Jack Kirby (Australian footballer)

Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Personal information
Full name	John James Kirby
Date of birth	1 July 1889
Place of birth	South Melbourne, Victoria
Date of death	11 March 1939 (aged 49)
Place of death	Carlton, Victoria
Original team(s)	Prahran Juniors
Height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight	70 kg (154 lb)
Position(s)	Small forward, half-back flank
Playing career1
Years	Club
1911–15, 1918	Essendon
	1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1918.
	Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

John James Kirby (1 July 1889 – 11 March 1939) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).^[1]

Kirby was a small forward and is the earliest known player to have kicked a goal with his first kick in the VFL, scored in 1911; this achievement would not be made again for nine years, when Gordon Coventry, an AFL Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame replicated the feat in 1920. Kirby had a good start to his career from a team point of view as well, not experiencing a loss until his 15th game. Kirby topped Essendon's goalkicking table in 1912, with 43 goals, and again the following season when he kicked 29 goals. He was a member of Essendon's premiership teams in 1911 and 1912.^[2]

References

^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 484. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
^ "1912 Premiership". Essendon Football Club.