ST KILDA Football Club is mourning the passing of Jim Ross.
Ross was a member of the club’s Hall of Fame, Team of the Century and was a life member of the St Kilda Football Club.
Ross, who died one month short of his 88th birthday this week, won three Saints best and fairest awards and booted 171 goals in 139 games for the club as a centre half forward and ruckman. Only three men – Nick Riewoldt, Bill Cubbins and Robert Harvey have won more best and fairests in the club’s 142-year history.
Ross was a tremendous footballer in an era of limited success for St Kilda, playing state football for Victoria on four occasions and leading the Saints goal kicking in 1954.
As a five-year-old, Ross and his eight siblings moved to Elwood from Mildura. He grew up in the same street as Australian cricketer Keith Miller and St Kilda champion Bill Cubbins, and would often carry Cubbins’ bag to the Junction Oval in order to get free entry.
After a stint for St Kilda’s thirds and Ringwood, he was drafted to the Saints and debuted against North Melbourne in 1946.
He was almost lost to St Kilda in 1949 when South Melbourne questioned his residential qualifications, but the protest was eventually dropped.
At the age of 26 and still in his prime, he took up a coaching offer for North Launceston in Tasmania and never played VFL football again.
Following a quiet first season in Tasmania, he won the North Tasmania Football Association best and fairest in 1956 and 1958 and represented Tasmania 11 times.
He won All-Australian selection in 1958, was named on the bench in St Kilda’s team of the century and was widely regarded as one of the most effective key position players of his era.
Later, Ross bought the Enfield Hotel in the middle of Launceston. The pub would go on to become one of the most popular watering holes in Tasmania.
On behalf of everyone involved in St Kilda Football Club, we extend our deepest sympathies to Ross’ family and close friends.
Jim Ross
Born: October 18, 1927
Height: 183cm
Weight: 80kgs
Goals: 171
Games: 139
Debut: Round 1, 1946
Best club spirit 1947, 1950, 1953
Most consistent 1948
Best and fairest 1949, 1951, 1952
