RED & WHITE ARCHIVES: GERO’S ICONIC MARK

John Gerovich, the South Fremantle Hall of Fame Legend, was a key-position forward, renowned for his high-flying marks and prolific goalkicking. One of his most famous marks—taken in the 1956 WANFL preliminary final over East Fremantle’s Ray French—is commemorated by a statue erected in 2006 at Fremantle Oval, created by local sculptor Robert Hitchcock. The statue was based on an iconic photograph of the moment, captured by The West Australian photographer Maurie Hammond and published on 10 October 1956.

This legendary mark is also featured in Jamie Cooper’s painting The Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the sport’s 150th anniversary.

Gerovich led the WAFL in goalkicking three times: in 1956 with 74 goals, in 1960 with 101 goals, and again in 1961 with 74 goals. He was South Fremantle’s leading goalkicker on eight occasions. By the time he retired after the 1969 season, he had kicked a total of 744 goals for South Fremantle.

In 2004, he was one of the inaugural inductees into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame, elevated to Legend status in 2021. Gerovich is also a member of the Fremantle Football Hall of Legends and was named centre half-forward in the Fremantle Team of Legends, established in 2007. The trophy awarded to South Fremantle’s leading goalkicker each season is named in his honour.

To explore more of South Fremantle’s rich history, including the establishment of female footy at Freo Oval, head HERE to purchase the club’s official history books.