John Burns (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Burns is a former Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne
and Geelong
in the VFL
during the 1970s.
Prior to joining North Melbourne, Burns played with East Launceston
in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association
with whom he won both the competition and club Best and Fairest in 1969. That year he also represented the Tasmanian interstate team at the Adelaide Carnival
. From 1970 he spent four seasons with East Perth
and played in their 1972 premiership side. While in Western Australia he represented the state in two interstate matches.
A centreman, Burns crossed to North Melbourne in 1973 and went on to play in three successive Grand Finals, culminating in a premiership in 1975. He performed well in the 1975 Grand Final
, kicking four goals. In both 1975 and 1976 he polled well in the Brownlow Medal, finishing as North Melbourne's second biggest vote getter each year. He finished his career with a brief stint at Geelong.
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
and Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
during the 1970s.
Prior to joining North Melbourne, Burns played with East Launceston
South Launceston Football Club
The South Launceston Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently competing in the Tasmanian Football League. They were formed through a merger between City-South and East Launceston in 1986, former Northern Tasmanian Football Association clubs...
in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association
Northern Tasmanian Football Association (1886 - 1986)
The Northern Tasmanian Football Association was an Australian rules football competition which ran from 1886 to 1986. In its time it was one of the three main leagues in Tasmania, with the Tasmanian Football League and North West Football Union representing the rest of the state...
with whom he won both the competition and club Best and Fairest in 1969. That year he also represented the Tasmanian interstate team at the Adelaide Carnival
1969 Adelaide Carnival
The 1969 Adelaide Carnival was the 17th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition....
. From 1970 he spent four seasons with 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...
and played in their 1972 premiership side. While in Western Australia he represented the state in two interstate matches.
A centreman, Burns crossed to North Melbourne in 1973 and went on to play in three successive Grand Finals, culminating in a premiership in 1975. He performed well in the 1975 Grand Final
1975 VFL Grand Final
The 1975 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the North Melbourne Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 27 September 1975. It was the 79th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
, kicking four goals. In both 1975 and 1976 he polled well in the Brownlow Medal, finishing as North Melbourne's second biggest vote getter each year. He finished his career with a brief stint at Geelong.