Considered by many to be the greatest full-back in the history of the game, John Vincent Regan played 196 games for Collingwood in the 1930s and 40s. “Jack” redefined the role of a full-back to one that included taking massive marks and moving the ball up the ground with thumping kicks.
Known as ‘Prince of full-backs’, Regan was a two-time premiership winner (1935, 1936), captain of the club (1940-41, 1943) and the best and fairest winner (1936).
Regan passed away in 1988 and left a legacy that will remain at the club forever.
The player who finishes fifth in the Copeland Trophy voting will be awarded the Jack Regan Trophy. Last year’s winner, Heath Shaw, remarked on the night that, “to win this award named after a legend of the club is a tremendous honour.”
“He obviously made a huge contribution to Collingwood’s success at his time at the club.”
When the AFL Team of the Century was announced in 1996, Regan was famously excluded from the side which infuriated AFL supporters and players alike. His exclusion instigated the concept of having a Collingwood team of the century with Regan’s name first on the list.
In Regan’s fifth season with the club, the Magpies opened their account with a narrow two-point win against South Melbourne and Bob Pratt at Victoria Park on a Saturday afternoon. Regan had the better of Pratt that day holding the 1934 leading goal kicker to just four majors. The two sides met again in round 12 at Albert Park with the “Bloods” taking the honours on the back of Pratt’s 10-goal haul.
At the season’s conclusion, Collingwood finished second on the ladder leaving them pitted against South Melbourne in the first semi-final match. Pratt and Regan duelled for most of the day with the forward kicking six goals in a 21-point win.
Collingwood was convincing in the preliminary final against Richmond ensuring a grand final appearance and a match-up against South Melbourne, a game everyone was hoping would happen.
Regan was preparing for a bruising encounter with his foe on Saturday at the MCG but a freak accident involving the forward forced him to miss the match. Pratt was hit by a truck crossing High St in Prahran and was forced to miss the match with an ankle injury.
54,154 witnessed Collingwood come from behind early to win by a 20-point margin in what was their 11th flag. Regan was named as one of the best on the day, keeping South Melbourne’s forward line in-check.
Regan continued his career for eight more seasons which were interrupted in the latter stages by his service in World War II. The defender continued working for the club once his playing days were over, holding the position of secretary from 1969 to 1977.
On October 3rd, 2008 a current Collingwood player will leave the Copeland Trophy night with a medal named in honour of the a champion of the Collingwood Football Club, the ‘Prince of full-backs’.
Information used to compile this article was sourced from “The Official Collingwood Illustrated Encyclopaedia” which can be purchased at the Collingwood Superstore.
