Jack Bisset
1932-1936
90 games
9 goals
Captain-Coach 1933-1936
Premiership Player 1933
Premiership Coach 1933
Swans Team of the Century (Coach)

When The Herald initiated a series of football lectures given by some of the game's most popular and foremost figures in 1936, they contacted Jack Bisset. The South Melbourne captain-coach delivered a candid and interesting lecture at the South Melbourne Town Hall, well received by the vast crowd.

The turnout far exceeded expectations, reflecting Bisset's standing within the game and the community. At the time, South had six junior football bodies under its direction, with all benefiting from Bisset's insights. Further highlighting his status, others invited to speak at venues across the city were Jock McHale, Checker Hughes and Sid Coventry.

Bisset's journey to the big time was unconventional. Born in the Gippsland township of Longwarry—situated on the eastern edge of the Koo Wee Rup swamp—his family lived in a small workman's cottage directly across the road from where the town's hall now stands. He played football for Longwarry before moving to the Nar Nar Goon Football Club, winning a premiership there in 1924.

After further successful flag-winning stints with Port Melbourne and Stawell, Richmond recruited the 27-year-old Bisset ahead of the 1928 VFL season. Despite playing in the Tigers' Grand Final side, he departed to captain-coach the Nhill Football Club in the Wimmera District Football League before returning to Punt Road in 1931.

After playing in Richmond's losing Grand Final side again, Bisset obtained a clearance to join South Melbourne. A truck driver, he gained employment with South's wealthy and influential vice-president Archie Crofts in his grocery store chain, Crofts Stores. A new coach, Johnny Leonard, had also arrived at the Lake Oval with many talented interstate recruits.

One of Perth's finest footballers and a Sandover Medallist, Leonard brought fellow sandgropers Bill Faul, Brighton Diggins and Gilbert Beard to South. In The Sporting Globe, renowned journalist Hec de Lacy referred to the club for the first time as The Swans due to the influx of Western Australians, and when a sketch by cartoonist Alex Gurney accompanied de Lacy's claim, the moniker stuck.

Bisset arrived as an uncompromising follower, bringing a physical presence to the team. In Bloodstained Angels: The Rise and Fall of the Foreign Legion, Mark Branagan and Mike Lefebvre note, "Bisset was typical of the hulking ruckman who made an art form of exploiting the packed skirmishes down the middle of the ground."

Leonard's methods inspired his players, and they won their first 10 games of the 1932 season. Unfortunately, they didn't finish the year as well as they'd begun, and their loss to Collingwood in the semi-final meant they finished fourth. It was a vast improvement from previous years, but with increased resources and financial support, South Melbourne aimed higher.

Before the 1933 season, Leonard's employer, Ross Faulkner Footballs, redeployed him to Perth, and Bisset was appointed captain-coach of the South Melbourne Football Club. The latest batch of interstate recruits arrived, including Laurie Nash, Johnny Bowe, Ossie Bertram, Jim O'Meara and Frank Davies. They became known as The Foreign Legion, and the newly appointed Bisset faced lofty expectations.

South started the season slowly, sitting precariously in eighth position midway through the year. A lack of cohesion forced Bisset to juggle the team, trying various combinations until he settled on his favoured line-up. At Richmond, he played under the great Checker Hughes, once described as 'the game's greatest psychologist', and despite the criticism coming his way, Bisset remained confident in his team.

By September, the Swans were flying, but tragedy lurked by the lake. During the first quarter of the Round 18 home match against Geelong, Bisset's Dad collapsed while watching his son play. He was attended by ambulance officers but died almost immediately. When Bisset learned of his father's passing during the third quarter, he left the game. Despite a sizeable win, scenes in the rooms afterwards painted a sombre scene.

Incredibly, as the finals commenced just a week later, Bisset gave a stirring half-time address as South trailed Richmond by 29 points. He also made several critical moves, and the Swans cruised home by 18 points, earning a first Grand Final appearance since 1918. Bisset was a shrewd, experienced leader with big-game experience, and he nursed his team through the ensuing two-week break.

The 1933 VFL Grand Final between South Melbourne and Richmond attracted an Australian record crowd of 75,754 supporters. Bisset's Swans played with control and decisiveness to win by 42 points, claiming the club's eighth premiership. The victory over his former team was particularly sweet for Bisset—one of South's best—and the entire South Melbourne community celebrated with him.

According to Reg 'Old Boy' Wilmott in The Argus, "Among those in the South Melbourne room on Saturday was Bill Daly, now the club's timekeeper, who was a member of the team of 1918. He had with him his premiership cap and, before the match, placed it on Jack Bisset's head for luck."

"The South Melbourne team went straight from the Melbourne Cricket Ground in two char-a-bancs to the South Melbourne Town Hall. As the Town Hall was crowded, the speeches were made from the steps, and there was a crowd of 5,000 in the street."

On the opening day of the 1934 season, South unfurled their premiership flag at the Lake Oval in front of 38,000 delirious supporters. Later that year, Bisset was chosen to captain Victoria. The Record reported, "Bisset's selection has given satisfaction to everyone connected with the club. It is a well-earned reward for the magnificent service he has rendered in the ruck this season."

The Swans played consistently again, entering another Grand Final against Richmond. However, things didn't go as planned this time. Bisset and his star-studded team were humbled, losing by 39 points. He later said, "My team's display in the big game of 1934 was a great disappointment to me from many points of view, as I thought they were certainties."

A level of unrest followed that loss, with a handful of star players departing. At South's annual meeting, Bisset was awarded the trophy for the club's most effective player, and some jeered. He returned in 1935 with fierce determination, and in July, Geelong captain Reg Hickey said, "Jack Bisset is the only skipper in the League that I envy. He has the best side I have played against this season, and I expect him to lift the 1935 pennant with South Melbourne."

However, another heartbreaking Grand Final loss coupled with a fractured skull suffered during the game prompted Bisset to say from Prince Henry's Hospital, "I have just about had enough of football. I will give the subject more thought when I am able to think, but I believe I won't be a player next season."

Once recovered, he was unanimously re-elected by the South Melbourne committee for one last season. Typically, Bisset gave it all he had in 1936, named South's best player in their preliminary final win, leading the team to another Grand Final against Collingwood. Tactically sharp, his manoeuvring almost enabled a fine comeback, but ultimately, his Swans lost their third successive Grand Final.

The club felt abject disappointment, and Bisset retired after 63 wins from 80 games as coach, with his outstanding record earning him the honour of coach in the Swans Team of the Century. In 1940, Bisset enlisted in the 2nd AIF after fudging his age by two years. He served for 16 months before returning home to his wife, Bridget and their two children. In 1966, Bisset passed away in Melbourne at the age of 65.