The union of Jacks -article - and other J's

[saintbrat]

Why Jack Billings is ‘Latte’, Jack Steven is ‘Stuv’ and other nicknames for Jacks at St Kilda

JON ANDERSON, Herald Sun

an hour ago

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THEY jokingly refer to themselves as the Union of Jacks, a St Kilda sextet of Jacks who tonight will play together for the second time in an AFL match.

And in doing so they will surely create an unofficial record in world sport, unless you can think of a team with seven players that go by the same first name.

“We are a team of J names: Josh Battle, Josh Bruce, Jake Carlisle, Jarryn Geary, Jade Gresham, Jason Holmes and Jimmy Webster. Maybe it will help Josh ‘Chooka’ Kelly come here next year,” laughed Jack Steele, 21.

“We use nicknames on the ground and off it. Sometimes you will get someone come in and say ‘Jack, put a bib on’ and you see all these heads turn around.

“So none of us actually call each other Jack. Jack Billings is ‘Latte’ or ‘JB’, Jack Lonie is called ‘John’ because in the old days Jack was normally a nickname for someone christened John.

“When Jack Newnes came to the club, Jack Steven was already here so he became ‘Jill’, as in Jack and Jill. Jack Sinclair has the well-defined legs, hence ‘Pins’, while Jack Steven gets ‘Stuv’ from his surname and I’m ‘Steeley’ or ‘Bluey’, as in blue steel.”