Born: September 21, 1933 - Died July 13, 2011
Coach: 1981 - 1987, 1989 - 1990
Games: 221- Won 159, Lost 61, Drawn 1
Premierships: 1983, 1986, 1989
Night Premierships: 1985, 1986
Life Member: 1990
Hall of Fame Inductee: 2003
Hall of Fame Club Legend: 2024
VFL / AFL Honours
Jock McHale Medal: 1983, 1986, 1989
State Coach: 1984 (2 games)
VFL/AFL Life Member: 1979
AFL Hall of Fame: 1996 (Coach)
Allan Jeans was one of the great coaches in the history of the game. He has left a positive and lasting legacy with all who played under his direction and leadership, highlighted by his recognition as an inaugural inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame 1996. His homespun sayings were 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 coached the Hawks through one of the club’s greatest eras, with his golden run netting three premierships in 1983, 1986 and 1989, from a stunning six-consecutive Grand Final appearances, including winning two Night Premierships in both 1985 and 1986. A stellar Win/Loss record with 159 wins, 61 losses and one draw.
During the last 12 years at Glenferrie in the Social Club before the move to Waverley, Graham Arthur ran the famed Yabbie Cup, named after Jeans. Many of Allan Jeans' former players tried their skills in a game of sporting trivia, often fought out with that dogged determination that Jeans demanded on the field. The former players delighted the audience with their efforts in mimicking many of Jeans' speeches such was their affection and respect for him.