John Daly (footballer, born 1870)

John Dominik "Bunny" Daly (1870 – 26 June 1913) was an Australian rules footballer prominent in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) during its developmental years between 1887 and 1903.

John Daly
Personal information
Full name John Dominik Daly
Nickname(s) Bunny
Date of birth 1870
Date of death 26 June 1913[1]
Place of death Adelaide
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1887–1898 Norwood 119 (12)
1899–1904 West Adelaide 56 (9)
Total 175 (21)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1899–1904 West Adelaide (SAFL) 81 (19–61–1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1904.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Norwood edit

Daly played his first match for Norwood as a 17-year-old in 1887, in a holiday exhibition match against Port Adelaide. In front of 15,000 spectators the debutant displayed an exciting running, dodging type of game for which he would become famous.

A creative rover, he was both deceptive (he loved to fake to kick, only to then recover and play on around the player) and an excellent user of the drop-kick to set the ball to his forwards.

Daly played in four premierships with Norwood, including the hat-trick between 1887 and 1889. He topped the club's goalkicking in 1887 and was awarded the best player trophy in 1897.[2]

After playing twelve seasons for Norwood, Daly found himself forced to move to West Adelaide by a change of rules by the South Australian Football Association (as the SANFL was then named). The Association required players to play for the side representing the electoral district in which the player resided. This placed Daly with the lowly performing West Adelaide side.

West Adelaide edit

Daly was appointed captain-coach of West Adelaide, and although his brilliant style of play continued, he was unable to raise them to any extent up the premiership table.

Daly retired in 1904, after a total of 175 SAFA games. He represented his State seven times.

Honours edit

He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He is the brother of Anthony "Bos" Daly, who was also inducted in the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.

References edit

  1. ^ "Family Notices". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 28 June 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  2. ^ "FOOTBALL". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. XL, no. 12305. South Australia. 26 March 1898. p. 6. Retrieved 26 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  • Ross, John (1999). The Australian Football Hall of Fame. Australia: HarperCollinsPublishers. p. 57. ISBN 0-7322-6426-X.

External links edit