MORIARTY, Jack

Jack Moriarty came to Essendon from Essendon 'A' where he had played in 1921.

He was short for a full-forward at only 178 cm, so played more as a goal sneak rather than as a high-marking, leading forward.

Moriarty had kicked 36 goals in only 13 games in 1922, but was surprisingly dropped for the preliminary final to make way for Greg Stockdale who went on to kick five goals in the loss to Fitzroy.

Stockdale continued to play so well in that position that Moriarty could not regain his place in the team in 1923 and he languished in the Seconds. Discouraged, he transferred to Fitzroy where his father and uncle had played, and he became one of the greatest full-forwards of all time. Moriarty kicked seven goals in his first three games for Fitzroy and topped the League with 82 goals, the highest tally by any player to that time.

In all Moriarty played 157 games at Fitzroy, kicking 626 goals and was their leading goalkicker in nine of the 10 seasons he played there. He won their best and fairest award in 1927 and was named in Fitzroy's Team of the Century. He also represented Victoria eleven times and was the League's leading goalkicker in 1924..

In a bizarre incident, he became ill while playing for Fitzroy against Carlton after he accepted a piece of chewing gum from a supporter - the gum had been poisoned.

Moriarty rates as one of Essendon's worst selection mistakes. His father, Geoff, played 106 games for Fitzroy, and his uncle, Dan, played 74 games for Fitzroy and Melbourne.

He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Moriarty died on 5th September, 1980.