Jack Barnes

Who was Jack Barnes?

John "Jack" Robert Barnes was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League during the 1920s.

Born in Williamstown, Barnes was used mostly as a forward and kicked 34 goals in 1928, including a bag of six against Geelong at Lake Oval. His son Ken played at South Melbourne in the 1960s.

Barnes also represented Victoria in a first-class cricket match in 1930 as a right-handed batsman. Playing against Tasmania at the MCG, Barnes batted in the middle order and made 51. It would be his only innings at first-class level. Fellow VFL footballers Stuart King and Heinrich Schrader also played in that match for Victoria.