John Blair

A former AFL player with three different clubs, he moved to Queensland in 1981 and has been a wonderful servant of the game in the Sunshine State for more than a quarter of acentury as a player and coach. A genuine utility player at AFL level, he played a total of 33 senior games with South Melbourne, Fitzroy and StKilda from 1975-80 before accepting a position as Morningside captain-coach in the QAFL in 1981.

A fiercely-competitive centre half back in his early days in Queensland, he became one of the competition’s most dominant figures, winning the 1982 Grogan Medal, playing 19 times for Queensland through the golden era of the early 1980’s and being involved in no less than nine grand finals. He took Morningside to the last game of the season in 1982-83-84, losing to three different opponents, and played at Sandgate, Windsor-Zillmere and Sherwood before tasting elusive premiership success with Zillmere in 1988 in his second grand final outing with the Eagles.

Also won the Ray Hughson Medal as the AFLQ leading goal-kicker with Morningside in 1985and Zillmere in 1988. Had a coaching role with the Queensland U18 side before taking back the coaching reigns at Morningside in 2002. Enjoyed the coaching success he deserved when the Panthers won back-to-back flags in 2003-04 before two more losing grand final efforts in 2005 and 2008. Coach of the Queensland U21 side in 2007-08, he is also father of Logie Award-winning actress Natalie Blair.