DOB: 1826
Died: 10 December 1881

James "Jerry" Bryant was a former Surrey cricketer who played for the MCC and Victoria after moving to the Colony of Victoria. He also operated the Parade Hotel on Wellington Street.

After Tom Wills famous July 1858 letter suggesting the formation of football club Bryant organised a scratch match in the park adjacent to the MCG. The game was a shambles, with players from different parts of the United Kingdom playing under their own rules and some playing under 'no rules at all'.

The loose grouping, of which the Melbourne Football Club was later born, played a handful more games over the next month and an early version of the club was formed amongst MCC members.

It was at Bryant's hotel where Tom Wills, William Hammersley, James Thompson and Thomas Smith wrote the first set of Australian Football rules on Tuesday May 17, 1859 and Bryant played for the club that year and in 1860 to 1861 and 1863 to 1864.

In 1865 he moved to Sale and ended his association with the football club.

He played 11 first class games for Surrey and Victoria between 1852 and 1861/62.

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