Jack Rocchi

Jack Rocchi (21 December 1904 – 25 November 1979) was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Fremantle in the WAFL and Fitzroy in the VFL.

Originally from the Goldfields, Rocchi started his WAFL career at South Fremantle and became their first ever Sandover Medal winner in 1928. He was a dual best and fairest winner at South Fremantle. A rover and one of the smaller players in the league, he was recognised for his sportsmanship, the dare of his play, his cleverness and the quality of his kicking and passing. He suffered a knee injury in the 1929 semi-final, which resulted in his missing the entire 1930 season.

Rocchi was recruited to Fitzroy after he had impressed during an interstate appearance for West Australia against Victoria. He moved to Victoria in February 1931, and after the three month residential qualification period received his permit to play for Fitzroy – although not before a permit committee meeting in which delegates tried to argue over which date his ship had entered Victorian waters to get his qualification passed a week earlier. But he continued to be troubled by injury, and was restricted to just four games that season. He sought but was denied a clearance to in 1932, and never played top level senior football again.

Rocchi later served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.

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1904 births
1979 deaths
Fitzroy Football Club players
South Fremantle Football Club players
Sandover Medal winners
Boulder City Football Club players
Australian rules footballers from Boulder, Western Australia
20th-century Australian sportsmen

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