Jim Caldwell
1909-1919
155 games
34 goals
Premiership Player 1918
Captain 1918-1919
Coach 1929

In the early 1900s, Williamstown, Melbourne’s original sea port, was an industrialised hub that had seen its population double over the preceding few years. The town’s football club, established in 1864, had already developed many champion players. After his junior days with Williamstown CYMS and Yarraville, Jim Caldwell played two years with Williamstown in the VFA, playing in their first premiership in 1907.

A player of such repute didn’t take long to catch the eye of league recruiters, and South Melbourne secured his services ahead of the 1909 season. He was already regarded as one of Victoria’s best footballers. He joined a team that included fellow Swans Hall of Famers Charlie Ricketts, Vic Belcher, Len Mortimer, Arthur Hiskins and Bill Thomas.

Caldwell, a dashing wingman, came into the team to replace long-serving South Melbourne great Herb Howson and took to the role with verve. Extremely quick, with a beautiful, long drop-kick executed with either foot, he quickly became one of the team’s key players, playing 19 games in a team that finished the season on top of the VFL ladder.

Those were the days before the season culminated in a Grand Final. South and Carlton had won their way through to the ‘final’ after their respective semi-final victories. Carlton won the game by 22 points. South, as the season’s top team, had the right to challenge the Blues in what was to be the ‘Grand Final’ the following week.

However, Caldwell would not take part in the re-match. A report in The Argus states, “The final was a strenuous game with plenty of good, hard knocks.” In South’s 22-point loss to Carlton, Caldwell received a heavy hit behind the ear just before halftime, and the doctor assessed him in the rooms. He went back out despite a diagnosis of shock, concussion and erratic behaviour.

His teammate, Bill Moxham, said, “When I went across to change wings with him, Jim said, ‘What are you doing here? I’m working here; I’ve been working here all day’. He would not change with me, so I went back to the other wing and played there. Caldwell was acting silly.”

During the third quarter, Caldwell dealt his opponent, George Bruce, a heavy blow to the head, and after being reported by the umpire, to which he did not respond, he struck Bruce again. Despite Caldwell claiming to have no recollection of the second half, the VFL‘s investigation committee found him guilty of rough play. It suspended him for nine matches, resulting in him missing the premiership decider, which, ultimately, the young South Melbourne team won by two points.

Overcoming the disappointment of missing South’s first VFL premiership and first flag in 19 years drove Caldwell to become a regular Victorian representative, and his pace, precision and aggression ensured he became an invaluable member of the Southerners team that would play in the next five finals series.

In 1912, Caldwell got his first chance to play in a VFL Grand Final. Led again by 1909 captain-coach Charlie Ricketts, South faced Essendon in front of a massive crowd of 54,463. In a scrappy affair, Essendon won by 14 points. In 1914, The Southerners again finished the year as runner-up, this time going down to Carlton by six points.

It was a period of great excitement for Caldwell, though, as he married Clara Hayes in August 1912. The Williamstown Chronicle described the event as ‘a very pretty wedding celebrated at North Williamstown Presbyterian Church.’ In 1913, their daughter Edna was born, followed four years later by their son, John.

Undoubtedly, the most significant event that affected football from 1915-1918 was the outbreak of World War I. Many thought the competition should cease, and in June 1915, football writer ‘Old Boy’ said in The Argus, “Under normal circumstances, the game had its place, but not when the flower of our land has gone to fight that we may live in peace.”

In 1916, South Melbourne was one of five ‘patriotic clubs’ to withdraw from the VFL competition. When his friend and former teammate, 21-year-old Norman Bradford, lost his life in the battle at Pozieres, Caldwell paid tribute in The Argus, “He died as he lived—a hero and a man. To know him was to love him.”

Ahead of the 1918 season, South’s playing stocks appeared thinner than usual due to the war, with strong leadership required. Herb Howson was appointed coach, with ‘Sonny’ Elms as his assistant. Vic Belcher filled the vice-captain’s role, and Caldwell was appointed South Melbourne captain at the peak of his playing powers.

In August, with South enjoying a dominant season, ‘Rover’ wrote in The Weekly Times, “Although this is Caldwell’s first season in the office of captain, he already commands the loyalty of his men and inspires their admiration. A skipper like Caldwell recognises by a kind of intuition when his players are overtaxed or are capable of doing a bit more.”

Now playing as a rover, Caldwell won league-wide acclaim for his skill and ability to lead. In The Australasian, John Worrall said, “It is many years since a more gifted, all-round player or better captain has played the game than Caldwell.”

On an ideal day for football, South Melbourne played Collingwood in the 1918 Grand Final. A portion of the MCG grandstand was reserved for uniformed soldiers who were admitted for free, and the attendance of 39,168 was a wartime record.

The superb match was keenly fought, and with less than three minutes to play, the Magpies scored a behind to lead by that solitary point. With just seconds remaining, a scramble at the teeth of the goal resulted in South forward Chris Laird snapping through the match-winning goal. Caldwell roved brilliantly all day while leading the club to its seventh premiership.

Equally skilled, versatile and determined, Caldwell was celebrated as one of the game’s finest exponents. ‘Rover’ said, “The popular Southman plays a breezy game that is good to watch. He is very fast, and his skill in passing by hand is only excelled by his clever and accurate stab-kicking.”

He captained the club again in 1919, to a third-place finish, before leaving the Lake Oval to join Footscray and then Williamstown in the VFA. In 1929, Caldwell returned to South Melbourne as the club’s senior coach. In The Sporting Globe, C.S. Sharland reported, “Jim Caldwell will exercise firm control of a fast and evenly balanced team.”

However, late in the season, Caldwell was ‘invited to resign’, being replaced by Fred Fleiter for the remainder. In August, Caldwell was admitted to the Melbourne Hospital with internal troubles, believed to be an infection, and three weeks later, aged 40, he passed away.

The football world received news of his unexpected death with deep sympathy, and Caldwell is remembered as one of South Melbourne’s premier players of his era. The Weekly Times reported, “Southmen will long remember Caldwell’s services to the club and his admirable leadership in 1918.”

Eight years after his passing, Jim’s wife, Clara, and their two children returned to the district when she assumed control of local pub, The Star and Garter Hotel, with the family enjoying a return to the company of old friends.