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Portrait of Jack Wells

Jack Wells

1883 – 1966

Australian rules footballer and coach

Australian rules football player Australian rules football coach
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About Jack Wells

Lived 1883 – 1966 (aged 83). Jack Wells was an Australian australian rules football player and australian rules football coach.

John "Jack" Wells (4 January 1883 – 17 December 1966) was an Australian rules footballer who played for and in the Western Australian Football Association (WAFA), Kalgoorlie City in the Goldfields Football Association (GFA), St Kilda and Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL), and in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).

Career Born in Stawell, Victoria on 4 January 1883 to William Wells and Jane Mary Reid, Wells played his early football in Western Australia where he spent time in both Kalgoorlie and Perth.

Originally playing for Rovers, he switched to Perth after the club folded midway through the 1898 season. He represented the Perth Football Club in their inaugural WAFA season and topped their goal kicking in 1904. His tally that year included what was then a club record 11 goals in a match against Subiaco. Before crossing to the VFL he played in the Goldfields Football Association with Kalgoorlie City and was the league's 'Best and fairest' winner in 1905.

He was used in a variety of position during his career, mostly as a centreman, up forward and in the ruck. In his four seasons at St Kilda he struggled with injuries but captained the club in 1907, to their first ever finals appearance, and at the beginning of 1908. He joined Carlton in 1910 and played in their losing Grand Final side that year. In 1912 he was appointed captain and the following season captained-coached Carlton to sixth place. A four-time Victorian interstate representative, Wells was picked to captain his state in a match against South Australia in 1912 but had withdraw due to an injury.

After leaving Carlton, Wells finished his career in the VFA at North Melbourne.

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Important facts

People in Jack Wells's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jack Wells's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jack Wells?

Australian rules footballer and coach (1883-1966)

When was Jack Wells born?

Jack Wells was born on 4 January 1883 in Stawell.

When did Jack Wells die?

Jack Wells died on 17 December 1966 in Fitzroy.

What was Jack Wells's occupation?

Jack Wells was an australian rules football player and australian rules football coach.

What nationality was Jack Wells?

Jack Wells was Australian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jack Wells

· Wikidata: Q6115720

· DBpedia: Jack Wells (footballer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jack Wells. https://biography.guide/jack-wells-australian-rules-football-player/

MLA: "Jack Wells." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jack-wells-australian-rules-football-player/.

Chicago: "Jack Wells." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jack-wells-australian-rules-football-player/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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