1971 – The Greatest Game I Never Saw: Sturt v Centrals 1st Semi Final

1971. Like many kids born in 1960, I was in my eleventh year.

It was my fifth year of actively supporting Central District (aka Centrals), who along with Woodville, hadn’t been near September action since their 1964 SANFL introduction.

Sturt on the other hand, had won the previous five flags under the masterful skills-based coaching of Jack Oatey. Although they were minor premiers for just two of those seasons, they disposed of Port, Port, Port, Glenelg and Glenelg when it counted in 1966-70.

Melbourne premiership player Dennis Jones, had placings of 8th, 8th and 7th to show for his three seasons in charge at Goodman Road. The Bulldogs had fought hard for the services of Tony Casserly from Old Easts in 1970, assisting 1968 top goalkicker Rick Vidovich to relocate to the west as a sweetener. When Phil Haughan joined from East Perth in 1971, Centrals was compiling a strong on-ball contingent to bolster their local talent.

I saw all of our home games at the huge expanse that was Elizabeth Oval that year, as well as many of the away ones. Some weekends we watched the Thirds and Colts at home instead of travelling south, accompanied by a 26oz bottle of Coke and a packet of Allen’s (not Ansell) Frogs.

I certainly remember Round 2 – Elizabeth South Primary represented the Red White and Blue in the Mini League against West Adelaide’s Henley Primary at Adelaide Oval (across the ground of course). Mark Weideman still hasn’t shut up about it.

 

After Round 5’s 93 point loss to Port, Centrals looked certain to take its customary place in the bottom rungs of the ladder, with only one win to that point. A slight mid season improvement had them at 4-8, but then they rallied enormously, winning all but one of their remaining games to comfortably wrap up fourth place.

However, the finals coincided with school holidays, and my mum decided to take me and my three sisters over to western Sydney to visit her parents and siblings. By train. Via Melbourne. Leaving the Monday before the First Semi Final.

The biggest game of my Centrals following life and they’d have to win without me. Against Sturt, who they’d never beaten since entering the SANFL top flight in 1964.

=========

 

The larger Finals Budget editions gave the production team full rein to include more than the standard single action shot used during the minor round (which is Croweater for “home and away” games). Dean Ottens outmarks Paul Bagshaw with Port’s Keith Spencer lagging at the back. It looks like Baggy is sporting Blue Star boots.

The clever sequence below shows Sally Saywell on the burst, with Terry “Buck” Moore waving a limp arm at ruggedly holding off Rick Davies.

 

I could have retired on the proceeds years ago if I’d kept hold of some of these.

 

 

I didn’t quite pay $20 for this, but it was still a fair multiple of the cover price.

As this preview noted, Central District(s) hadn’t ever beaten Sturt, so their first finals tilt was going to be a big ask. Who was ruck-rover Hughes (perhaps an early victim of spellcheck)? Was Sturt really a bunch of “old campaigners”?

That’s Big Gary Jones in the #30.

 

Sturt had Centrals’ measure previously in 1971. There was a record crowd of 13,110 at their Elizabeth Oval game, but it was likely to have been one of the many that had me sulking all the way back to Underdown Road continuing for the rest of the following week.

Remember nylon sprigs?

 

 

After a brief dismissal of the premiership chances of today’s winner, the Coca-Cola Cup gets a context-free mention. This series operated for a handful of seasons for no rhyme or reason apart from the huge prizemoney. WD and HO Wills were no relation to Anne, unfortunately. So this day’s proceedings was a triple-header, kicking off the dew around 9:30am.

Some more random 1st semi facts; perhaps the scribe was also testing the sponsors’ product. The early to mid-seventies was the peak period for charity matches. What else was there to do on a Sunday arvo after all?

 

Dennis (two ns) Jones came into this game with a 1 in 3 winning record, 0-8 against Jack Oatey. Sturt’s ascent during Oatey’s time was evident.

Despite Teaser’s four years at Peckerland and his (eventual) Brownlow, his surname proved too tricky for this publication.

 

 

The ‘Tiser was the morning broadsheet – the serious one.

“Can you change a cheque mate?” – at least there was no fraud in those days.

 

Fred Phillis finished the season officially on 99 goals, but thanks to this this paper by Bernard Whimpress I have determined that he kicked three goals in that day’s Coca Cola Cup, which led to him being regarded as a century maker for a while until sanity prevailed.

Ken Farmer has been sold slightly short here. He didn’t just bag a ton in 1930 and 1940, but also in every season in between!!!. (How’s that Hall of Fame Legends nomination going Ken?)

Gary Jones, Sally Saywell, 148 goals between them. I’m choking up here.

 

 

What did I do with mine?

What were those things exactly, CC Bottlers?

 

 

Sturt had kept hold of all of its 1970 flag side, apart from Diamond Jim Tilbrook, who singlehandedly revived the fortunes of Melbourne (or not).

These names might mean very little outside of the Festival State, but they are etched into my consciousness – five flags during my formative years would account for that (but I don’t remember Clive Brooks at all).

 

 

Centrals was finally seeing its talented crop of locals mature; Casserly, Haughan and Jones injected some class (or in Jones’ case, a large, er, presence in front of the big white sticks).

A pity that Irish Mulholland was referred to as Robert here. Sonny Morey had to contend himself with a spot in the 1971 Seconds premiership side, but he was back to his best in 1972.

Big Gary Jones, even bigger Dean Farnham, flashy English-born forward David ‘Sally’ Saywell, Robin ‘Irish’ Mulholland, fearsome John ‘Spog’ Wyley and Kevin Johns – I loved them all. If players like Davis, Cochrane, Andrews and Saywell weren’t teaching the local urchins, they were serving them up bags of sherbies and choo choo bars (TC’s Deli) or flogging the locally made Kingswoods at Peter Page Holden (Haughan).

They were the days when kids like us were able to go into the rooms before the game, follow the team on their pre-match lap around the ground then have a yack with Channel Nine’s Ian “Elbows” Aitken in the rooms after the game.

Centrals (and similarly the other nine clubs) were more than just an extension to the community, they were as essential a service as the bloke up a stobie pole or the copper keeping an eye on the local footy club rooms after dark. Which made sense, as many of the players, officials and volunteers did exactly those sort of things to make a crust.

 

 

Living 15 miles from town, the Adelaide Station was the portal to the big smoke. Most people took the ramp not the stairs. The Lamb Roast was more popular than the Chicken Maryland.

Save Our ABC – inventors of the “action replay”

 

 

The triple header started with this pairing, at around the time that The Thunderbirds was appearing on the Channel Niners Saturday Edition starring Winky Dink, Hot Dog and Cheryl. Not that I’d know, stuck in a different timezone that morning.

Bob Oatey was Norwood’s Captain-Coach, his brother Peter is there too. He joined his old bloke at Unley in 1974 and played in the flag. They were a mid-range side although this list contains the several from its 1975 and 1978 premiership teams.

Westies were at the onset of a dismal decade. The best of this lot left for more successful clubs down the track. Glynn Hewitt ended up with more clubs than Kel Nagle.

And there isn’t a person in the world that preferred Gibbs Pies to Cowley’s, Balfour’s or the ones sold outside the trots (with real pepper).

 

No sign of Leslie Neilsen or even Lloyd Bridges.

I wouldn’t trust a Victorian insurance company either.

 

 

The post curtain raiser curtain raiser.

The Bays spent 1971 reloading after falling to Sturt in 1969 and 1970. They were back in town in 1973, literally, as that was the last Grand Final held in Adelaide for about four decades.

Bobby Gibson had another season left in him for his Eagles, who limped through the punk rock decade like relics from Reg Lindsay’s Country and Western Hour.

 

I listened to the Magarey count with my tranny pressed firmly to my left ear on the Overland. The winner was announced when I was near Tailem Bend from memory. Phil ‘Cracker’ Haughan and Peter Marker were both a single vote shy of Port’s Ebert, who won the first of his four medals.

I had the pleasure of transcribing Matt Zurbo’s interview with Ebert, who I favour slightly over Barrie Robran as the best player of my youth (not that I ever admitted to liking either of them back then).

At least the News knew how to spell Teasdale.

 

Thanks to whoever originally owned this Budget for keeping the goal tally.

Flash Graham without his famous ‘mo. Brian Martin without his wig. Sandy Nelson not spruiking sporting goods.

The idols of my prepubescence. Not a man bun in sight.

Centrals players were shown on top except for the Centre and Half Back line for some reason.

 

Geez I was happy when this clip turned up online (thanks to SAfootballarchive). I had to wait forty years to see this.

You can see that Sturt were done and Irish Mulholland’s last quarter heroics (five goals) were on display. Old mate Beefy Andrews towelled up Sturt Team of the Century member Bob Shearman, who had also won that year’s Craven Filter National Champion Kick of Australia (not that it did him any good that day).

Sally Saywell was played as a decoy forward; his role was to nullify the run of Paul Bagshaw from defence. A very effective ploy that was years ahead of its time.

 

 

Here’s how the Budget saw this game, a few years down the track.

 

I found the result buried in the fine print of the Daily Telegraph in my grandparents’ Derby St, Kingswood 2747 kitchen the day after the game. No other details except the score.

I made it back in time for the Prelim Final against Port. The fortnight of hard celebrations at Goodman Road told in the second half and Port gained another crack at the Roosters.

 

 

Not sure what relevance the WA PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS has here, unless this was an early example of recycling.

 

Did Tom Bonnily have to sell this MG B as a demonstrator and, if so, did the WELL DONE BARRIE paint job come with it?

 

 

Many of these names, such as Shine Hosking and Dan Moriarty were still around into the early 1970s. I’m almost certain that the 1909 winner has a direct genealogical line to Peter Dutton.

I did some research on behalf of the SANFL History Committee regarding the likely whereabouts of Sailor Malin’s 1899 medal, which may have ended up as jewellery for the winner’s fiancé. (And despite the text, he isn’t pictured here).

Harry aka ‘Vic’ Cumberland is regarded as one of the most storied players of his era and at age 43, was the oldest to have ever played in the VFL.

In the recently published Footballistics (James Coventry et al), strong cases are made for the inclusion of both Moriarty and Tom Leahy in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Mel Brock not only won a Magarey Medal in 1940, but also won the Lottery some time in the 1960s ($14,000 from memory).

 

Not recommended for followers of teams with black in their club colours.

 

I’m disappointed that Phar Call and L’Gopener weren’t going around at headquarters.

Tavel (Race 5) won the Adelaide Cup in 1970 and again in 1973 (the first public holiday running of the Cup).

Imagine trying to get out in the last with those 23 runners.

 

The Mini-League was an Under 11 comp until 1971 – these kids were my age or thereabouts. This was the last year of finals from memory.

For the Panthers, number 8 was tipped to become SA cricket’s great spinning hope and Fairclough, Crate, Would and Bennett would all play league football in the blue and white. Michael Lunniss played at Glenelg.

Westies probably won the Magarey Medal prelude. Wayne Slattery, Michael Aish,  Randall Bennett, cricketer David Cassidy and  Gavin Luders (brother of Roger) all kicked on in some shape or form.

I dreamed of coming home with a commemorative plastic footy. Never got one.

 

May 1 – Centrals’ shellacking at the hands of the Magpies was remarkably reversed at Elizabeth Oval on July 10 as the Dogs launched a devastating streak, halted only by Sturt.

 

SANFL p*rn, 1971 style.

Fritzy Freeman still in good form, I see.

What was Dennis Sachse doing in the Roosters magoos? Was that Max James in the Port twos?

Who else can you spot?

 

That move by Vidovich to East Fremantle seemed to have worked.

 

I preferred Tolley’s TST

 

I bet he did. I bet he did.

===========

This greatest game in Centrals’ short history to that point. The greatest game I never saw.

This was merely the midpoint of The Oatey Era at the Blues. Two more flags followed in 1974 and 1976 and they threw away 1978’s decider. Rick Davies, Michael Graham, Tony Burgan and Paul Bagshaw  playing in all of those. (Mick Nunan was on the winning side of the ledger in 1978 after transferring to the Parade). I met Jack once at the Globe Derby trots. He was very good at identifying squibs character.

Dennis Jones never coached again at Elizabeth. Two seasons at West Perth (73/74) and a season in the cellar at Melbourne in 1978 saw him out.

Tony Casserly was installed as Captain/Coach of the Dogs, only making the finals once in his four years in charge. He remained a very popular local identity until his passing earlier this year. He was very kind to a skinny bandy legged kid who couldn’t afford footy boots one year.

I wasn’t that concerned after we lost to Port in the prelim as we were clearly going places at Elizabeth. We won the first semi in 1972 against the Redlegs before throwing away a handy lead against Port in the prelim.

“Not to worry”, I thought. “There’ll be plenty of finals wins coming up in the next twenty years. Mark my words.”

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Update 28/8 – Lyndon ‘Beefy’ Andrews sent me this, his favourite footy photo, which was taken after the game (he is fifth from the left, below Dean Farnham and behind Barry Norsworthy)

About Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt

Saw my first SANFL game in 1967 - Dogs v Peckers. Have only ever seen the Dogs win 1 final in the flesh (1972 1st Semi) Mediocre forward pocket for the AUFC Blacks (1982-89) Life member - Ormond Netball Club -That's me on the right

Comments

  1. Great article Swish. A truly great day – I have vague memories of the last quarter (I was almost 9), but firm memories of being in the rooms after the game. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve looked through or read this particular Budget – I’ve a copy on my bookshelf at home. The halcyon days of S.A.N.F.L. (NOT ‘Sanfull’). I know a few of your minileague team mates (Toad de Cure!), and a few others that are scattered around the other sides. How Adelaide is that! Must send my dad the link. Thanks for posting.

  2. Dave Brown says

    Ah well, Swish, they eventually made up for it. A number of eventual Norwood premiership players in the seconds, thirds and colts, including early Stazza playing forward in the magoos, Kingo Taylor in the thirds, and Neil Craig in the colts. The 1909 Magarey is the gift that keeps on giving.

  3. Gold Gold Gold – thanks “Nugget”. That Sturt team of the late 60’s/early 70’s is also burned in my memory The beautiful game. Peter Endersbee was a personal fave with his shock of blonde surfie hair and check-side punts from the pocket. Peter Yeo crossing over from Port back when they were blood enemies. I’m sure he never ventured past Black Diamond Corner after dark.
    Thanks for the Bobby Gibson shout out. I’d be a rich man too if I’d never collected all those useless bits of cardboard from Jack Pill and Sons – thoroughbred actuaries. Closest I got to shaking Glen’s hand was collecting cardboard from him.
    Fritzy Freeman was doing a fair job as Port’s CHF/FF in his off season from touring South Africa as our opening quick bowler/cannon fodder to Graeme Pollock and a young Barry Richards.
    The 1925 Magarey Medallist Alec Lill was Dad’s branch manager in the Savings Bank at Henley Beach. A real gent. Father of John who was a fine batsman for SA in the 60’s (12th man in one Test) and went on to become MCC secretary for many years.
    That would be Dr Peter Barnes as Torrens best in the Magoos. Won the Ressies Magarey Medal in 1978. Terrific rover who played some league games when Wayne Jackson coached, but sensibly concentrated on his medical studies rather than league footy training. Olympic and Green Edge cycling medico and also Port Power team doctor.
    Noel Teasdale left the Peckers to coach the Eagles – doh. Out of the frying pan…………
    For your mob, I reckon Peter Nicks was a fine running half back in the Shannon Hurn mould.
    I could go on……. and on. First loves………….

  4. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    Thanks Rabs – good pickup re Toad – I bet he’s never admitted where he went to school. I thought about including that famous shot of the team celebrating in the rooms after the game, but Laidlaw/Mulholland rightly have first dibs on that.

    As you have pointed out Dave, documents like this are an Adelaide archaeologist’s delight.

    I compile these with you firmly in mind PB. You’ve probably only scratched your personal surface. Nicks is not the father of Sydney Swan Matthew.

  5. I read it all Swish!
    There were some famous names in that Westies team S. Nankervis and Woods, Tigani. But not as famous as the Toad!
    50 cents for admission to a game of old guys vs the umpires! bargain.
    M Aish must have played mini league when he was U10, as I played with him again on the Westies team in 1972.
    I recognize those thighs — Russell Ebert without a doubt!

  6. Absolute gold Swish trying to remember how the Coca Cola Cup worked ? I rang Aishy and was impressed how many players he quoted from both mini league sides have sent on to a number of people inc Ian Bradmore and Dean Farnham

  7. Just as an aside – how many of the Sturt players gave their occupation as ‘lay preacher’?

  8. Bewdy, Swish.

    Your mini league team mates from Elizabeth South also included Glenn (2ns) Bishop – who went on to play reserves for Centrals and some one-day cricket for Australia. Another one appears to have become my footy coach at Central United, Legs McKee (we never knew his first name or initial). I keep forgetting Toad De Cure was from the South (of the north).

    Centrals Footy Colours tasted the best with that bonus white choc coating. Luckily for us in Elizabeth, most delis that way only stocked the Centrals ones.

  9. Jill Tahtra says

    Oh wow mate this is fantastic. Love all the historical pieces you have put here almost stopped reading your post! The names wow amazing and as for the Eagles 2nd final against Glenelg not only do i remember the names but quite a few of the numbers without looking.. Love seeing the history and knowing its still there for those who wish to find out anything. I bought the bookd from the Eagles Club with the West Torrens history from 1897 to 1944. Fantastic especially the write up about my great uncle and his picture. All of these are so priceless. I use to have all my budgets from when I first started going to footy which was in the decade before you, was at the game when Bob Hank was pulled of but being so young it didn`t mean anything to me then. Keep up the great work this is the best one you have written, well I think so.

  10. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    Thanks ‘Book, from memory, the Coke Cup ran from 71-73, the format was sort of explained on page 3.

    Smithy, ta. Up until 1971, Mini League was for U11s, generally Grade 6, but in 1972 it was extended to Grade 7, which may explain why M Aish was a perpetual player at half time during the finals.

    BD, this was going to be one of my rare Bish free articles. Bruce Ramsay played a few games for Westies, Darren Roberts played baseball for Australia. That’s Brian McKee, younger brother of Ace (Steven) and Leg. (Trevor). And Mick Harley would also be known to you.

    That’s very kind Jill. I love being able to make this stuff available, it might disappear otherwise.

  11. Great read Swish. You’ve captured well the role CDFC and Elizabeth Oval played in our young lives. We used to play soccer in the morning and head to the ground still in our strips and muck around with the kids we’d played against (except for the Vale of course).
    Listened to this game on the radio with Dad who convinced me the glory years were ahead.

  12. Mark Duffett says

    I passed my child, teen and a good chunk of young adult years resenting that I was too young to remember these glory days, when Centrals had actually won finals. Thanks for the trip in the Wayback Machine.

    The wise football supporter travels by rail to big footy games, eh? Pity that eminently sensible precept was promptly forgotten for the next forty years.

  13. Well there it was Pinches..2nd best agaist. Woodville 1971 …great years at NFc.

  14. Great read Swish! A terrible day for me as a Sturt supporter but a good thing for the S.A.N.F.L as the first time one of the 1964 teams made the finals. Noticed the team lists couldn’t get yours or Toad’s name right (P. De Cure and M Schwert). Many other notable names in the league lists and plenty of familiar ones the mini-leaguers. On the plastic footies, I remember kicking them into the crowd on Preliminary final day in either 1971 or 1972. Quite a buzz. I also scavenged a couple as a spectator from to take home in 1973. Wonderful time to grow up, remember riding my bike to Unley Oval to watch Sturt.

  15. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    Thanks Culls – you dad was correct. Eventually.

    Apparently there were those that caught the train to Seaton or Grange to attend Football Park. I wasn’t one of them MD; I relied on the bus from Currie St

    Hey Roger, was that Dr Guy Maddern in your team?

    Bewdy Diggers – so I wasn’t the only kid that coveted one of those footys then?

  16. For the Blackers here – is that King Karutz running around in the Genelg Thirds?

  17. Adelaide to Sydney via Melbourne on a train is one hell of a journey.

  18. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    Rabs – that was King’s cousin I think.

    Smokie – that’s not the half of it. The Southern Aurora leg to Sydney was interrupted for a couple of hours when we hit a car somewhere in rural NSW.

  19. Peter Yeo; was he the chap who played 3 games for Mebourne back in 1972 ?

    Whilst on the topic of Yeo’s, is Peter Yeo related to the current Yeo @ West Coast ?

    Glen!

  20. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    That’s him Glen. I don’t think that he is related to Elliot, but (according to bigfooty) he is ex-Pie Ben Sinclair’s uncle.

  21. Geoff Wilson says

    I really enjoy your footy and cricket articles, Swish and I enjoyed this one as well. Loved the finals budget. Being the big Norwood fan that I am, I thought you might do one on the 72 First Semi, I was there as you were, even though we lost, there were some magnificent players gracing The Adelaide Oval on that day. I remember the game well, going with my Dad and sitting in the packed George Giffen Stand. Great days and memories, well done Swish.

  22. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    Thanks Geoff, glad to be of service.

    I did a small piece on that 1972 final here, but I didn’t give it the full Budget treatment.

    http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/sanfl-70s-pen-pix-norwood-v-central-district-1972/

  23. Earl O'Neill says

    You took a train to Sydney via Melbourne and had to stay in Kingswood? Oh, that’s harsh.
    Love the info and the ads, esp the layouts and the wacky sense of proportion.

  24. Sorry, Swish. I guess you’lll have to write another one and make that Bish-free. Thanks for reminding me of the first name of my U-13,14 coach. Yep, remember Mick Harley, also played for Central United, with his brothers

    Noticed Centrals were running 4th on the Stanley H Lewis Memorial Trophy ladder, remarkable in only their 8th proper season. If mini league was included, they may have been in 3rd pozzie (the 3 clubs above them on the trophy ladder were not so good in the mini league that year).

  25. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    I think my uncle drove us back to Adelaide in about twelve hours Earl, six of us in his Datsun 1000 on the return journey.

    Centrals won the Seconds flag that year BD, but we didn’t take Stanley home until 2001.

  26. Swish- finally caught up on this, another terrific article. Random things that emerged for me.

    -Beefy Andrews was the inaugural McDonalds franchisee in Whyalla.

    -Forgot that K. Whelan played quite a bit in the reserves.

    -As a student-teacher I spent about six weeks at Unley High. Malcolm Greenslade ran the school assemblies. He had no difficulties in getting a thousand people in the hall to come quickly to order.

    -Ahh, the Commonwealth Bank cheque account. Not having had a cheque account for about twenty years, we set up our banking in Singapore and regarding them as curious relics, declined the chance to have a cheque book facility. Soon learnt that in 2012 the cheque is a preferred way of conducting finance in Asia. Oops.

    -Gibbs pies and pasties! Had two pasty at the footy experiences over the weekend. One was a large and generous affair, the other; insipid, flavourless and miniscule. One was at Kapunda and the other at Glenelg. I reckon you know what was bought where!

    Thanks.

  27. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    Thanks Mickey (I’ll give Beefy a poke, he may not have read this yet)

    Spookily, we shared a sleeper carriage with people called Greenslade on the way over. Is Wenzel’s still trading down your way?

  28. I reckon Wenzel’s is closed. The bakery of choice is now probably the Orange Spot, at the bottom of Anzac Highway, close to the no longer Revolving Restaurant. I understand a young Kelli Underwood worked the counter there.

    I’m sure we’ve done this previously but my current power rankings are

    1. Cornish pasty

    2. Pepper pie

    last. Sausage roll.

  29. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    Mickey, I’ve had word from Beefy that he was appalled at your suggestion that he was involved in the sort of business undertaking that you mentioned. It was actually a Hungry Jacks.

  30. Mark Duffett says

    If Wenzel’s is no longer trading down your way, Mickey, it might be because it’s down mine. I always look forward to my southward umpiring appointments, to Huonville or Cygnet, as we make a point of stopping at the Huon Valley Bakery. To a South Australian it feels like coming home, an oasis of Kitchener buns and Cornish pasties in the desert of slices and savoury rolls that is Tasmanian baking.

    Of course I had to investigate immediately on making the discovery. Though the memory is now a few years old, I’m pretty sure it soon transpired from the friendly proprietors that they had recently relocated, their previous business being none other than Wenzel’s of Glenelg. I’ll have to verify the next time we’re down that way.

  31. Ian Kroehn says

    Hi Mark, Thanks for the memories of that great day when we finally overcame Sturt to record our first win over them. I have fond memories of that day. It was just the greatest experience running out and hearing the roar of the crowd and the centrals chant. It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
    I notice you mentioned Bob Shearman winning the Craven Filter kicking champion kick contest. I kicked off against him in the Final and was in front up until the last kick which I muffed but he only beat me by 1 point…so if only.
    Thanks for sharing and sad that you missed the great day.
    cheers Ian Kroehn

  32. Peter Myers says

    Aah yes, those were the days! Definitely the highlights of my all too brief but quite successful footy “career”. I was born a Norwood supporter, but always retain a bit of a soft spot for Westies. I’m pretty sure I’m the number 17 at left in the photo of the 1970 plastic footy kick-out. 70 and 71 back to back premiers, coached both times by former Redlegs legend Peter Aish. Both Aish brothers, Andrew and Michael were in the 1970 team, and I always thought Roger Luders was too, but can’t be sure. I nearly got to be captain in 1971, because Wayne Slattery’s dad got held up in traffic and just got in to Adelaide Oval in time. Probably just as well. It was a big deal playing in front of all those people, capped off by a free pie and coke after the game. Maybe the SANFL should bring back mini league finals?

  33. John MacKenzie says

    Despite being a Sturt supporter, congratulations on a great article reflecting upon what the SANFL meant to the kids of our era. Whilst we all fiercely followed our teams there was a common thread of respect for all the teams and players of the era.

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