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A look at Jimmy Melbourne

By Mr Dandalooa

Born in circa 1876, Jimmy Melbourne was the first indigenous Australian to play senior Aussie Rules football in a major football competition.

Melbourne played his first match for West Perth against East Fremantle in the Western Australian Football Association on June 2 1900, the first time an Aboriginal had played football at such a high level.

The following year he played in his side’s premiership victory.

Melbourne later moved to South Fremantle in 1902, where he played just four games before getting picked up by Subiaco where he stayed for several years.

In 1907, he went down south and played in the Collie Football Association, before moving again to the Bunbury Football Association where he played until 1908.

Melbourne, who was orphaned 4 years of age and spent his formative years in a Middle Swan orphanage before being put into the care of various businessmen in York, was also an accomplished boxer and professional runner.

As a teenager, he was an accomplished jockey and spent time in prison for petty crimes including stealing, cashing a cheque, passing counterfeit coins, and escaping from a lock-up.

After giving football, Melbourne moved to Melbourne in Victoria where he joined the Australian Imperial Force at the outbreak of World War I.

Melbourne was murdered at his home in South Melbourne on December 13 1937, although it is not clear as to why.

His landlord at the time was convicted of the football legend’s manslaughter and sentenced to 5 years’ in prison, although a motive is not known.

Since 2007, Melbourne’s was honoured with the Jimmy Melbourne Cup being awarded to the winners of a game played between South Fremantle and Claremont during National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee Week.

These are the two WAFL clubs that have featured the most Aboriginal players.

Melbourne is buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery in Melbourne.