Jerry Dolan
Encyclopedia
John "Jerry" Dolan was an Australian rules football
er and coach in the West Australian Football League
(WAFL) before becoming a politician. He played for as well as coached East Fremantle
and was also a coach at East Perth
. After leaving football, Dolan served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
.
Dolan originally played in the Goldfields Football Association
with Kalgoorlie City and was recruited to East Fremantle after two seasons. He was used mostly as a centre half forward in his time at East Fremantle and participated in their 1925, 1928, 1929 and 1931 premiership teams. Dolan also played in their 1930 and 1933 premiership sides, as captain-coach.
He represented Western Australia at the 1924 Hobart Carnival
and captain-coached his state in the 1933 Sydney Carnival
. Once his playing career ended, Dolan coached Western Australia at interstate football, from 1946 to 1949.
As non playing coach, Dolan steered East Fremantle to a premiership in the 1943 under-age competition and to back to back flags in 1945 and 1946. He also coached East Perth to a premiership in 1936.
His overall coaching win/loss record stood at 68.2% when he retired, bettered only by Phil Matson when comparing it to other long standing coaches in the league. Both East Fremantle and East Perth never failed to play finals when Dolan was coach. In wining the 1946 premiership, Dolan's East Fremantle side went through the season undefeated, the only occasion this has been done by a WAFL team in the 20th century.
As an Australian Labor Party
candidate, Dolan was elected into the Western Australian Legislative Council in 1963. He had won the West Province by-election, which came about when sitting member Evan Davies died. Dolan held various portfolios in the Tonkin Ministry
. He served as a Minister for Police, Transport and Railways from March 1971 to May 1973. During his stint in parliament, which ended in 1974, he was also briefly the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.
In 1986, the year of his death, Dolan was inducted into the Western Australian Hall of Champions
, honouring his contribution to Australian rules football. He was one of the inaugural inductees into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 2004 and in 2007 was named as coach of the Fremantle Team of Legends
.
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 in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL) before becoming a politician. He played for as well as coached East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
and was also a coach at East Perth
East Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
. After leaving football, Dolan served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
.
Dolan originally played in the Goldfields Football Association
Goldfields Football League
The Goldfields Football League is a regional Australian football league based in the Kalgoorlie region, Western Australia. Originally founded in 1896 as Hannans District Football Association, the league enjoyed a seat and full voting rights on the Australian National Football Council until 1919...
with Kalgoorlie City and was recruited to East Fremantle after two seasons. He was used mostly as a centre half forward in his time at East Fremantle and participated in their 1925, 1928, 1929 and 1931 premiership teams. Dolan also played in their 1930 and 1933 premiership sides, as captain-coach.
He represented Western Australia at the 1924 Hobart Carnival
1924 Hobart Carnival
The 1924 Hobart Carnival was the fifth edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition...
and captain-coached his state in the 1933 Sydney Carnival
1933 Sydney Carnival
The 1933 Sydney Carnival was the eighth edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition....
. Once his playing career ended, Dolan coached Western Australia at interstate football, from 1946 to 1949.
As non playing coach, Dolan steered East Fremantle to a premiership in the 1943 under-age competition and to back to back flags in 1945 and 1946. He also coached East Perth to a premiership in 1936.
His overall coaching win/loss record stood at 68.2% when he retired, bettered only by Phil Matson when comparing it to other long standing coaches in the league. Both East Fremantle and East Perth never failed to play finals when Dolan was coach. In wining the 1946 premiership, Dolan's East Fremantle side went through the season undefeated, the only occasion this has been done by a WAFL team in the 20th century.
As an Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
candidate, Dolan was elected into the Western Australian Legislative Council in 1963. He had won the West Province by-election, which came about when sitting member Evan Davies died. Dolan held various portfolios in the Tonkin Ministry
Tonkin Ministry (Western Australia)
The Tonkin Ministry was the 25th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Labor Premier John Tonkin and deputy Herb Graham . It commenced on 3 March 1971, eleven days after the Brand-Nalder Ministry, led by Premier David Brand of the Liberal Party, was defeated at the 1971 election...
. He served as a Minister for Police, Transport and Railways from March 1971 to May 1973. During his stint in parliament, which ended in 1974, he was also briefly the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council.
In 1986, the year of his death, Dolan was inducted into the Western Australian Hall of Champions
Western Australian Hall of Champions
In 1983, the Sportswriters' Association of Western Australia proposed a Western Australian Hall of Champions to honour past athletes from the state who had made a significant impact in their sport...
, honouring his contribution to Australian rules football. He was one of the inaugural inductees into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
West Australian Football Hall of Fame
The West Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise and enshrine those who have made a significant contribution to Australian rules football in Western Australia...
in 2004 and in 2007 was named as coach of the Fremantle Team of Legends
Fremantle Team of Legends
The Fremantle Team of Legends was selected to recognise legends of Australian rules football in Fremantle, Western Australia.- Selection criteria :...
.