Alex Jesaulenko: Australian Football
Alex Jesaulenko, MBE, (born August 2, 1945 in Saizburg, Austria) is a former footballer who played for Carlton from 1967 to 1979, and St Kilda from 1980 to 1981. When he was younger, he displayed a prodigious talent for soccer and rugby. He began playing Australian Rules football when he was fourteen and quickly joined the Eastlake Football Club. Jesaulenko is considered to be one of football’s greatest players elevating his status as “Legend” into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Alex Jesaulenko marked his reputation by taking the Mark of the Century in the 1970 VFL Grand Final.
In 1996, he was named on the half-forward flank in the AFL Team of the Century. Jesaulenko was inducted into the Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2010. While he was playing for the Carlton, he scored a total of 424 goals, the 4th most goals kicked for the team, out of 256 games and 20 goals out of 23 games for St Kilda.
Why Was He So Good?
Alex Jesaulenko possessed an abundance of all major football skills which supplemented his capability with remarkable intellect and attentiveness. He will always be remembered for his high marking, mercurial ground play, outstanding steadiness and goal kicking. When his status was elevated as “Legend” in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, he was accorded tribute from the great contemporaries of his era.
What You May Not Know
- When he left St Kilda, he became captain-coach of Sandgate in the QAFL for two years, playing his last game at the age of 39.
- In 2013, Alex Jesaulenko was named captain of the first Australia Post Multicultural Team of Champions.
- “Jezza”, the main character in the Australian children’s book is named after him. That nickname was also common to people when they refer to taking a high mark during the 70s. They would say it as “taking a jezza”.
Was he a legend?
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Related Pages
- More Australian Football legendary players
- Athlete Database home
- About the sport of Australian Football
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