Quick Facts
Biography
Jack Cassin (1 July 1915 – 3 September 1994) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
His son John later played for Essendon from 1971 to 1974.
Recruit
Cassin was recruited to Essendon from Seville Football Club, having previously played for Wandin Football Club.
Although he was residentially tied to Richmond, Richmond had expressed no interest in him and, also, some Fitzroy officials had gone to see him play the week before he was signed by Essendon, and had left the match without even speaking to him.
Debut
He made his debut against Carlton at Princes Park on 9 May 1936, when Carlton thrashed Essendon 21.19 (145) to 5.13 (43).[1]
Career with Essendon
Cassin was mainly used in the first ruck, combining well with Hugh Torney, and his hard and tenacious style of play meant that he was a controversial figure during his career, often having to visit the tribunal and, even once, was attacked on the field by an angry opposition supporter.
Record
His football record is impressive:
- 1934: Wandin Football Club.
- 1935: Seville Football Club.
- 1936: Essendon Football Club, 8 senior games.
- 1937: Essendon Football Club, 14 senior games.
- 1938: Essendon Football Club, 12 senior games.
- 1939: Essendon Football Club, 17 senior games, plus 1 game as reserve (not called on to play).
- 1940: Essendon Football Club, 16 senior games, plus 2 finals matches.
- 1941: Essendon Football Club, 12 senior games, suspended 4 matches, plus 3 finals matches, including losing Grand Final team (Melbourne 19.13 (127) to Essendon's 13.20 (98)).
- Represented Victoria against South Australia.
- 1942: Essendon Football Club, 10 senior games, plus 2 finals matches, including winning Grand Final team (Essendon 19.18 (132) to 11.13 (79),19.13 (127) to Richmond's 13.20 (98)).
- 1943: Essendon Football Club, 12 senior games, plus 2 finals matches, including losing Grand Final team (Richmond 12.14 (86) to Essendon's 11.15 (81)).
- Runner-up to Dick Reynolds in Essendon's Best and Fairest.
- 1944: Essendon Football Club, 17 senior games, plus 2 finals matches, including losing Grand Final team (Richmond 16.12 (108) to Essendon's 12.15 (87)).
- 1945: Did not play, war service.
- 1946: Essendon Football Club, 17 senior games, plus 3 finals matches, including a drawn Second Semi Final (Essendon 14.16 (100) to Collingwood 13.22 (100), and the winning Grand Final team (Essendon 22.18 (150) to Melbourne's 13.9 (87)).
- Made a life Member of the Essendon Football Club.
- 1947: Essendon Football Club, no senior games, 1 finals match, in a Grand Final team that lost by just one point (Carlton 13.8 (86) to Essendon's 11.19 (85)). [1] 1947 VFL Grand Final
- 1948: Euroa Football Club, captain-coach.
- 1949: Colac Football Club, captain-coach.
- 1950: Colac Football Club, captain-coach.
- Cassin was recalled to senior team for Grand Final match, after retiring from senior team, and spending season as captain-coach of the Reserves, due to extensive player injuries to those on Essendon's senior list.