SA Footy

It is with great sadness that I am told that perhaps South Adelaides' greatest player and a giant of the SANFl, Jim Deane passed away last night. Jim had been in a nursing home for some time.

PLAYING RECORD:
• 157 games and 95 goals for South Adelaide 1945 - 1953, 1956 - 1957
• 33 games and 17 goals for Richmond 1954 - 1955
• Captain of South Adelaide, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1957

MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 14

ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Magarey Medallist 1953, 1957 (runner up in 1949, 1950, 1951)
• Six time best and fairest for South Adelaide, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1957
• Tomkins Medallist 1945
• Life member of South Adelaide 1956
. SAFC Hall of fame.
. All Australian 1951/52/53 while at South Adelaide
. All Australian 1954 while at Richmond.


COACHING RECORD:
• Coached South Adelaide, 1951 - 1953, 1970 - 1971

IT is worth noting that Jims' playing career coincided with the likes of Head ,Hank,Quinn and Fitzgerald and that Magareys Medals were not easy to win in such company, especially when your club was consistently at the bottom of the premiership ladder.; to have won two and been runner-up on 3 occasions during this era demonstrates that he was a truly great player.
Many will recall Jims commentating days on ABC radio where he was as enthusiastic and colorful as he was in real life.
Jim cast a giant shadow over our Grand old club and he will be sadly missed, when he was fit he hardly missed a match in recent years.;

Deepest sympathy to Jims' family and friends.

This is a truly sad day for this ol' "Yeeow".

Very sad to hear.
A wonderful servant of the game.
Vale.

Very sad news, thoughts with the SAFC community and Jim's family.

Very sad to hear - a true legend of the SANFL

Very sad news. Nice write up B+W.

Seems to have been quite a few significant South people pass away this year.

A sad sad day for the SAFC, one of the true legends of the club, As the Salvation Army says - promoted to glory.

Words can't describe how sad I feel at present.

That man "WAS SOUTH ADELAIDE".

RIP JIM

a sad day for south adelaide and footy in general

runner up 3 years for the Magarey Medal? Could easily have won 5!! Who was he runner up to those 3 times?

A sad year for the South Adelaide

My thoughts are with his family and the South Adelaide community at this time

A very sad passing of a SA Football Legend!

Very sad news, one of my favourite non Port Adelaide football people, and my favourite all time radio commentator, RIP Jim.

GWW wrote:...one of my favourite non Port Adelaide football people...

Only just!

Would've been interesting to see how he would've gone as Port coach had South not blocked his clearance.

Port's fallback option did alright...

CENTURION wrote:runner up 3 years for the Magarey Medal? Could easily have won 5!! Who was he runner up to those 3 times?

1949 - Ron Phillips (North) & Alan Crabb (Glenelg)
1950 - Ian Mackay (North)
1951 - John Marriott (Norwood)

Sad, sad news.

My father-in-law would always point out Jim walking along Henley Beach foreshore with his walking frame. Apparently he did this every day right up until he went into full time care.

Jim was a lovely man who gave his heart and soul to the club. Our grandstand is fittingly named in his honor.

When my children were younger, especially my two girls I would sit with them in the grandstand. As I would leave to seek refreshment or go on the ground, Jim who sat with old team mates and friends, would say that he would keep an eye on them. He never spoke about how good he was but continued to support the newer players.

Vale.

Sad news indeed...

Condolences to the Deane family and the South Adelaide Football club...

sad to lose another legend of the sanfl.

Huge loss to the Southies and the SANFL in general.

Was still one of the most high profile Panthers out there.

Great player, wonderful radio caller and a really nice man. Jimmy loved the South Adelaide Football Club and the club rightly named our Grand Stand and entertainment venue after him, Jimmy like Allan Hickinbotham and Colin Francis are names of people who have left a lifelong legacy at SAFC and indeed the broader football community and therefore will not be forgotten.

spot on Darls.
The SAFC has lost 3 great men in the last few months, wonderful contributors to the club over many,many years. Jim Deane probably had a higher public profile than Col Francis and Alan Hickinbotham in that he was by all accounts a very, very gifted footballer. My father saw him play at his peak and in a side that was getting belted most weeks he shone out like a beacon.He was in todays terms "a ball-magnet" and possessed a booming kick and a great "stab pass" as well.

Apart from his enormous ability he was truly a wonderful person. He would literally speak to anyone and I confess to having a chat about footy with him once or twice while next to him at the urinal. I was lucky enough to be seated at the same table as Jim a few years ago at a Presidents lunch at Noarlunga. My friend and I were immediately in awe- just to be seated at the same table as Jim Deane was a great thrill for two proud southies. To our absolute disbelief ,Jim got to his feet,walked around the table (he was struggling physically) shook our hands and introduced himself to us.....we were absolutely astounded;I said to him that he did not need to introduce himself to us as we were well aware of who he was! We proceded to have a great chat about footy in general. It was one of those memories I shall never forget.

His passing is a huge loss for the SAFC.
It is comparable to Port losing Ebert or North losing Robran

.RIP JIM DEANE.