Gareth John

Gareth John (born 17 January 1972) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Sydney Swans and North Melbourne in the Australian Football League (AFL). The son of champion South Melbourne player and coach Graeme John, John originally played for Gisborne Football Club in the Bendigo Football League and was the leading ruckman for the Victorian and Victorian Country premiership teams in the 1988 and 1989 Teal Cup Carnivals. As a result, John was drafted by Sydney in the 1988 VFL Draft under the father–son rule. John started the 1990 AFL season in the Under 19s competition but due to an extensive injury list, made his senior debut in Round 10, against Essendon Football Club. Playing against the far more experienced ruck duo of Simon Madden and Paul Salmon, John broke his hand in the second quarter but played out the remainder of the match. The injury would sideline him for ...