James Tierney (footballer)
Encyclopedia
James Michael "Sorry" Tierney (born 1878 in Gawler, South Australia
, died 1959 in Melbourne
, Victoria
) was an Australian rules footballer who played in the SAFA
and SAFL, mainly with the West Adelaide Football Club
.
Tierney, a Sand carter from Gawler, had three stints at West Adelaide. He made his debut on 10 August 1901 and stayed with the club in 1902. He played 18 games and kicked 7 goals during this time.
He then moved to the West Torrens Football Club
in 1903 where he earned selection for the South Australia
n state team. Tierney however refused to play protesting over the non-selection of Sturt
ruckman "Taffy" Wayne. As a result the SAFA suspended Tierney from interstate games for three years, though he was still able to play league football. As a result of this he left West Torrens with only four games left in the season and finished the year playing for the Alma Football Club in Broken Hill
.
1904 saw Tierney return to West Adelaide for one season before moving to play with South Adelaide
in 1905. He was to stay at Souths for 1906 but after only four games of the season he transferred back to West Adelaide where he would continue until the end of the 1910 season. He was named co-captain of the club in 1907 and was vice-captain of West Adelaide's 1908 and 1909 premiership sides. In 1908 West Adelaide also were crowned 'Champions of Australia' after defeating the Victorian Football League
premiership winning team Carlton
12 9 (81) to 7 10 (52) in a match played at the Adelaide Oval
.
During his third and last stint at West Adelaide he partnered Tom Leahy
in the ruck with great success, winning the Magarey Medal
in 1908 to become the first player from the club to win the award. He also formed a winning combination with West's brilliant centreman and 1908 Magarey Medalist 'Dick' Head
.
After West finished a disappointing fifth in 1910, James Tierney (along with Ton Leahy) joined North Adelaide for the 1911 season. It was reported that while still having the stamina, Tierney's reflexes had slowed down by this time and after a lackluster 1911 season he decided to retire from league football.
Despite his three year ban from interstate football, James Tierney played in 9 games for South Australia
.
James Tierney died in Melbourne in 1959 at the age of 80.
Gawler, South Australia
Gawler is the first country town in the state of South Australia, and is named after the second Governor of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is located north of the centre of the state capital, Adelaide, and is close to the major wine producing district of the Barossa Valley...
, died 1959 in 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...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
) was an Australian rules footballer who played in the SAFA
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
and SAFL, mainly with the West Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
.
Tierney, a Sand carter from Gawler, had three stints at West Adelaide. He made his debut on 10 August 1901 and stayed with the club in 1902. He played 18 games and kicked 7 goals during this time.
He then moved to the West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
in 1903 where he earned selection for the South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n state team. Tierney however refused to play protesting over the non-selection of Sturt
Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
ruckman "Taffy" Wayne. As a result the SAFA suspended Tierney from interstate games for three years, though he was still able to play league football. As a result of this he left West Torrens with only four games left in the season and finished the year playing for the Alma Football Club in Broken Hill
Broken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
.
1904 saw Tierney return to West Adelaide for one season before moving to play with South Adelaide
South Adelaide Football Club
South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide....
in 1905. He was to stay at Souths for 1906 but after only four games of the season he transferred back to West Adelaide where he would continue until the end of the 1910 season. He was named co-captain of the club in 1907 and was vice-captain of West Adelaide's 1908 and 1909 premiership sides. In 1908 West Adelaide also were crowned 'Champions of Australia' after defeating the Victorian 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...
premiership winning team 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...
12 9 (81) to 7 10 (52) in a match played at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
.
During his third and last stint at West Adelaide he partnered Tom Leahy
Tom Leahy
Thomas Joseph Leahy was an Australian rules footballer who played 111 games with North Adelaide and 58 games with West Adelaide in the SAFL....
in the ruck with great success, winning the Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
in 1908 to become the first player from the club to win the award. He also formed a winning combination with West's brilliant centreman and 1908 Magarey Medalist 'Dick' Head
Richard Head (footballer)
Henry Richard 'Dick' Head , was an Australian rules footballer who played 143 games with West Adelaide in the South Australian Football League ....
.
After West finished a disappointing fifth in 1910, James Tierney (along with Ton Leahy) joined North Adelaide for the 1911 season. It was reported that while still having the stamina, Tierney's reflexes had slowed down by this time and after a lackluster 1911 season he decided to retire from league football.
Despite his three year ban from interstate football, James Tierney played in 9 games for South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
James Tierney died in Melbourne in 1959 at the age of 80.