VALE JOHN HYDE

John Hyde, former Captain-Coach at Claremont Football Club, passed away on Thursday 26 March, in Geelong.

- Born April 11, 1930
- Appointed Captain-Coach Claremont 1955

- Played 37 Games in 1955 and 1956 (Player No. 430)
- State Games 2 
- Best and Fairest 1955  (by a Large margin)

In 1955, John was runner up to "Polly" Farmer as "Daily news" Footballer of the Year. He was described as "an aggressive, straight ahead type of player and great ability, making him one of Geelong's best postwar Centre Half Backs".

His VFL (AFL) career at Geelong commenced in 1948 and he played 108 games between 1948 and 1954. He was Best and Fairest in 1950, and played with distinction in Geelong's Premierships in 1951 and 1952.

So, it can be seen he had a very decorated career over a period of eight years and returned to Victoria at
only 26 years of age because his father was very sick at that time. He coached Hamilton to consecutive Premierships in The Western Districts League and later became Chairman of Selectors back at Geelong when Peter Pianto (Another former Claremont Coach) held the coaching reins at the "Cattery". 

In 1956, John married Morna Pearce, one of the quartet of famous Pearce sisters from Moulyinning, all
of whom represented Australia in International Hockey. The Pearce girls were also sisters to George Pearce, Player No. 339 for Claremont (1947 to 1954), Joe Pearce, a legend at the Swan Districts Football Club in the Postwar period and aunts of Tom Pearce, Player No. 759 for Claremont (1981 to 1983).

Incidentally, Morna Hyde (Pearce) won "Daily News" Sports person of the Year in 1956, defeating "Polly" Farmer, thus compensating for "Polly" defeating John the previous year!

The Claremont Football Club send our deepest condolences to John's family.