Jack Titus

Who was Jack Titus?

Jack "Skinny" Titus was an Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club. In the golden era of the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with spectacular goalkicking feats. A lightly built player who seemed at first glance to be too frail for the robust game of Australian football, Titus proved to be one of the great survivors of the game as he set the record for durability that remained unbeaten for a century. Titus continued to serve Richmond for decades after his retirement, a fact acknowledged by the Australian Football League, which presents the "Jack Titus Service Award" for outstanding service to the game.

As a teenager, Titus showed potential playing with the local Richmond club Burnley in the Metropolitan Football League. He was noticed by the Tigers' brilliant secretary Percy Page and invited to play with the Richmond seconds in 1925, aged 17. However, Titus' frame caused concern. At just 175 cm and a bit more than 60 kg, Titus would not be considered a potential talent in the modern AFL, let alone play a key forward position as he did.