Alex Jesaulenko, Austrian-Australian footballer and coach
Alex Jesaulenko ( JEZ-ə-LENK-oh; Ukrainian: Олександр Васильович Єсауленко, romanized: Oleksandr Vasiliovych Yesaulenko, IPA: [olekˈsɑndr wɐˈs⁽ʲ⁾ilʲowɪtʃ jesɐʊˈlɛnko]; born 2 August 1945) is a former Australian rules footballer and who played for the Carlton Football Club and the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He also served as a coach at both clubs.
Jesaulenko is a Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and as a player was known for his versatility, uncanny balance and spectacular marking. He immortalised his reputation in the game by taking the most iconic mark in football history in the 1970 VFL Grand Final. In 2009 The Australian nominated Jesaulenko as one of the 25 greatest footballers never to win a Brownlow Medal.He remains to date the only Carlton footballer to have kicked 100 or more goals in a season, and the last playing coach to win a VFL/AFL premiership.
In January 2022 Jesaulenko was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.