Shinboner number: 9
Guernsey numbers: 2, 1
Born: September 13, 1901
Died: July 3, 1973
Occupation: Labourer and Trade Union official
North Melbourne games: 150 (1925-1927, 1929-1935)
Goals: 142
The youngest of nine children born in Hotham West to Josephine (nee Danaher) and Henry Lewis, "Johnny" began his stellar football career with North Melbourne's VFA team, playing from 1921-24 (36 games, 26 goals) before debuting in the club's inaugural VFL team in Round 1, 1925 as a follower.
A strapping 191cm and 99kg, he was a tough ruckman, known as one of the biggest men in the League. He was vice-captain in 1926, a role he shared with Bill Russ in 1927.
Midway through that year, after Round 11, he went to NSW for work as a shearer before returning to North in early 1929.
Lewis was North's Melbourne's captain/coach in 1930 and leading goalkicker in 1931 and 1935, the same year he was North's Best & Fairest. He represented Victoria in 10 games.
In 1934 he sought an unsuccessful clearance to Melbourne, but they persisted and he moved there in 1936, becoming their oldest debutant at the age of 34. He played 46 games for the Demons, eventually retiring three years later when he broke his arm. In 1939 he coached Murtoa in the Wimmera League.
Lewis was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1996. Continuing the football family history, his great grandson, Daniel Venables played 21 games for West Coast.
In later life Lewis became very involved in the Trade Union movement and was state secretary of the Storemen and Packers Union in 1962. Lewis died after a battle with cancer and is buried in Melbourne Cemetery with his second wife, Catherine Mary (nee O'Connor).
