Dyer was born in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh on November 13, 1913.
Soon afterwards, the family moved to a small farm at Yarra Junction about 80km from Melbourne.
At 12, he bought his first pair of football boots and was soon playing with grown men in the Upper Yarra Valley competition. In 1927, Dyer's parents moved to Melbourne.
The boy was 14 and had to leave school to help with the family finances.
Tiger supporters worshiped him, the opposition despised him, either way Jack Dyer was a master of the game. He was fast for a ruckman and his marking and kicking ability were superb. He made great use of the crunching hip and shoulder, but in 312 games Jack was only ever reported once. Dubbed "Captain Blood" after a game against Fitzroy in which he flattened three players, Jack took no prisoners.
Dyer was club captain 1941-49, coach from 1941-52 and added six Best and Fairest awards to his name. He was one of the toughest ruckman ever to have played the game.
Nickname: Captain Blood
Games: 312 (1931-49)
Captain: 1941-49
Goals: 443
Coach:1941-52
Best and Fairest: 6 (32,37,38,39,40,46)
Premierships: 2
State representative: 2 (1941,49)
The nickname 'Captain Blood' says almost everything which needs to be said: Jack Dyer was the epitome of the tough, ruthless footballer who took no prisoners. However, the tiny amount which it doesn't say is also worthy of telling: Jack Dyer was a highly accomplished footballer who would have been a creditable performer even without the embellishment of brutality. Perhaps more to the point, had Dyer elected to sacrifice some of his team-orientated qualities in favour of the individualistic approach espoused by certain of his contemporaries there are some (Melbourne super-coach Norm Smith - no mean judge of player talent, one ventures to suppose - among them) who suggest he might have become the greatest and most highly decorated footballer of all time.
John Raymond Dyer died today, August 23rd 2003. He was 89. Jack Dyer was the 'epitome' of the Richmond Spirit. He was the first Richmond identity to be honoured as an 'Immortal' of the Richmond Football Club. His nickname is as famous as the player he was, Captain Blood.
The 89-year-old Richmond star passed away in his sleep at Box Hill Hospital at 1pm yesterday, suffering pneumonia. Dyer had been moved from his Kew nursing home after falling ill on Thursday. His son Jack, 62, was at his bedside and said his father suffered no pain. "The doctors said the pneumonia was one last battle he couldn't win; his body simply, finally, folded up," Jack said. A special prayer service will be held at St Ignatius Catholic Church, in Richmond, where Dyer was once altar boy.
He will be buried at Springvale alongside his wife, Sybil, who died in 1967.
Former Tigers coach Tommy Hafey said: "He was a legend, he was our best and biggest player. Everyone will remember Jack for who he was and how he played the game." Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said it was "a sad loss for football". "He was one of the first multi-media superstars of VFL/AFL football."
Cause of death: Pneumonia
Soon afterwards, the family moved to a small farm at Yarra Junction about 80km from Melbourne.
At 12, he bought his first pair of football boots and was soon playing with grown men in the Upper Yarra Valley competition. In 1927, Dyer's parents moved to Melbourne.
The boy was 14 and had to leave school to help with the family finances.
Tiger supporters worshiped him, the opposition despised him, either way Jack Dyer was a master of the game. He was fast for a ruckman and his marking and kicking ability were superb. He made great use of the crunching hip and shoulder, but in 312 games Jack was only ever reported once. Dubbed "Captain Blood" after a game against Fitzroy in which he flattened three players, Jack took no prisoners.
Dyer was club captain 1941-49, coach from 1941-52 and added six Best and Fairest awards to his name. He was one of the toughest ruckman ever to have played the game.
Nickname: Captain Blood
Games: 312 (1931-49)
Captain: 1941-49
Goals: 443
Coach:1941-52
Best and Fairest: 6 (32,37,38,39,40,46)
Premierships: 2
State representative: 2 (1941,49)
The nickname 'Captain Blood' says almost everything which needs to be said: Jack Dyer was the epitome of the tough, ruthless footballer who took no prisoners. However, the tiny amount which it doesn't say is also worthy of telling: Jack Dyer was a highly accomplished footballer who would have been a creditable performer even without the embellishment of brutality. Perhaps more to the point, had Dyer elected to sacrifice some of his team-orientated qualities in favour of the individualistic approach espoused by certain of his contemporaries there are some (Melbourne super-coach Norm Smith - no mean judge of player talent, one ventures to suppose - among them) who suggest he might have become the greatest and most highly decorated footballer of all time.
John Raymond Dyer died today, August 23rd 2003. He was 89. Jack Dyer was the 'epitome' of the Richmond Spirit. He was the first Richmond identity to be honoured as an 'Immortal' of the Richmond Football Club. His nickname is as famous as the player he was, Captain Blood.
The 89-year-old Richmond star passed away in his sleep at Box Hill Hospital at 1pm yesterday, suffering pneumonia. Dyer had been moved from his Kew nursing home after falling ill on Thursday. His son Jack, 62, was at his bedside and said his father suffered no pain. "The doctors said the pneumonia was one last battle he couldn't win; his body simply, finally, folded up," Jack said. A special prayer service will be held at St Ignatius Catholic Church, in Richmond, where Dyer was once altar boy.
He will be buried at Springvale alongside his wife, Sybil, who died in 1967.
Former Tigers coach Tommy Hafey said: "He was a legend, he was our best and biggest player. Everyone will remember Jack for who he was and how he played the game." Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said it was "a sad loss for football". "He was one of the first multi-media superstars of VFL/AFL football."
Cause of death: Pneumonia
Dyer was born in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh on November 13, 1913.
Soon afterwards, the family moved to a small farm at Yarra Junction about 80km from Melbourne.
At 12, he bought his first pair of football boots and was soon playing with grown men in the Upper Yarra Valley competition. In 1927, Dyer's parents moved to Melbourne.
The boy was 14 and had to leave school to help with the family finances.
Tiger supporters worshiped him, the opposition despised him, either way Jack Dyer was a master of the game. He was fast for a ruckman and his marking and kicking ability were superb. He made great use of the crunching hip and shoulder, but in 312 games Jack was only ever reported once. Dubbed "Captain Blood" after a game against Fitzroy in which he flattened three players, Jack took no prisoners.
Dyer was club captain 1941-49, coach from 1941-52 and added six Best and Fairest awards to his name. He was one of the toughest ruckman ever to have played the game.
Nickname: Captain Blood
Games: 312 (1931-49)
Captain: 1941-49
Goals: 443
Coach:1941-52
Best and Fairest: 6 (32,37,38,39,40,46)
Premierships: 2
State representative: 2 (1941,49)
The nickname 'Captain Blood' says almost everything which needs to be said: Jack Dyer was the epitome of the tough, ruthless footballer who took no prisoners. However, the tiny amount which it doesn't say is also worthy of telling: Jack Dyer was a highly accomplished footballer who would have been a creditable performer even without the embellishment of brutality. Perhaps more to the point, had Dyer elected to sacrifice some of his team-orientated qualities in favour of the individualistic approach espoused by certain of his contemporaries there are some (Melbourne super-coach Norm Smith - no mean judge of player talent, one ventures to suppose - among them) who suggest he might have become the greatest and most highly decorated footballer of all time.
John Raymond Dyer died today, August 23rd 2003. He was 89. Jack Dyer was the 'epitome' of the Richmond Spirit. He was the first Richmond identity to be honoured as an 'Immortal' of the Richmond Football Club. His nickname is as famous as the player he was, Captain Blood.
The 89-year-old Richmond star passed away in his sleep at Box Hill Hospital at 1pm yesterday, suffering pneumonia. Dyer had been moved from his Kew nursing home after falling ill on Thursday. His son Jack, 62, was at his bedside and said his father suffered no pain. "The doctors said the pneumonia was one last battle he couldn't win; his body simply, finally, folded up," Jack said. A special prayer service will be held at St Ignatius Catholic Church, in Richmond, where Dyer was once altar boy.
He will be buried at Springvale alongside his wife, Sybil, who died in 1967.
Former Tigers coach Tommy Hafey said: "He was a legend, he was our best and biggest player. Everyone will remember Jack for who he was and how he played the game." Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said it was "a sad loss for football". "He was one of the first multi-media superstars of VFL/AFL football."
Cause of death: Pneumonia
Soon afterwards, the family moved to a small farm at Yarra Junction about 80km from Melbourne.
At 12, he bought his first pair of football boots and was soon playing with grown men in the Upper Yarra Valley competition. In 1927, Dyer's parents moved to Melbourne.
The boy was 14 and had to leave school to help with the family finances.
Tiger supporters worshiped him, the opposition despised him, either way Jack Dyer was a master of the game. He was fast for a ruckman and his marking and kicking ability were superb. He made great use of the crunching hip and shoulder, but in 312 games Jack was only ever reported once. Dubbed "Captain Blood" after a game against Fitzroy in which he flattened three players, Jack took no prisoners.
Dyer was club captain 1941-49, coach from 1941-52 and added six Best and Fairest awards to his name. He was one of the toughest ruckman ever to have played the game.
Nickname: Captain Blood
Games: 312 (1931-49)
Captain: 1941-49
Goals: 443
Coach:1941-52
Best and Fairest: 6 (32,37,38,39,40,46)
Premierships: 2
State representative: 2 (1941,49)
The nickname 'Captain Blood' says almost everything which needs to be said: Jack Dyer was the epitome of the tough, ruthless footballer who took no prisoners. However, the tiny amount which it doesn't say is also worthy of telling: Jack Dyer was a highly accomplished footballer who would have been a creditable performer even without the embellishment of brutality. Perhaps more to the point, had Dyer elected to sacrifice some of his team-orientated qualities in favour of the individualistic approach espoused by certain of his contemporaries there are some (Melbourne super-coach Norm Smith - no mean judge of player talent, one ventures to suppose - among them) who suggest he might have become the greatest and most highly decorated footballer of all time.
John Raymond Dyer died today, August 23rd 2003. He was 89. Jack Dyer was the 'epitome' of the Richmond Spirit. He was the first Richmond identity to be honoured as an 'Immortal' of the Richmond Football Club. His nickname is as famous as the player he was, Captain Blood.
The 89-year-old Richmond star passed away in his sleep at Box Hill Hospital at 1pm yesterday, suffering pneumonia. Dyer had been moved from his Kew nursing home after falling ill on Thursday. His son Jack, 62, was at his bedside and said his father suffered no pain. "The doctors said the pneumonia was one last battle he couldn't win; his body simply, finally, folded up," Jack said. A special prayer service will be held at St Ignatius Catholic Church, in Richmond, where Dyer was once altar boy.
He will be buried at Springvale alongside his wife, Sybil, who died in 1967.
Former Tigers coach Tommy Hafey said: "He was a legend, he was our best and biggest player. Everyone will remember Jack for who he was and how he played the game." Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said it was "a sad loss for football". "He was one of the first multi-media superstars of VFL/AFL football."
Cause of death: Pneumonia
Gravesite Details
Religion/Culture: Roman Catholic, 27 Aug 2003 is the interment date
Family Members
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