James 'Jim' Deely was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played for Glebe and South Sydney in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition.
Deely began his first grade career as a winger with Glebe in 1929 and made his debut in Round 8 against University which finished 6âÂÂ6. Deeley played in Glebe's last ever game as a first grade club when they drew 24âÂÂ24 against North Sydney. After the 1929 season was concluded, Glebe were controversially voted out of the competition.
In 1931, Deely joined South Sydney and in his first season with the club was a member of the Souths side which claimed the premiership defeating arch rivals Easts 12âÂÂ7 with Deely playing at halfback, a position he switched to upon joining Souths.
In 1932, Souths won the premiership for a second consecutive season defeating Western Suburbs 19âÂÂ12 in the grand final with Deely playing at five-eighth. Deely played two more seasons and retired at the end of 1934.