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).

He was called into the Swans team in the early 1990s (during their injury riddled "darkest era"), and is the son of former champion South Melbourne player and coach Graeme John. A talented and courageous youngster who played as no.1 ruckman for the Victorian and Vic Country premiership teams in the Teal Cup Carnival's of 1988 and '89. He was therefore secured by Sydney in the 1988 VFL Draft under the father-Son Rule, to play for his team of choice.

In round 10 of 1990, after having started the year in the u/19's, the Swans named him in their injury depleted side. As an 18yr old, young John rose to the challenge; he played just seven games yet finished the year with the most hit-outs by a Sydney player and the equal most Brownlow votes. for best player in the league.

Although having impressed in his first season, the injuries he sustained were an ominous sign of things to come; yet his toughness and innate ability to play through injury was also noted. He broke his hand in the second quarter of his first game against Essendon but played out the remainder of the match battling hard against the older and far more experienced ruck duo of Simon Madden and Paul Salmon. The injury would sideline him for three weeks. With the Swans unable to field any supporting ruckmen on his return, many opposition teams adopted the tactic of rotating two players against the youngster in an attempt to shut him down. His considerable talent, however, often saw him feature amongst the best players. His first season finished prematurely, when in round 19, he broke his foot in the second quarter against Melbourne - yet once again he continued to play until the final siren.