Williamson

A strapping youngster from Woori Yallock in the Yarra Ranges east of Melbourne, Albert John ‘Jack’ Williamson became the 430th player to wear the Old Dark Navy Blue when he ran out onto Princes Park to face Hawthorn in round 12, 1926. Carlton was entrenched in fourth place on the ladder, and expected to have little trouble with the cellar-dwelling Mayblooms.

But as so often happens, the underdogs weren’t prepared to lie down that afternoon. Hawthorn matched Carlton for tenacity from the first bounce, and a huge upset was brewing before Carlton scraped home by eight points. Williamson played as the back pocket ruckman on debut, but obviously didn’t do enough to hold his place for the next match.

He dropped back to the seconds, and at least finished off the year in positive fashion when he played at centre half-forward in Carlton’s crushing victory over Geelong in the 1926 Reserves Grand Final. After that, Jack packed his kit for home, and his brief stint in VFL football seemed to have ended before his 20th birthday.

But two years later, Williamson decided (or was persuaded) to have another crack at the VFL with Essendon. He found his niche as a reliable tall defender at Windy Hill, and went on to chalk up 61 games and boot six goals over four seasons (1929, 1930 to 1932).

Later, during World War II, Jack served as a mechanic with the RAAF. He died at the tragically young age of 58, in August 1965. (14 August 1965 - RofAd)

1926 July 03
The Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian,
In a review of the Yarra Junction defeat of Millgrove, the paper mentions that Williamson who had transferred to Carlton, was an absentee from the Junction's ranks.

1926 October 15
The Hobart newspaper The Mercury (p12) carried a picture of the Carlton team visiting the city on an end of season trip. J. Williamson appears the team line-up. (5th from front)