Jack Gibson

Jack Gibson was an adopted Queenslander who had a massive influence on the code in its infancy, serving as the State’s first representative captain in 1884, and the first president of the Queensland Football League in 1904.

A man whose football involvement spanned three states and five decades, Gibson was originally from Tasmania and captained South Melbourne when they were a powerhouse in the old VFA from the late 1880’s.

A robust key defender chosen in the “Champion of the Colony” team in 1879, 1881 and 1882 – the equivalent of the All-Australian side of the modern era – he was among the best players in the country when he moved to Queensland in 1883 to join the Brisbane Football Club.

Battles between Gibson and his Ipswich counterpart John McDonald, a former champion goal sneak with the famous Melbourne club, were legendary at a time when Australian football was the pre-eminent code in Queensland and attracted big crowds throughout in the 1880’s.

Gibson captained Queensland’s first intercolonial representative team against New South Wales in 1884, and was described in the Brisbane Courier at the time as “a brilliant back man, fine dodger and good kick”.

He also starred for Queensland in challenge matches against Melbourne in 1888 and South Melbourne in 1890, and served on the Brisbane Football Club committee at the same time.

After the game went through a hiatus from 1892-1903 he was inaugural president of the Queensland Football League in 1904 before ill health prompted his resignation in 1905.

He passed away aged 48 in 1906 but a thoroughly deserving member of the Queensland Hall of Fame … Jack Gibson.