Player and Administrator

John 'Jack' Melville

Victorian Football Association
DOB: 18 January 1856
DOD: 12 May 1943
Club Secretary: 1892 - 1895, 1901
Carlton Cricket Club Secretary: 1909 - 1939
Career: 1877-1880 (+ other games)

J.Melville played in the Carlton-Waratah match at the M.C.G. July 1 1878

Although it is often hard to track pre-VFL players given the quantity and quality of the source data (generally newspapers), the Blueseum has spent some time clarifying the history of John 'Jack' Melville, a former player and secretary of the Carlton Football Club.

John F Melville started as a 2nd 20 player at Carlton from 1877 - the year of our first VFA Premiership - before retiring in 1880.

1879 At times his coolness suggests indifference, but he has distinguished himself for all that by smart wing play, dodging and kicking splendidly.
(The Footballer 1879. p29)

1880 Played in a few matches now and again throughout the season.
(The Footballer. 1880. p23)

1883 The Argus Saturday 7th. April reports that at the Carlton Football Club general meeting last night, a medal was presented to J. Melville of the Second Twenty.

Later, Melville was on the Committee from 1885 and was secretary from 1892 to 1895, later to again serve in 1901. Melville became Carlton's delegate to the VFL in 1903 where he was a vice president. In addition to his services to football, Melville was also a keen cricketer, representing the Carlton Cricket Club and being its secretary for 30 years between 1909 and 1939. In this capacity, the Blueseum has records of Melville attending the funeral of Carlton Great John Gardiner (See article link below).

There are also records of a John Melville playing three isolated senior games in later years (1886, 1889, 1894). The Blueseum considers it likely that these are the same gentleman, with the possibility that Melville played as a stand-in player on occasion (Much like the story of Jim Balharry, who represented Carlton in a single game whilst being an administrator in 1898).

We also have information on a Charles Melville being a player at Carlton in 1895-6, although it appears from family memories that these gentlemen were not related.

1894 September 8.
The second last game of the season.
Carlton were short of a player and the club's secretary J. Melville stripped and donned the colours to play.
The game was against Melbourne and played at the Blues "new" home ground at the University. Carlton lost.

1896 March 31
At the Carlton AGM,
Mr. A. H. Shaw moved a vote of thanks to Mr. John Melville the out going secretary of the club.

He had been placed in an unenviable position, owing to the fact he had no money at his disposal, which of course had seriously hampered him in his operations.
He would ask the meeting to accord this vote in no mean way, but by acclaimation and with the utmost enthusiasm.
Cr. Cook had much pleasure in seconding the motion.
Mr. Melville had been a most obliging player in addition to the many good services he had rendered. He was willing to play at all times, or willing to stand out also, instead of sneaking way to another club because he happened to be left out of the team now and again, as some others did.
(Cheers.)
In reference to the new ground, Mr. Melville had done an enormous amount of work. The speaker knew that Mr. Melville had been to his house on this errand many and many a time. (a wag here in the hall insinuated that Mr. Melville had another attraction ...(text unreadable)....uproar of laughter that Cr. Cook could not make himself heard for some time.)
Mr. Melville had done the hard work in the hard times, and he would like to see him participate in the good times which he believed were coming.
He sincerely hoped Mr. Balharry would be as successful in the office as John Melville had been.
Mr. Lanyon supported the motion.
The President also spoke warmly in the same strain.
Mr. A. H. Shaw called for three cheers, which were given with utmost enthusiasm.
Mr. Melville said he did not profess to be a speechmaker; he would rather be a doer.
He had been connected with the club for 18 years.
He had chances of leaving the district to better himself, but he did not like to leave the old club. He had done his best in the past and would continue to do his ..... (text unreadable) in the future.
(The Carlton Gazette.)

1924 J. Melville played in an old players match at the M.C.G. on September 26.
He was vice captain of one of the four teams that day and he would have been 68 years old!