Jim Cardwell
Encyclopedia
James Hector "Jim" Cardwell (2 February 1916 – 23 December 1996) was an Australian rules football
player, who served in Australian Army
in World War II
, but became most well known for his administrative work for the Melbourne Football Club
, where he served as secretary
for 25 years and was made a life member and inducted into the Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame.
on 2 February 1916. Cardwell was a keen debate
r in his youth, winning the Victorian Solo Debating Championship twice in 1934 and 1935.
award. He was subsequently recruited by the Melbourne Football Club
, who played in the Victorian Football League
(VFL), then the premier Australian rules football competition. Cardwell, however, never broke into Melbourne's senior team and played regularly in the reserves. In his first season with the Demons he was a member of Melbourne's VFL reserves 1939 premiership team. During his time playing in the reserves, Cardwell began to show an interest in the administrative side of the game, becoming a delegate to the VFL for the Demons' reserves side.
on 23 December 1941, only two days before Christmas, in Caufield, to fight in World War II
. Cardwell served in Darwin and New Guinea. At one point during his service, when he was on leave, Cardwell was given an opportunity to make his VFL debut for the Demons, but he instead decided to take a honeymoon with his wife, Mavis. This was to be Cardwell's only opportunity to play VFL football and he retired having never played a match in the VFL. Cardwell was discharged from the Army after the conclusion of World War II, on 22 November 1945. At the time of his discharge, Cardwell was serving as a sergeant
with the 2/1 Australian Mechanical Equipment Company.
with the Forest Commission and in 1948 he opened his own engineering business in Melbourne. He also began to increase his work with Melbourne, becoming a selector of the Melbourne reserves team. He then became secretary of the reserves in 1949 and secretary of the of the seniors in 1951, taking over from A. S. Thompson. Cardwell, along with Albert Chadwick
, who became president in 1950, Norm Smith
, who became coach in 1952, Ivor Warne-Smith
, who was the chairman of selectors, and former coach Frank 'Checker' Hughes
, who was in charge of what would now be labelled the football department, became what has been described by one historian as Melbourne's "backbone of steel". In 1956, Cardwell had a breakdown, due to working two jobs, which required a long recuperation. The club subsequently offered to pay Cardwell and for him to become a full-time secretary. Cardwell, saying he was "hooked on football", accepted the job and gave up his engineering business, in the process becoming the first full-time secretary in the VFL.
Cardwell's full-time appointment proved to be very successful, with Melbourne winning six premierships in just 14 years, in what has been called Melbourne's "age of greatness". Although Cardwell often clashed with Smith, who Cardwell had recruited from Fitzroy
and who went on to become the AFL Coach of the Century, they were close friends and both men always had Melbourne's best interests at heart. Cardwell was secretary in the days before country zoning and in his role of secretary, Cardwell was also in charge of the recruiting and he had what has been described as a "relentless desire" to search for the very best country football players. Due to his talent for convincing players to sign with Melbourne rather than other rival teams, Cardwell was called "The Prince of Secretaries" and "The Doyen of Secretaries", as he was considered the greatest Australian rules football talent scout of his era, with the success that Melbourne had during his employment being testament to his recruiting prowess, as it was he who assembled those Grand Final
winning teams.
Cardwell retired from his role of secretary at the end of the 1975 season, having served as secretary for 25 years, and serving the club in other roles for over 35 years. He was succeeded in the post by Ivan Moore. Cardwell retained an active passion for the club until his death on 23 December 1996 after a long illness.
, John Beckwith
, Frank Adams
, Brian Dixon
, Athol Webb
, Tassie Johnson
, Ian Ridley
, Bob Johnson
and Hassa Mann
. He was one of the inaugural inductees in Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame in 2001. Cardwell was also made a life member of the Melbourne Football Club in 1960. Ron Barassi
named Cardwell as one of his "Top five MFC heroes" in 2008.
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 served in Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but became most well known for his administrative work for the Melbourne Football Club
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....
, where he served as secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
for 25 years and was made a life member and inducted into the Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame.
Early life
Cardwell was born in Port MelbournePort Melbourne, Victoria
Port Melbourne is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 5 km southwest of Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government areas are the cities of Port Phillip and Melbourne. At the 2006 Census, Port Melbourne had a population of 13,293....
on 2 February 1916. Cardwell was a keen debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
r in his youth, winning the Victorian Solo Debating Championship twice in 1934 and 1935.
Playing career
Cardwell began his playing career with the North Brunswick CYMS and won their best and fairestBest 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. He was subsequently recruited by the Melbourne Football Club
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....
, who played in 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...
(VFL), then the premier Australian rules football competition. Cardwell, however, never broke into Melbourne's senior team and played regularly in the reserves. In his first season with the Demons he was a member of Melbourne's VFL reserves 1939 premiership team. During his time playing in the reserves, Cardwell began to show an interest in the administrative side of the game, becoming a delegate to the VFL for the Demons' reserves side.
World War II
Cardwell enlisted to the Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
on 23 December 1941, only two days before Christmas, in Caufield, to fight in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Cardwell served in Darwin and New Guinea. At one point during his service, when he was on leave, Cardwell was given an opportunity to make his VFL debut for the Demons, but he instead decided to take a honeymoon with his wife, Mavis. This was to be Cardwell's only opportunity to play VFL football and he retired having never played a match in the VFL. Cardwell was discharged from the Army after the conclusion of World War II, on 22 November 1945. At the time of his discharge, Cardwell was serving as a sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
with the 2/1 Australian Mechanical Equipment Company.
"The Prince of Secretaries"
When the war finished, Cardwell became an assistant engineerEngineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
with the Forest Commission and in 1948 he opened his own engineering business in Melbourne. He also began to increase his work with Melbourne, becoming a selector of the Melbourne reserves team. He then became secretary of the reserves in 1949 and secretary of the of the seniors in 1951, taking over from A. S. Thompson. Cardwell, along with Albert Chadwick
Albert Chadwick
Sir Albert Edward "Bert" Chadwick was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League. He was born in Beechworth and educated at Tungamah High School....
, who became president in 1950, Norm Smith
Norm Smith
Norman Walter "Norm" Smith was an Australian rules football player and coach in the Victorian Football League. After 200 games as a player with Melbourne and Fitzroy, Smith began a twenty year coaching career, including a fifteen year stint at Melbourne...
, who became coach in 1952, Ivor Warne-Smith
Ivor Warne-Smith
Ivor Warne-Smith , was an Australian footballer, who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League and for the Latrobe Football Club in the North-Western Football Union in Tasmania...
, who was the chairman of selectors, and former coach Frank 'Checker' Hughes
Frank 'Checker' Hughes
Frank 'Checker' Hughes was a famous player and coach of Australian rules football in the Victorian Football League in the period 1914 to 1948....
, who was in charge of what would now be labelled the football department, became what has been described by one historian as Melbourne's "backbone of steel". In 1956, Cardwell had a breakdown, due to working two jobs, which required a long recuperation. The club subsequently offered to pay Cardwell and for him to become a full-time secretary. Cardwell, saying he was "hooked on football", accepted the job and gave up his engineering business, in the process becoming the first full-time secretary in the VFL.
Cardwell's full-time appointment proved to be very successful, with Melbourne winning six premierships in just 14 years, in what has been called Melbourne's "age of greatness". Although Cardwell often clashed with Smith, who Cardwell had recruited from 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...
and who went on to become the AFL Coach of the Century, they were close friends and both men always had Melbourne's best interests at heart. Cardwell was secretary in the days before country zoning and in his role of secretary, Cardwell was also in charge of the recruiting and he had what has been described as a "relentless desire" to search for the very best country football players. Due to his talent for convincing players to sign with Melbourne rather than other rival teams, Cardwell was called "The Prince of Secretaries" and "The Doyen of Secretaries", as he was considered the greatest Australian rules football talent scout of his era, with the success that Melbourne had during his employment being testament to his recruiting prowess, as it was he who assembled those Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
winning teams.
Cardwell retired from his role of secretary at the end of the 1975 season, having served as secretary for 25 years, and serving the club in other roles for over 35 years. He was succeeded in the post by Ivan Moore. Cardwell retained an active passion for the club until his death on 23 December 1996 after a long illness.
Legacy
Cardwell recruited many of Melbourne's premiership greats, including Laurie MithenLaurie Mithen
Laurie Mithen is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the VFL during their successful period in the late 1950s under Norm Smith...
, John Beckwith
John Beckwith (footballer)
John Beckwith is a former Australian rules football player and coach, for the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League .Beckwith's father, Wally Beckwith, was a VFL player for Fitzroy and was also a VFL umpire....
, Frank Adams
Frank 'Bluey' Adams
Frank 'Bluey' Adams is a former Australian rules football player, who played in the Victorian Football League for the Melbourne Football Club....
, Brian Dixon
Brian Dixon
Brian Dixon is a former Australian rules footballer and Victorian Politician.Dixon played 252 VFL games for Melbourne between 1954 and 1968, playing mostly on the wing...
, Athol Webb
Athol Webb
Athol Webb is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League during the late 1950s....
, Tassie Johnson
Tassie Johnson
Robert "Tassie" Johnson is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League during the 1960s. He was known by his nickname Tassie as there were two other Johnsons at the club at the time he was recruited from North Launceston in Tasmania.Johnson was...
, Ian Ridley
Ian Ridley
Ian Ridley was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the VFL.Ridley was a rover who was handy around goals and a 5 time premiership player with Melbourne. He topped Melbourne's goalkicking in 1960 with 38 goals and went on to coach the club during the 1970s...
, Bob Johnson
Bob C. Johnson
Robert Johnson was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League . His son Bob B. Johnson followed in his footsteps and played for the club in the 1950s....
and Hassa Mann
Hassa Mann
Harold Peter "Hassa" Mann is a former Australian rules footballer who played for and captained Melbourne in the VFL during the 1960s. He earned the name Hassa when he was a toddler, from his cousin and future Melbourne footballer Len Mann.A centreman, Mann was recruited from Rutherglen, Victoria...
. He was one of the inaugural inductees in Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame in 2001. Cardwell was also made a life member of the Melbourne Football Club in 1960. Ron Barassi
Ron Barassi
Ronald Dale Barassi, Jr AM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. During a long and decorated career, Barassi has been one of the most important figures in the history of Australian football. His father, Ron Barassi, Sr., was the first Australian footballer killed at Tobruk during...
named Cardwell as one of his "Top five MFC heroes" in 2008.