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Jack Titus
Jack "Skinny" Titus (9 March 1908 – 19 April 1978) was an Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club. In the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with his goalkicking feats. A lightly built player who seemed at first glance to be too frail for the robust game of Australian football, Titus proved to be one of the great survivors of the game as he set the record for durability (most consecutive games played) that remained unbeaten for half a century. Titus continued to serve Richmond for decades after his retirement, a fact acknowledged by the Australian Football League (AFL), which annually presents the "Jack Titus Service Award" for outstanding service to the game.
Titus originally played football with the Castlemaine Technical School in the early 1920's, prior to playing with Castlemaine. After the death of his father, Syd in 1916, Titus later moved to Melbourne with his mother when he was 14 years old and he was noticed by the Tigers' brilliant committeeman, Tommy Gaughwin and in 1925 at age 17 and was invited to play with the Richmond reserves, then known as 'The Cubs'. However, Titus' build caused concern. At just 175 cm and a bit more than 60 kg, Titus would not be considered a potential talent in the modern AFL, let alone play a key forward position as he did then. The Tigers persevered with Titus in "The Cubs" because of his excellent ball-winning ability and innate goal sense, and hoped that he would gain size as he got older.
Titus' early career was a battle for recognition at a powerful club with a number of excellent forwards. He played five senior games in 1926, and a single game in round one, the following year in 1927, but missed selection in the finals as the team finished runner-up in the 1927 VFL Grand Final.
He attracted notice by winning the reserves best and fairest in 1928, a performance that won him a place in the Tigers' semi-final team. He booted six goals in a match-winning performance and then kicked two goals in the 1928 VFL grand final when Richmond went down to Collingwood for the second consecutive time.
By 1929, Titus had established himself in the senior side's forward line, playing alongside Jack Baggott. He won the club best and fairest award, the Mallee Johnson Cup and led the club's goalkicking for the first time, but was held goalless in the 1929 VFL Grand Final as the Tigers lost yet again. The Tigers used him as a flanker or in the pocket during the next few years as they desperately sought a combination that could break the jinx of a succession of grand final losses. Finally, Richmond broke through for a premiership in the 1932 VFL Grand Final and Titus was a member of the team.
In 1933 and 1934, Richmond faced South Melbourne in two Grand Finals, billed as a battle of the best defence (Richmond) against the best attack (South Melbourne). The Swans triumphed the 1933 VFL Grand Final, but Titus was instrumental in his team gaining revenge in the 1934 VFL Grand Final, with both Titus and his rival Bob Pratt, full-forward both kicking six goals in the match.
For the remainder of his career, Titus was a consistent goalkicker and the team's full-forward, even though he regularly conceded several inches to taller opponents and his weight never exceeded 66 kg. His record emphasises consistency rather than big "bags" of goals, although he did have a number of notable individual performances.
As Richmond's success rate slowed, he maintained his output, booting 83 goals in 1935, 84 in 1936, 65 in 1937, 72 in 1938 and 48 in 1939. By now a veteran of the team, he provided leadership to the younger players and a cool head during the big games. Although protected by the bigger players in the team, such as Jack Dyer, Titus could handle himself and always seemed to emerge from incidents unscathed. Indeed, his ability to front up to play every week became central to his legend as a player.
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Jack Titus
Jack "Skinny" Titus (9 March 1908 – 19 April 1978) was an Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club. In the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with his goalkicking feats. A lightly built player who seemed at first glance to be too frail for the robust game of Australian football, Titus proved to be one of the great survivors of the game as he set the record for durability (most consecutive games played) that remained unbeaten for half a century. Titus continued to serve Richmond for decades after his retirement, a fact acknowledged by the Australian Football League (AFL), which annually presents the "Jack Titus Service Award" for outstanding service to the game.
Titus originally played football with the Castlemaine Technical School in the early 1920's, prior to playing with Castlemaine. After the death of his father, Syd in 1916, Titus later moved to Melbourne with his mother when he was 14 years old and he was noticed by the Tigers' brilliant committeeman, Tommy Gaughwin and in 1925 at age 17 and was invited to play with the Richmond reserves, then known as 'The Cubs'. However, Titus' build caused concern. At just 175 cm and a bit more than 60 kg, Titus would not be considered a potential talent in the modern AFL, let alone play a key forward position as he did then. The Tigers persevered with Titus in "The Cubs" because of his excellent ball-winning ability and innate goal sense, and hoped that he would gain size as he got older.
Titus' early career was a battle for recognition at a powerful club with a number of excellent forwards. He played five senior games in 1926, and a single game in round one, the following year in 1927, but missed selection in the finals as the team finished runner-up in the 1927 VFL Grand Final.
He attracted notice by winning the reserves best and fairest in 1928, a performance that won him a place in the Tigers' semi-final team. He booted six goals in a match-winning performance and then kicked two goals in the 1928 VFL grand final when Richmond went down to Collingwood for the second consecutive time.
By 1929, Titus had established himself in the senior side's forward line, playing alongside Jack Baggott. He won the club best and fairest award, the Mallee Johnson Cup and led the club's goalkicking for the first time, but was held goalless in the 1929 VFL Grand Final as the Tigers lost yet again. The Tigers used him as a flanker or in the pocket during the next few years as they desperately sought a combination that could break the jinx of a succession of grand final losses. Finally, Richmond broke through for a premiership in the 1932 VFL Grand Final and Titus was a member of the team.
In 1933 and 1934, Richmond faced South Melbourne in two Grand Finals, billed as a battle of the best defence (Richmond) against the best attack (South Melbourne). The Swans triumphed the 1933 VFL Grand Final, but Titus was instrumental in his team gaining revenge in the 1934 VFL Grand Final, with both Titus and his rival Bob Pratt, full-forward both kicking six goals in the match.
For the remainder of his career, Titus was a consistent goalkicker and the team's full-forward, even though he regularly conceded several inches to taller opponents and his weight never exceeded 66 kg. His record emphasises consistency rather than big "bags" of goals, although he did have a number of notable individual performances.
As Richmond's success rate slowed, he maintained his output, booting 83 goals in 1935, 84 in 1936, 65 in 1937, 72 in 1938 and 48 in 1939. By now a veteran of the team, he provided leadership to the younger players and a cool head during the big games. Although protected by the bigger players in the team, such as Jack Dyer, Titus could handle himself and always seemed to emerge from incidents unscathed. Indeed, his ability to front up to play every week became central to his legend as a player.