Visitors to the Hawks Museum now have an added attraction. The Allan Jeans’ Legend Portrait can now be seen on Level 1 in the foyer at the double door entrance to the Hawks Museum. This striking portrait painted by leading sports artist, Dave Thomas is a moving rendition of Jeans holding the 1989 Premiership Cup aloft whilst being carried on the shoulders of Peter Curran and John Kennedy Jnr.
At the Club’s Hall of Fame function held earlier this year on April 17 at the Plaza Ballroom, Allan Jeans one of the game’s most renowned figures received the Club’s highest honour, posthumously when he was elevated to Legend Status.
Jeans coached the Hawks through one of the club’s greatest eras, netting three premierships in 1983, 1996 & 1989, from a stunning six consecutive Grands Final appearances, including winning two-night premierships in 1985 & 1986. A stellar win/loss record with 159 wins, 61 losses and one draw.
Jeans was an inaugural inductee in Hawthorn’s Hall of Fame in 2003 and he deservedly joined other Club Legends, Leigh Matthews & John Kennedy Snr (inducted 2003), Graham Arthur (2005), Michael Tuck (2008), Peter Hudson (2010), David Parkin (2013), Jason Dunstall (2014), Peter Knights (2017) and Don Scott (2022)
Allan Jeans was one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. He has left a positive lasting legacy with all that have played under his direction. His homespun sayings are legendary. Perhaps the most famous was his comment on coaching teams, “They’re like sausages – you can boil them, grill them or curry them, but ultimately they’re still sausages.”
Jeans had gained legendary status prior to his highly successful tenure at Hawthorn. He coached St Kilda to their first and only premiership in 1966. Hawthorn supporters became more aware of Jeans’ coaching prowess during the 1970s when the Saints and Hawks became arch-rivals. The Hawks claimed their second premiership over the Saints in 1971 after one of the toughest grand finals in the history of the game with the spectators observing the warm embrace of John Kennedy Snr and Allan Jeans after the final siren. Such was the respect they had for each other that boded well when Jeans was appointed to coach the Hawks in 1981.
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