Jack Titus

Jack Titus
Personal information
Date of birth	(1908-03-03)3 March 1908
Date of death	19 April 1978(1978-04-19) (aged 70)
Original team(s)	Burnley
Height / weight	175 cm / 65.5 kg
Position(s)	Forward
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1926–1943	Richmond	294 (970)
Coaching career
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1937, 1941, 1965	Richmond	17 (11–6–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1943.
Career highlights
Richmond premiership player 1932, 1934 Richmond best and fairest 1929, 1941 Richmond leading goalkicker 1929–30, 1934–42 VFL leading goalkicker 1940 Interstate games: 14 Richmond Team of The Century Richmond Hall of Fame – inducted 2002 Australian Football Hall of Fame
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Jack "Skinny" Titus (3 March 1908 – 19 April 1978) was an Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1926 and 1943 for the Richmond Football Club. In the golden era of the 1930s, Titus was one of the great forwards who regularly thrilled the crowds with spectacular goalkicking feats. A lightly built player who seemed at first glance to be too frail for the robust game of Australian football, Titus proved to be one of the great survivors of the game as he set the record for durability that remained unbeaten for a century. Titus continued to serve Richmond for decades after his retirement, a fact acknowledged by the Australian Football League (AFL), which annually presents the "Jack Titus Service Award" for outstanding service to the game.

As a teenager, Titus showed potential playing with the local Richmond club Burnley in the Metropolitan Football League. He was noticed by the Tigers' brilliant secretary Percy Page and invited to play with the Richmond seconds in 1925, aged 17. However, Titus' frame caused concern. At just 175 cm and a bit more than 60 kg, Titus would not be considered a potential talent in the modern AFL, let alone play a key forward position as he did. The Tigers persevered with Titus because of his excellent ball-winning ability and innate goal sense, and hoped that he would gain size as he got older.

Titus' early career was a battle for recognition at a powerful club with a number of excellent forwards. He played a single senior game in 1926, and a handful the following year but missed selection in the finals as the team finished runner-up. He attracted notice by winning the reserves best and fairest in 1928, a performance that won him a place in the Tigers' semi final team. He booted six goals in a match-winning performance, but was more subdued in the Grand Final when Richmond went down to Collingwood for the second consecutive time.

By 1929, Titus had established himself in the senior side's forward line, playing alongside Jack Baggott. He won the best and fairest and led the club's goalkicking for the first time, but was held goalless in the Grand Final as the Tigers lost yet again. The Tigers used him as a flanker or in the pocket during the next few years as they desperately sought a combination that could break the jinx caused a succession of Grand Final losses. Finally, Richmond broke through for a premiership in 1932 and Titus was a member of the team.