Jack Titus
Encyclopedia
Jack "Skinny" Titus was an Australian rules football
player who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club
. In the golden era of the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with spectacular goalkicking feats. A lightly built player who seemed at first glance to be too frail for the robust game of Australian football, Titus proved to be one of the great survivors of the game as he set the record for durability that remained unbeaten for a century. Titus continued to serve Richmond for decades after his retirement, a fact acknowledged by the Australian Football League (AFL), which presents the "Jack Titus Service Award" for outstanding service to the game.
As a teenager, Titus showed potential playing with the local Richmond club Burnley in the Metropolitan Football League. He was noticed by the Tigers'
brilliant secretary Percy Page and invited to play with the Richmond seconds in 1925, aged 17. However, Titus' frame caused concern. At just 175 cm and a bit more than 60 kg, Titus wouldn't be considered a potential talent in the modern AFL, let alone play a key forward position as he did. The Tigers persevered with Titus because of his excellent ball-winning ability and innate goal sense, and hoped that he would gain size as he got older.
Titus' early career was a battle for recognition at a powerful club with a number of excellent forwards. He played a single senior game in 1926, and a handful the following year but missed selection in the finals as the team finished runner-up. He attracted notice by winning the reserves best and fairest in 1928, a performance that won him a place in the Tigers' semi final team. He booted six goals in a match-winning performance, but was more subdued in the Grand Final when Richmond went down to Collingwood
for the second consecutive time.
By 1929, Titus had established himself in the senior side's forward line, playing alongside Jack Baggott
. He won the best and fairest
and led the club's goalkicking for the first time, but was held goalless in the Grand Final as the Tigers lost yet again. The Tigers used him as a flanker or in the pocket during the next few years as they desperately sought a combination that could break the jinx caused a succession of Grand Final losses. Finally, Richmond broke through for a premiership in 1932 and Titus was a member of the team.
In 1933 and 1934, Richmond faced South Melbourne
in two Grand Finals billed as a battle of the best defence (Richmond) against the best attack (South Melbourne). The glamorous Swans triumphed the first time, but Titus was instrumental in his team gaining revenge the following year when he booted six goals to eclipse his rival Bob Pratt
, the highest scoring full forward in the game. In direct contrast to the spectacular Pratt, Titus was a hard working player, solid in the air and getting a lot of goals through opportunism and adept ground play.
For the remainder of his career, Titus was a consistent goalkicker and the team's full forward
, even though he regularly conceded several inches to taller opponents and his weight never exceeded 66 kg. His record emphasises consistency rather than big "bags" of goals, although he did have a number of notable individual performances. As Richmond's success rate slowed, he maintained his output, booting 83 goals in 1935, 84 in 1936, 65 in 1937, 72 in 1938 and 48 in 1939. By now a veteran of the team, he provided leadership to the younger players and a cool head during the big games. He earned a reputation as feisty customer who would deliberately antagonise opponents if he thought they could be distracted. Although protected by the bigger players in the team, such as Jack Dyer
, Titus could handle himself and always seemed to emerge from incidents unscathed. Indeed, his ability to front up to play every week became central to his legend as a player.
Titus' golden season came in 1940. He led the VFL goalkicking for the first time as Richmond headed into the Grand Final for the first time in six years. Needing three goals to become the first Tiger to boot one hundred in a season, he duly got them, but it was little consolation as his team was thrashed by Melbourne
. The next season he dazzled by twice kicking ten goals in a match (equalling his best personal effort) and winning the best and fairest, but the Tigers were bundled out in the semi-final. A similar story unfolded in 1942 when Richmond lost the Grand Final and Titus set a record (still unbeaten) of playing in his sixth losing Grand Final team.
Season 1943 loomed as a record-breaking year for the veteran forward. He was poised to become the second player to reach 300 games and 1000 goals, and break the record streak of 191 consecutive appearances. He did the latter, but sustained serious injury for the first time causing him to miss playing in Richmond's fifth premiership. The club then decided that, at 35, his career was over. Without Titus, the Tigers stumbled to a Grand Final loss against Fitzroy
, when Titus could have offered experience and another forward option. Titus accepted the decision gracefully, even though he was left stranded five games less than 300 and 26 goals from 1000.
Titus proved a point when he joined Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Coburg
in 1945. He kicked 119 goals for Coburg and then retired in the middle of the next season. In all, he held the following Richmond records at his retirement:
Titus averaged 3.3 goals per game and just five players in VFL/AFL history have kicked more goals, four of those players competing in an era when more games were played in a season. Titus' record in finals, where he kicked 74 goals, has been bettered by only two men, Gordon Coventry
(Collingwood
) and Jason Dunstall
(Hawthorn
).
Titus returned to Richmond as a committeeman for 1947. Mid-season, the seconds were caught short and needed an extra player. Aged 39, he scored 12 goals then hung up his boots for the last time. He continued to serve the club loyally for the next three decades as a selector, vice president and VFL delegate. In an emergency during 1965, Titus coached the team after the incumbent, Len Smith
, suffered a heart attack. He guided the team to fifth place, an important contribution to the Richmond renaissance of the late 1960s. It was his only coaching effort at any level.
A dapper man never seen without a bow tie, Titus maintained his lean physique and always looked younger than his years. Among the recognition for his 50 years service to the Tigers was VFL life membership in 1970 and when the VFL decided to inaugurate an annual award for long and outstanding service to the game, Titus was the first winner. A non-smoker and teetotaller, Titus spent virtually his entire working life running various pubs around Melbourne
. He died in 1978 after intervening in an altercation at his pub the Limerick Castle in North Melbourne. (The pub was run by another Richmond player Kevin Morris during the 80's). The VFL immediately named the long service award after him. Also named in his honour is Richmond's runner-up Best and Fairest
award, the "Jack Titus Medal".
In 1995, much interest centred on Jim Stynes
' effort to finally break Titus' mark of 204 consecutive matches. Some had believed the record invincible, but Stynes eventually extended the mark to 244. Titus was elected a hall of famer in 1996 and made the Tigers'
Hall of Fame and Team of the Century a few years later. Titus' number 12 was inherited by Matthew Richardson
who appears likely to break Titus' eleven goalkicking awards
, another record thought to be safe. After the 2008 season, Richardson had also won the honour
thirteen times.
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...
player who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
. In the golden era of the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with spectacular goalkicking feats. A lightly built player who seemed at first glance to be too frail for the robust game of Australian football, Titus proved to be one of the great survivors of the game as he set the record for durability that remained unbeaten for a century. Titus continued to serve Richmond for decades after his retirement, a fact acknowledged by the Australian Football League (AFL), which presents the "Jack Titus Service Award" for outstanding service to the game.
As a teenager, Titus showed potential playing with the local Richmond club Burnley in the Metropolitan Football League. He was noticed by the Tigers'
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
brilliant secretary Percy Page and invited to play with the Richmond seconds in 1925, aged 17. However, Titus' frame caused concern. At just 175 cm and a bit more than 60 kg, Titus wouldn't be considered a potential talent in the modern AFL, let alone play a key forward position as he did. The Tigers persevered with Titus because of his excellent ball-winning ability and innate goal sense, and hoped that he would gain size as he got older.
Titus' early career was a battle for recognition at a powerful club with a number of excellent forwards. He played a single senior game in 1926, and a handful the following year but missed selection in the finals as the team finished runner-up. He attracted notice by winning the reserves best and fairest in 1928, a performance that won him a place in the Tigers' semi final team. He booted six goals in a match-winning performance, but was more subdued in the Grand Final when Richmond went down to Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
for the second consecutive time.
By 1929, Titus had established himself in the senior side's forward line, playing alongside Jack Baggott
Jack Baggott
Jack Baggott was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League between 1927 and 1935 for the Richmond Football Club. In 1936 he became captain-coach of the Essendon Football Club and was there until part way through the 1937 season...
. He won the best and fairest
Jack Dyer Medal
The Jack Dyer Medal is an Australian rules football award given each season to the player or players adjudged Best and Fairest for the Richmond Football Club....
and led the club's goalkicking for the first time, but was held goalless in the Grand Final as the Tigers lost yet again. The Tigers used him as a flanker or in the pocket during the next few years as they desperately sought a combination that could break the jinx caused a succession of Grand Final losses. Finally, Richmond broke through for a premiership in 1932 and Titus was a member of the team.
In 1933 and 1934, Richmond faced South Melbourne
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...
in two Grand Finals billed as a battle of the best defence (Richmond) against the best attack (South Melbourne). The glamorous Swans triumphed the first time, but Titus was instrumental in his team gaining revenge the following year when he booted six goals to eclipse his rival Bob Pratt
Bob Pratt
Harold Robert "Bob" Pratt was a former Australian rules footballer from Mitcham, Victoria.Pratt played with South Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League from 1930–1939 and again in 1946, and with the Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football Association from 1940 to 1941...
, the highest scoring full forward in the game. In direct contrast to the spectacular Pratt, Titus was a hard working player, solid in the air and getting a lot of goals through opportunism and adept ground play.
For the remainder of his career, Titus was a consistent goalkicker and the team's full forward
Full-forward
Full-forward is a position in Australian rules football and Gaelic football with a key focus on kicking goals.Leading full-forwards of the Australian Football League are usually among those awarded with the Coleman Medal for the most goals in an AFL season....
, even though he regularly conceded several inches to taller opponents and his weight never exceeded 66 kg. His record emphasises consistency rather than big "bags" of goals, although he did have a number of notable individual performances. As Richmond's success rate slowed, he maintained his output, booting 83 goals in 1935, 84 in 1936, 65 in 1937, 72 in 1938 and 48 in 1939. By now a veteran of the team, he provided leadership to the younger players and a cool head during the big games. He earned a reputation as feisty customer who would deliberately antagonise opponents if he thought they could be distracted. Although protected by the bigger players in the team, such as Jack Dyer
Jack Dyer
John Raymond Dyer Sr. OAM , always known as Jack Dyer, was one of the colossal figures of Australian rules football during two distinct careers, firstly as a player and coach of the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1931 and 1952, and later in the broadcast media for...
, Titus could handle himself and always seemed to emerge from incidents unscathed. Indeed, his ability to front up to play every week became central to his legend as a player.
Titus' golden season came in 1940. He led the VFL goalkicking for the first time as Richmond headed into the Grand Final for the first time in six years. Needing three goals to become the first Tiger to boot one hundred in a season, he duly got them, but it was little consolation as his team was thrashed by Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
. The next season he dazzled by twice kicking ten goals in a match (equalling his best personal effort) and winning the best and fairest, but the Tigers were bundled out in the semi-final. A similar story unfolded in 1942 when Richmond lost the Grand Final and Titus set a record (still unbeaten) of playing in his sixth losing Grand Final team.
Season 1943 loomed as a record-breaking year for the veteran forward. He was poised to become the second player to reach 300 games and 1000 goals, and break the record streak of 191 consecutive appearances. He did the latter, but sustained serious injury for the first time causing him to miss playing in Richmond's fifth premiership. The club then decided that, at 35, his career was over. Without Titus, the Tigers stumbled to a Grand Final loss against Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
, when Titus could have offered experience and another forward option. Titus accepted the decision gracefully, even though he was left stranded five games less than 300 and 26 goals from 1000.
Titus proved a point when he joined Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Coburg
Coburg Tigers
Coburg Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club based in Coburg, a northern suburb of Melbourne, and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. Coburg have an alignment in place with the AFL's Richmond Football Club which saw the Coburg club change its...
in 1945. He kicked 119 goals for Coburg and then retired in the middle of the next season. In all, he held the following Richmond records at his retirement:
- Most games (since broken)
- Most goals
- Most finals games (since broken)
- Most Grand Finals
- Most finals goals
- Most consecutive games
- Most goalkicking awards (since broken)
- Most Grand Final losses
Titus averaged 3.3 goals per game and just five players in VFL/AFL history have kicked more goals, four of those players competing in an era when more games were played in a season. Titus' record in finals, where he kicked 74 goals, has been bettered by only two men, Gordon Coventry
Gordon Coventry
Gordon "Nuts" Coventry was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League . With 1,299 goals over 18 seasons, Coventry remains one of the greatest full forwards the game has ever seen...
(Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
) and Jason Dunstall
Jason Dunstall
Jason Hadfield Dunstall is a former Australian rules football player for the Hawthorn Football Club of the AFL. He is the third greatest goalkicker in the history of the VFL/AFL. Dunstall is regarded as one of the greatest full-forwards to have ever played, kicking 1254 goals, a feat only...
(Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
).
Titus returned to Richmond as a committeeman for 1947. Mid-season, the seconds were caught short and needed an extra player. Aged 39, he scored 12 goals then hung up his boots for the last time. He continued to serve the club loyally for the next three decades as a selector, vice president and VFL delegate. In an emergency during 1965, Titus coached the team after the incumbent, Len Smith
Len Smith (footballer)
Like his younger brother, the legendary Norm Smith, it is as a coach that Len is best remembered. During his first stint as a coach, of the Fitzroy Under 19s , he guided the side to the 1955 Premiership. His first senior coaching role was with Fitzroy, taking them to the finals in 1958 and 1960...
, suffered a heart attack. He guided the team to fifth place, an important contribution to the Richmond renaissance of the late 1960s. It was his only coaching effort at any level.
A dapper man never seen without a bow tie, Titus maintained his lean physique and always looked younger than his years. Among the recognition for his 50 years service to the Tigers was VFL life membership in 1970 and when the VFL decided to inaugurate an annual award for long and outstanding service to the game, Titus was the first winner. A non-smoker and teetotaller, Titus spent virtually his entire working life running various pubs around Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. He died in 1978 after intervening in an altercation at his pub the Limerick Castle in North Melbourne. (The pub was run by another Richmond player Kevin Morris during the 80's). The VFL immediately named the long service award after him. Also named in his honour is Richmond's runner-up Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
award, the "Jack Titus Medal".
In 1995, much interest centred on Jim Stynes
Jim Stynes
James "Jim" Stynes OAM is an Irish former professional Australian rules footballer who is currently a businessman, philanthropist, writer, youth worker, qualified teacher and chairman of Melbourne Football Club since 2008....
' effort to finally break Titus' mark of 204 consecutive matches. Some had believed the record invincible, but Stynes eventually extended the mark to 244. Titus was elected a hall of famer in 1996 and made the Tigers'
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
Hall of Fame and Team of the Century a few years later. Titus' number 12 was inherited by Matthew Richardson
Matthew Richardson (Australian rules footballer)
Matthew "Richo" Richardson , is a retired professional Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Australian Football League...
who appears likely to break Titus' eleven goalkicking awards
Michael Roach Medal
The Michael Roach Medal is an Australian rules football award given each season to the leading goalkicker for the Richmond Football Club.The award is now named in honour of Michael Roach, Richmond's "best post-war full forward"...
, another record thought to be safe. After the 2008 season, Richardson had also won the honour
Michael Roach Medal
The Michael Roach Medal is an Australian rules football award given each season to the leading goalkicker for the Richmond Football Club.The award is now named in honour of Michael Roach, Richmond's "best post-war full forward"...
thirteen times.