It took Glenn McFarlane, a journalist with the Herald Sun and Sunday Herald Sun and passionate Magpie fan more than two years to research and write a fitting tribute to Collingwood legend Jock McHale.
McFarlane’s book Jock: The Story of Jock McHale, Collingwood’s Greatest Coach was released this week.
Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire said the book is a must-read for any die hard Pies fan.
“This is not just the story of a man, a legend, but also a story about the foundation years of the great Collingwood Football Club.
"Glenn McFarlane’s research is astonishing and he paints the complete picture of a genius coach. This book will be like McHale - it will stand the test of time.”
Jock McHale is considered by many to be the finest coach in the history of Australian football, and his record supports that claim.
He led Collingwood to eight premierships in 38 seasons, including four consecutive premierships between 1927 and 1930 — a feat that others have come close to but have never matched.
He coached a record 714 games and under his watch Collingwood became the most powerful sporting club in the land, with a large and passionate supporter base and an unflinching and uncompromising commitment to excellence.
McHale may well be one of football’s most famous names but he was an intensely private man, known not only for his loyalty to his football club but to his family, his faith and his employer as well.
He experienced great personal tragedy during his time at Collingwood, which he never showed - the great coach rarely missing a training session and famously, only one match.
Mick Malthouse and Eddie McGuire helped launch the book.
Recognised as a Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame, McHale is also immortalised through the McHale Medal, presented each year to the AFL’s premiership coach. His story has never before been told in such detail until now.
Jock: The Story of Jock McHale, Collingwood’s Greatest Coach is available for purchase on the club's Superstore website.
Ron and Lou Richards, who both played under McHale, hold up the 1953 premiership cup they won.
