Vale Bruce Jarrett

SANFL is mourning the passing of Player Life Member Bruce Jarrett.

Awarded SANFL Player Life Membership in 1974, Bruce played in four premierships for the Double Blues while playing 171 League matches and booting 18 goals between 1959 and 1970.

Earning Sturt Player Life Membership in 1966, the disciplined defender also represented South Australia for one match in 1965.

SANFL extends its deepest sympathy to the Jarrett family as it honours Bruce’s outstanding service to the game in South Australia.

Playing Record:

• Sturt 1959 – 1970, 171 games and 18 goals

Interstate Matches:

1 match for South Australia, 1965

Premierships:

• Member of Premiership team for Sturt, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969

Achievements:

• Sturt Player Life Membership, 1966
• SANFL Player Life Member, 1974
• Jack Oatey Vintage 21 Team

Bruce Jarrett was born on 19 February 1940 and commenced football at Scotch College where he Captained the First team.

Bruce’s father, Grant Jarrett, had a tremendous influence on Bruce’s football career. Grant played 44 league games for Sturt during the 1930’s mostly at centre-half-back and was a member of the 1936 Grand Final team that lost to Port Adelaide by 3 points.

Bruce Jarrett (pictured right) was recruited from Scotch College by Sturt in 1958 and he was a member of the undefeated Sturt Senior Colts team, that won the Premiership that year. Rick Schoff, Roger Rigney, Geoff Green and Robin Sangster were also members of Sturt’s 1958 Senior Colts team, who all went on to play in Sturt’s League team.

Sturt 1959-1970

Bruce was first chosen in the Sturt League team in Round 17 on 29 August 1959, against Port Adelaide at Alberton. He was 19 years old when he debuted for Sturt and played 3 League games in his first year. Sturt finished fourth, after losing the First Semi-Final against Glenelg by 1 point, under first year Coach, Glynn Williams, brother of Port Adelaide Legend, Fos Williams.

In 1960, Bruce Jarrett played in 7 League games, with Sturt finishing sixth. In 1961, after a decline in his form, Bruce decided to leave Sturt and play parklands football with Mitcham.

Jack Oatey was appointed Coach of Sturt in 1962 and he contacted Bruce to invite him back to have another try. Jack instilled a self-belief in the players and focused on teaching them the skills of the game. Sturt finishing seventh in 1962, sixth in 1963, third in 1964, after losing the Preliminary Final to eventual Premier, South Adelaide, by 41 points.

Bruce Jarrett debuted for South Australia in 1965, at full-back against Victoria, on Adelaide Oval. Sturt finishing second, after losing the 1965 Grand Final to Port Adelaide by 3 points.

Bruce initially played in a number of positions including ruck, half-forward, centre half-back and full-back. It was at full-back that he is remembered best, playing in that position in 4 Premierships with Sturt from 1966 to 1969.

He was a mean, tenacious, old fashioned style full-back, who was steady and reliable in everything he did. Bruce typically did not collect many possessions during the course of a game, but neither did his direct opponents. There was never any doubt that his input was invaluable. Bruce Jarrett played his 100^th game for Sturt in 1966.

• 1966 Grand Final, Sturt outpaced and outplayed Port Adelaide to win by 56 points. Sturt’s win avenged the previous year’s Grand Final loss to Port Adelaide. It was the culmination of years of planning, dedication and effort by Sturt’s management committee, Coach Jack Oatey and his players. It was the club’s first premiership since 1940 and their sixth League Premiership.

• 1967 Grand Final, Sturt win against their arch rival Port Adelaide by 11 points. Sturt win back-to-back premierships for the first time.

• 1968 Grand Final, Sturt achieve three premierships in a row beating Port Adelaide again to win by 27 points.

• 1969 Grand Final, Sturt were too strong for Glenelg to win their fourth successive premiership by 65 points.

Champion Sturt full back Bruce Jarrett had a wonderful understanding with back pocket great Brenton Adcock. They both had the ability to read each other’s game and they worked well together in defence.

During the 1970 season, Bruce Jarrett was offered a transfer with his employment to Sydney, which he accepted. This meant that he did not play in the 1970 Grand Final, which Sturt won. Bruce ended his football career at Sturt after twelve seasons and playing 171 games.

Jack Oatey once said to Bruce’s father; “Your son is one of the most disciplined players I have ever seen”.

Sources of information:

 “Sturt Football Club, History” Website

“Sturt Football Club, Throwback Thursday” Facebook 27 April 2017

“The Old Double Blues, Celebrating the men of Sturt” by Angel Fernandez

“True Blue, The History of the Sturt Football Club” by John Lysikatos

“A Century of Sturt” by John Lysikatos

 “Spearhead, Sturt’s 1966, Minor Premiers Souvenir” by the Sturt Football Club Inc.

“The Complete Book of SANFL Records, 1990 Edition” compiled by Dion Hayman

“The South Australian Football Record Year Books”, various editions