Jim Cardwell

Died: 1996

Games: 0
Goals: 0

From: North Brunswick

Recruited by the Demons after winning the North Brunswick Amateurs best-and-fairest, Cardwell played in the Demons seconds premiership of 1939. He later became one of the club delegates to the Second XVIII, before enlisting in the army. At one point while he was on leave from army duty, Cardwell was given the option of playing in the seniors at the same time that he was meant to be taking a long overdue honeymoon with his wife Mavis. He chose the honeymoon and lost his chance to be a VFL footballer. After serving in Darwin and New Guinea he returned to the club as a seconds selector and, in 1949, Honorary Secretary while still playing some matches.

In 1951 he was promoted to the first team secretary role, and in time became known as "The Prince of Secretaries". One of his first acts was to ban the wearing of number 13 between 1953 and 1974 as he believed it was unlucky.

His partnership with Norm Smith became legendary, and though they would often clash, the two were key players in delivering one of the league's most potent glory eras. In 1958 he became the first full-time secretary of a VFL club.

Cardwell resigned at the end of 1975 and was replaced by Ivan Moore.