runner-up to Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
's Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (footballer)
Paul Kelly is a former Australian rules footballer, winner of the Brownlow Medal and captain of the Sydney Swans for ten seasons. He was and still is known to Swans fans everywhere as "Captain Courageous"....
by 3 votes in the 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...
count, Jarman sought a return home to Adelaide to play with his brother Andrew at the Crows.
Homecoming (1996–2001)
In the 1995/6 offseason, Jarman was traded to the Adelaide Crows in a complex three-way deal that involved Paul SalmonPaul Salmon
Paul Salmon is a former Australian rules footballer. Recruited from North Ringwood, the 206 cm Salmon was, at the time, along with Carlton's Justin Madden, the tallest man to play AFL football...
moving from Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
to Hawthorn, promising defender Sean Wellman
Sean Wellman
Sean Wellman is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.Wellman was a tall key position player who arrived at the AFL's Adelaide Football Club from North Adelaide. He played 34 games across his first two seasons in 1994 and 1995, before moving to Essendon in 1996...
moving from Adelaide to Essendon and a handful of peripheral draft picks and players exchanged between the three clubs.
As with his move to Glenferrie Oval five years earlier, Jarman had an immediate impact at his new club, winning his third All-Australian selection following a 400 disposal/46 goal season despite playing just 19 games. In the following years as he passed the age of 30, Jarman increasingly spent more time up forward, capturing the imagination of fans everywhere with remarkable performances in the Crows' back-to-back Grand Final wins, booting six goals against St. Kilda in 1997 (five of which were in the last quarter) and five goals in the 1998 triumph over North Melbourne. Jarman's influence as a goalsneak in the twilight of his career was highlighted by his capture of the Crows' leading goalkicker award in 1998, 1999 and 2001.
In 2000 Jarman was named in the forward pocket
Forward pocket
In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...
in Adelaide's Team of the Decade 1991–2000.
Retirement and Recognition
An emotional Jarman retired after the 2001 Elimination Final loss to Carlton, closing the book on his playing career with a further 2 goals.After being inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2006, on 19 July 2007 Jarman's outstanding 17-season career of top-flight football was recognised with induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Jarman was awarded Life Membership of the Adelaide Football Club in March 2008.
Coaching career
From 2002–2004 Jarman re-joined the Adelaide Football Club as an assistant coach to Gary AyresGary Ayres
Gary Ayres is a former Australian rules footballer for the Hawthorn Football Club and currently the senior coach for the Port Melbourne Football Club in the Victoria Football League.-Playing career:...
.
In 2006 he was appointed assistant coach to brother Andrew Jarman
Andrew Jarman
Andrew Newton Jarman is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Adelaide in the Australian Football League...
at North Adelaide, ending in 2007.
In 2008 he is taking over as coach of SA Amateur League side, CBC Old Collegians Football Club.