1964 SANFL Mobil Cards – Part 2: Glenelg

 

This is the second in a club-by-club series on the players who appeared in the SANFL Mobil Card 1964 series and their individual stories.

 

A similar series on the 1971 cards was published here progressively a couple of years ago – that series can be found HERE.

 

Each of the four Glenelg players selected in 1964 captained the Tigers at some stage of their career, so the compilers of this series were on the money.

 

 

(4) DOUG LONG (Glenelg)

Born March 28, 1940

6’ 2”, 13st 8lb

Games – 31

 

 

Doug Long was a strapping young kid when he commenced his senior footy career with South Gambier in the South East and Border League in 1955. The big-bodied teen played mostly at full-back for the Demons but found success when moved into the key attacking positions early in 1956.

 

He had a crack at Geelong that year whilst on holiday but decided that at age 16 he was not yet ready for the jump to VFL ranks. He was confident enough to move to Geelong in 1957, hoping to get a couple of games in defence. The wise heads at the Cats thought that Long may have the goods as a ruck and he duly delivered in this unaccustomed role during the preseason.

 

 

Long had a very consistent debut season in the hoops, he played 17 games and put through 14 goals to win the Cats’ Best First Year Player award. He backed this up in 1958 during his 15 games and continued to impress with both dash and vigour. He was likely to have gained Victorian selection in 1959, but a broken finger against Collingwood in Round 7 dashed those chances.

 

He was again a solid contributor in 1960, he took his tally to 62 games and 49 goals in his first four seasons and became well-known for his powerful right foot roosts. Late that year, Long ran professionally over the 100 and 200 yard distances adding pace to his bag of tricks.

 

 

In 1961, a shoulder injury put Long out for a fortnight after Round 4 and a setback with injured ribs cost him a further five matches. In his absence, Geelong had surged into third spot when Long resumed in Round 15, but lost a virtual finals playoff against Footscray at the Western Oval to see the Cats miss the final four. Long was in supreme form during the Night Series played mid-week between the non-finalists, culminating in a best on ground rucking performance in Geelong’s win over North Melbourne in the Final at the Lake Oval, with 30,000 in attendance.

Long was approached by Glenelg in the SANFL during the post-season by a very persistent Secretary/Manager Ray Curnow, who camped outside Long’s home until he returned well after midnight from a card night with Geelong teammate and future Tiger Colin Rice.

 

Liking what he had been offered, Long looked to join the Tigers after 73 games as a Cat. He was still only 21 years old when he made the move to Adelaide, home of his wife Faye, having gained employment and expecting to play under Glenelg’s new coach Geof Motley. When Port Adelaide would not release Motley, Long was offered the captain-coach role in January 1962, despite not yet having been cleared by Geelong at that stage.

 

Long was eventually released to the Bays in February and took charge at a club that had won only six games in the previous two seasons. Although new to the coaching game, Long had the Tigers in fourth place after 15 rounds, but by losing the last four matches they finished a game and a half outside the top four. Still a 9-10 record was a significant improvement on the preceding two years. Long had also represented SA, riding high in the best players in the courageous win against WA. He was also selected in the Advertiser Team of the Year.

 

Any high hopes for 1963 were dashed early when Long’s Tigers could only defeat easybeats South Adelaide in the first five games. Home wins against eventual minor premiers, Dick Reynolds’ West Torrens and Fos Williams’ Port would have given Long some confidence in his coaching ability, but victories were scarce thereafter. Glenelg slumped to seventh with a 6-14 record, four games behind Sturt in sixth place. Long felt that his playing form had suffered greatly during his time as a coach, deciding to continue at Brighton Road as a player only.

 

Glenelg appointed triple Magarey Medallist Len Fitzgerald to replace Long in 1964. Fitzgerald had previously coached the Blues from 1952-1955 but had a dispute at Oxford Terrace after failing to receive a bonus payment despite taking Sturt to a Prelim Final. He then spent three years as captain-coach of Benalla in the Ovens and Murray, before returning to Sturt as a player. Harry Kernahan was appointed Glenelg captain. Long’s consolation prize was his inclusion in the 1964 Mobil Cards series, featuring his broad grin and Chesty Bond countenance. Once unburdened of the coaching duties, Long brought strength and versatility to the Bays and they overcame a shaky start to storm home and nab fourth spot. His dominance at Centre Half Forward in the first semi-final was not enough to defeat Sturt. Long could be well pleased with his tally of 20 games, 26 goals and continued State selection as well as his second Advertiser Team of the Year berth.

 

In 1965, Long continued to provide robust service, playing 16 club games and gaining SA selection (against Victoria) for the final time. Glenelg had shocking starts and ends to the season winning ten games and finished sixth.

 

Injuries kept Long to a dozen games in 1966, which was a dismal season for the eventual wooden spooners, with three wins.  Fitzgerald’s time in charge at League level was over, although he later coached the Tiger Under 19s. Long’s younger brother Bruce had joined him as a Tiger and played 32 games over 1966-1968.

 

 

 

 

Glenelg’s appointment of recent dual SANFL premiership captain-coach Neil Kerley yielded instant results in 1967. Kerley showed great faith in Long, recognising that he still had much to offer in the big man department. Long shared the rucking duties with his skipper throughout 21 valuable games, including a best on ground in the final Minor Round win over Norwood. Glenelg finished fourth in the Minor Round. Bringing up his century of games for the Tigers in the First Semi Final, Long lost the toss to the new Magarey Medallist Trevor ‘Bubbles’ Obst. Long’s season ended in the second quarter due to badly bruised ribs. Port’s ruck division proved far better in Long’s absence and the Magpies kicked away in the second half. A third Advertiser Team of the Year selection showed that Long was still a force.

 

 

 

 

Long was again prominent in 1968, kicking 20 goals from his 17 games but his team fell out of finals contention in the last month of the season, missing by a game. Things could have been a lot different if not for the Round 14 loss to Sturt. A Doug Long goal was disallowed when the goal umpire was struck by a bag full of sand thrown from the crowd, rendering the man in the white butcher’s coat unsighted. Glenelg may have won instead of losing by one point to a wobbly kick after the final siren by Blue Graham Weir.

 

Glenelg surged to the top of the ladder in Round 2 of 1969 and remained there throughout the Minor Round. The return of Harry Kernahan from Whyalla saw Long take over the full back position for most of the year. In the Second Semi-Final the finals-hardened Sturt overcame Glenelg’s brilliant opening to lead at every change and run away with the game in the fourth term. Long, playing at full back had a torrid time, conceding half a dozen majors to Sturt spearhead Malcolm Greenslade. A hamstring injury early in the game required some ‘treatment’ at half-time and kept Long out of action the following week. Kevin Rowe took over the full back job in the Preliminary Final win over West Adelaide and retained his spot for the decider, so Long was unable to force his way back into the Glenelg Grand Final twenty. Sturt easily accounted for the Bays to register its fourth of its five consecutive flags.

 

 

 

 

Doug and Faye Long were vital contributors to the fabric of the Glenelg club, opening their home to new players such as Graham Cornes and keeping regular tabs on their welfare.

 

After 135 games and 124 goals (plus 7 state games) Long retired as a player at the end of 1969. He acted as Kerley’s runner for a few seasons after that, including donning the white King Gees and manning the walkie-talkie during Glenelg’s historic 1973 Grand Final victory over North Adelaide. He entered the Glenelg Football Club Hall of Fame (1961-1976) in 2006.

 

 

(5) Colin Richens (Glenelg)

Born March 31, 1940

5ft 7in 12st 6lb

Games – 124

 

 

 

Whyalla born Colin ‘Nugget’ Richens (or “Collin” if you believe his birth notice) was a standout player from a young age. Chosen as captain of the Far North team for the SAPSASA Country Championships in 1953, a wrist injury kept him out of the carnival held in Adelaide.

 

In 1955, playing for North Whyalla, Richens was awarded the Wakefield Medal as the Best and Fairest in the Whyalla Thirds (under-age) competition. He took the eye of Glenelg during his single season at senior level the following year and in 1957 he found himself undertaking Leaving Honours at Adelaide High School. The club also stumped up for his board and lodging (£5 weekly) and weekly pocket money of £1.

 

The Glenelg Secretary Ray Curnow touted Richens as the ‘best ever recruit from the Upper North’, but the club needed to prise the rugged and feisty young redheaded rover from the clutches of his school’s football team, which was a bit rough as it was the Bays that brought him to town in the first place.

 

Richens hit the training track with gusto in 1957. Any doubt about his readiness for the league ranks was soon dispelled and he was a fixture in the seniors. Under coach Charlie ‘Chooka’ May (father of Wally), the Bays took their customary lowly position on the ladder, seventh with a 6-12 record. That was the last of May’s three seasons in charge at Brighton Road.

 

Glenelg appointed 1957 captain Neil Davies as captain-coach in 1958. In just his second year, Richens was initially selected in the 1958 Carnival team but withdrew due to a broken blood vessel in his leg. His ability to spin out of packs and deliver with either foot had Richens marked as a cut above the average player. Another seventh place with 5 wins saw Glenelg better only the wooden spooner Sturt.

 

Both of those sides rose to finish in the top four in 1959 and Richens made his State debut, playing in all four Croweater games. The only time that Glenelg were in the top four all season was after the last Minor Round game. The Tigers prevailed by a single point in the First Semi-Final over the Double Blues. Richens kicked 3 goals and appeared in the best players. Two weeks later in the Preliminary Glenelg was no match for Port Adelaide, losing to Port Adelaide by 59 points. The Magpies won its sixth successive flag the next week against West Adelaide. Richens, at 19 years old, was awarded the Glenelg Best and Fairest, the first of many, plus the first rover’s spot in the Advertiser Team of the Year.

 

Concerned that his playing form had dropped off (and perhaps due to some financial disagreements), Davies relinquished both the coaching role and the captaincy in 1960. Glenelg curiously appointed 1941 Magarey Medallist Marcus Boyall, some twenty years after his seven game coaching stint at the club. Richens was appointed captain (at age 20, he was Glenelg’s youngest ever skipper) and he was Glenelg’s best player in his first game in charge, a four goal loss to Sturt. That set the scene for a dreadful season, the Bays firmly at the bottom of the ladder with only two wins. Richens kicked 29 goals to share the club goalkicking with Harry Kernahan.

 

 

 

 

Boyall’s unsurprising departure led to the appointment of Club stalwart Stan Wickham as the 1961 coach and Bill Herron replaced Richens as skipper. Glenelg’s season was sent askew when Wickham was unavailable due to illness and needed to be replaced by Davies midway through the season. Glenelg finished seventh with four wins. Richens was selected as Glenelg’s Best and Fairest, despite polling no Magarey Medal votes. This was somewhat controversial given that Glenelg defender Hayden Linke was runner up in the Magarey Medal to John Halbert with 18 votes and Herron received 12 votes.

 

Another change of coaches heralded the 1962 season with ex-Geelong player Doug Long in charge at Brighton Road after efforts to secure Geof Motley from Port proved fruitless. A mid-range team for most of the year, Glenelg finished fifth with a 9-10 record. Richens brought up his 100^th game during 1962, playing 19 games. His tally of 29 goals was his club’s best.

 

Richens was studying as an electrical engineer from 1958 to 1962 thanks to an ETSA cadetship. Glenelg’s lack of September football in that time allowed him to study intensively prior to his annual exams.

 

Glenelg lapsed to seventh in 1963, but Richens had a marvellous year, taking out his third club Best and Fairest. He commenced the season in his customary roving role, but after five matches he was tried by coach Long in the back pocket. He succeeded there immediately as a straight-ahead defender, making the new role his own for the next few months until he was switched back onto the ball late in the season.

 

With Neil Davies retiring, Richens was Glenelg’s most experienced player and he was a popular choice to represent his club in the 1964 Mobil Footy Cards series. His ‘how’s this?’ pose was a fair depiction of his playing style.

 

Len Fitzgerald took over from Long in 1964 and the introduction of Brian McGowan from South Melbourne and Geelong’s Colin ‘Sago’ Rice bolstered the Tiger small brigade. Richens was appointed vice-captain to Harry Kernahan but returned to the back pocket. Wearing his beloved number 18 jumper, the nuggety now-defender regained his spot in the South Australian side and was SA’s best player in the home victory over WA, having also been high in the best against Victoria. The Bays returned to the finals, finishing fourth. In a narrow loss to Sturt in the First Semi-Final, Richens was his side’s best with 23 kicks and 3 marks, quelling the influence of Ted Langridge and Roger Dunn around the sticks. Rice was the Bay B&F and McGowan’s 54 majors headed the Tiger goalkicking. Richens was back pocket in the Advertiser Team of the Year.

 

 

 

 

In 1965 the Tigers could not back up its good showing and fell out of finals contention by losing the last four games, finishing sixth. Another solid season in defence from Richens saw his selection for SA against Victoria at the MCG and his club games tally reached 164 by season’s end.

 

Fitzgerald sealed his coaching fate when Glenelg slumped to last place in 1966 with a mere three wins. Richens remained resolute throughout a dismal year, adding his fourth Best and Fairest as well as finishing high up in the media awards (including runner-up to Lindsay Head in the Sunday Mail Mildara Football Trophy, pocketing $20 prize money as a result). According to the 1967 South Australian Football Record Year Book:

 

As a defender [Richens] prefers to follow the ball and back his judgment, rather than stick close to the resting rover.

He turns and props cleverly, handles the ball surely and can drive the ball out of danger with 50-60 yard dropkicks.

 

 

 

 

The coming of Neil Kerley in 1967 saw Richens return to roving, now that both Rice and McGowan were off the scene. Richens became the youngest player at the time to reach 200 SANFL league appearances, joining Tigers Ray Hunt, Blue Johnston and Allan Crabb in the exclusive ‘200 Club’. He also slammed through 35 majors, taking his career tally to 220 goals.

 

Having also risen the ranks at ETSA in parallel to his football career, Richens was promoted to Assistant Electrical Engineer at Port Augusta’s Playford Power Station and decided that his time at Brighton Road would come to an end due to the travel involved.

 

 

 

 

In 1968 Richens returned to Glenelg for some late season matches, but in a familiar tale, the Tigers dropped four of the last five games and gave up fourth spot to West Adelaide. He also played in 4 night series matches, finishing his career on 209 games. While at Port Augusta, he played for Willsdon and West Augusta and had a long, distinguished professional career with ETSA.

 

In 2002, Colin Richens was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame and was a walk up start for the Glenelg Football Club Hall of Fame (1961-1976) in 2001. His career was somewhat unheralded, but certainly not by those in the know at Glenelg.

 

 

(10) Brian McGowan (Glenelg)

Born Jan 1, 1938

5ft 5in, 11st 8lb

Games nil

 

 

 

 

Barham NSW’s Brian McGowan was only 13 when England’s Bedser twins declared that he was the most promising junior cricketer that they came across during their 1952 Victorian coaching tour. Within a couple of years, he was to win the Barham Football Club’s Best and Fairest award.

 

The diminutive rover was signed by South Melbourne in 1955, moving between the thirds and the seconds. His senior debut against Fitzroy at the Brunswick Street Oval came in Round 13. After that single match, he returned to the lower grades and took out the Swans’ Thirds Best and Fairest.

 

It was his only senior appearance across 1955-1956, although he was good enough to play in premierships for the Thirds, Seconds and the League night series flag in 1956.

 

McGowan became a regular in 1957 but his form was initially up and down. After a very promising start against St Kilda with four goals and best player honours, he was consigned to the Seconds by Round 7. However, he soon regained form and commenced a fruitful roving pairing with the Swans’ young star Bob Skilton, finishing his first full senior season with 11 goals from 12 appearances. Coach Herbie Matthews, his club’s first Brownlow Medal recipient, finished his three years at the helm after three also-ran seasons.

 

Swans’ Captain Ron ‘Smokey’ Clegg, also a Brownlow Medallist was appointed Coach in 1958 and saddled with an inexperienced side had little choice but to ‘give the young chaps ago’. McGowan at age 20 benefited from this approach, recording 22 goals from his 15 outings. He took the eye of the press with a ‘courageous and unselfish’ performance against Fitzroy in round which heralded a five match winning streak. Over the final half dozen games, McGowan nailed 16 goals.

 

McGowan’s breakthrough year came in 1959 as the Skilton-McGowan duo became recognised as the best roving combination in the VFL. McGowan was sharp around the sticks from the outset, kicking four goals in a Round 1 win over Collingwood. Both McGowan and Skilton plundered goals almost at will during the first months of the season.

 

McGowan was selected in the second of Victoria’s two state sides, playing against Tasmania at Devenport. He kicked 2 goals in a fiery match that descended into ‘pandemonium’ in the last quarter as the visitors continued to make short work of the home side. The Victorian first side, with Skilton as first rover, obliterated Western Australia by 178 points at the MCG that same weekend. McGowan’s club goals dried up until Round 17, where he slammed through 7 majors, a career best. On Brownlow Medal night, Skilton’s 16 game, 60 goal season was rewarded with the first of his three medals, accumulating 20 votes. McGowan’s best season saw his 18 games and 31 goals also catch the eye of the man in white and he finished in tenth place with 10 votes. Despite all this individual brilliance, South was in ninth place at season’s end.

 

The Swans’ coaching roundabout continued in 1960, with premiership player and journeyman coach Bill Faul given the task of obtaining some September action. McGowan had a solid season, playing in each game. His club made some slight progress to finish eighth with 7 wins, although four of those were achieved by Round 7.

 

McGowan enjoyed a spot of professional running, like many other players of the time. In one event during the off-season, he, along with Ron Barassi and Brian Dixon won heats of the 130 yard dash. In the final, Dixon and McGowan finished behind the winner, 1955 Stawell Gift winner Jack O’Donnell.

 

 

 

 

The following year started with promise, South defeating the eventual premiers Hawthorn in the season opener and winning three of the first five matches. Like 1960, the rest of the season only saw two more wins. In an eleventh placed side, McGowan took out the Swans’ goal-kicking award with 38, scoring in all but one of the nippy left-footer’s 18 matches. South’s 5-13 record had the club looking for yet another coach.

 

Three-time Melbourne premiership player Noel McMahen was appointed by South as the VFL’s first full-time coach in 1962 after four successful seasons with Rochester in the Bendigo Football League. He still had the VFL’s best roving partnership at his disposal and things looked rosy when South polished off North Melbourne and St Kilda in the first two games.

 

In between those two wins, on Anzac Day there was an exhibition match played between so-called Carnival Team (from 1961) and The Rest, which was to be used a guide to Victorian selection during 1962. McGowan received a late call-up for The Rest when Essendon’s John Birt could not play due to blisters.  He scored a goal and was prominent for the victors, giving the State selectors something to think about.

 

South’s early form heralded another false dawn as they did not taste victory again until the Round 16 win over Fitzroy. McGowan’s 25 goals from 18 games were second to Skilton’s 36 goals, which says a bit about South’s reliance on the two by the eventual wooden spooners. The final game of the year against Essendon brought up McGowan’s 100^th League appearance.

 

 

 

 

McGowan injured a knee during the 1963 preseason, thought at the time to be a pinched or bruised cartilage. Requiring regular treatment, he was often listed as a doubtful starter but managed to get on the park for each of South’s 4 wins and 14losses. He even tossed aside the impact of a car accident in August which required 18 stitches. McGowan took to the field wearing a protective skier’s helmet on the following Saturday against Hawthorn at the Lake Oval – celebrating his 100th game in succession. Like 1962, McGowan’s 19 goals for the season ran second to Skilton’s 36, the latter acquiring the second of his three Brownlows.

 

At the finish of the 1963 season, after a 118 game/171 goal career at the Lake Oval, McGowan told South that he intended to look for country or interstate opportunities. A testimonial dinner was held at the Cecil Hotel in the city for him.

 

Eventually deciding to join Glenelg from 1964, McGowan came with such big wraps that he was given a spot on the Mobil Cards roster for his new club, despite having yet to play for the Tigers.

 

Like many players of the time, he found employment in the motor vehicle game.

 

 

 

 

The 1964 season saw plenty of new blood at Glenelg, headed by Len Fitzgerald’s appointment as coach. Geelong’s recent premiership rover Colin Rice took umbrage to some comments made on World Of Sport by coach Bob Davis and wanted out. Shrewd Glenelg Secretary Ray Curnow had Rice over to Brighton Road in a flash, thus assembling a formidable roving couple from the VFL ranks. In an impressive start from McGowan, he was Glenelg’s best twice in the first five weeks and was high up in the media awards. He was in red hot form in the middle of the season, leading the League goalkicking as well. By the end of the Minor Round, he was second in the goalkicking to Sturt’s Ross Sawley and equal second in the Sunday Mail Mildara Award behind Sturt’s John Halbert.

 

Finishing the Minor Round in fourth, the Bays were thought by many to have been hard done by in the First Semi Final against Sturt. Deep into the last quarter, McGowan ran around the man on the mark and delivered the ball to Ray Button within scoring range, only to see McGowan controversially penalised for running too far by umpire Ken Cunningham. The five point loss was Glenelg’s only final during Fitzgerald’s tenure.

 

McGowan finished the year as Glenelg’s top goalkicker with 54 goals, including two bags of six, ahead of Rice who kicked 40 and McGowan was also the club’s highest Magarey Medal vote getter.

 

In 1965, McGowan excelled even further, winning the Best and Fairest for the Tigers from his 20 games/29 goals. His team started terribly, but climbed as high as fifth by June, before failing to go on with the business and finishing in sixth place. McGowan was reported in the first quarter of the final game of the season for striking Torrens enforcer Fred Bills (and vice versa). The plucky rover was replaced in the second quarter due to a bruised back and cut eye.

 

 

 

 

Colin Rice departed for Bendigo after two seasons. Curiously, the SA selectors did not give McGowan a look in, while Rice played six times for SA in 1964-1965.

 

McGowan took over as Captain of The Bays in 1966 when Harry Kernahan was transferred to Whyalla. The absence of ‘Sago’ and ‘Horse’ was felt strongly as Glenelg only took out the two premiership points on three occasions. This lamentable season was the last for coach Fitzgerald. McGowan’s troublesome knee prevented him from training for much of the season.

 

It was hoped than an operation in 1967 would alleviate this, but sadly McGowan was unable to return in 1968 either.

 

After 58 games and 117 goals for Glenelg, McGowan hung up the boots at the age of 28. He had a lifetime of successful business in the motor vehicle trade, starting with his eponymous Fiat dealership. He was also a prominent member of the Glenelg Vice-Presidents group for several years.

 

 

(21) Harry Kernahan

Born October 17, 1937

6ft 2 ½in, 13st 8lb

Games – 87

 

 

 

 

Born and raised in Port Augusta, Harry Kernahan Jr was the son of Northern Irish migrants who settled on the Eyre Peninsula in the 1930s.

 

He began his senior football with South Augusta, doing well enough to be signed by West Torrens in 1957.

 

Harry’s time as an Eagle was very brief – one game in Seconds at the unfamiliar position of centre half back against Port Adelaide. He was smashed by State player and future Woodville coach Peter Obst who was slumming it in the magoos, and was sent packing. The chastened Kernahan played out the year with Kensington Gardens in the East Torrens Football Association.

 

In 1958 he trotted out for the premiers Brighton in the Amateur League A3 grade.

 

He gave League footy another go in 1959 at Glenelg and was picked for his senior debut early on, becoming familiar with the on-the-bench dressing gowns for the first few months. Glenelg had an excellent season, making the Preliminary Final, but Kernahan was not selected during the finals by coach Neil Davies.

 

Kernahan was tall by early 1960s standards and was hard and tough, not dirty, but knew how to make the most of his size, with elbows and knees working double time, as many opposing ruckmen of the day would attest to. He was also an astute palmer at ball ups.

 

Previously playing in dark rimmed spectacles of the Clark Kent variety and given the unflattering nickname of ‘Harry the Horse’, he started wearing contact lenses in 1960, which helped immensely. After Round 5 Kernahan led the league goalkicking and he shared the Glenelg Top Goalkicker with Colin Richens on 29 at season’s end, but the Tigers had fallen steeply to the bottom rung of the ladder under Marcus Boyall’s coaching. Kernahan’s younger brother John was also at the club from 1961-1963.

 

New coach Stan Wickham (himself replaced mid-season due to illness by Davies) steered the Bays one place higher in 1961. Kernahan consolidated his spot at the Bay, often making the lower reaches of the Best Player list without necessarily being a standout.

 

Harry was a fair cricketer too, taking 52 wickets for the season for Keswick Cricket Clubs firsts.

 

Under (yet another) new coach in Doug Long, Kernahan took the next step when he selected to represent his state in 1962. The Kernahan name was etched into SA football history against WA at Subiaco. The Croweaters had lost Neil Kerley and Geof Motley when they failed match-day fitness tests and injuries befell Jeff Potter, Neville Hayes and 19^th man Fred Bills, so 20^th man Kernahan was required much earlier than usual. After a collision with team-mate Ian Hannaford broke Kernahan’s collarbone, but there was no-one left on the bench. Harry unselfishly remained on the field (wearing two long-sleeve guernseys for protection), playing up forward in the last quarter while his team overcame a two-goal deficit to take out a famous 16 point win.

 

 

 

 

On the domestic front, the Tigers looked to have sewn up a finals berth, but dropped the final four games to finish fifth. Kernahan gave yeoman service, kicking 25 goals from his 16 games.

 

Harry experienced SA glory again in 1963 when he was a member of the much revered side that defeated Victoria on the MCG, a Big V side that was selected on a ‘best available’ method, rather than the customary way that ensured that each club was represented. (The often-overlooked return encounter in Adelaide a few weeks later saw the Vics turn the tables.) Kernahan was high in the best when SA trounced Tasmania on a waterlogged Adelaide Oval, in what was an atrocious example of high level footy (‘highlights’ of this match can be found here if you dare).

 

SANFL wins were scarce at Brighton Road. Despite a top notch on-ball brigade of Doug Long, Kernahan (now installed as vice-captain) and Colin Richens, Glenelg’s six wins was only enough to claim seventh spot on the ladder and finish off Long’s brief coaching career. Kernahan’s 19 games yielded 20 goals, good enough to see him gain his first Advertiser Team of the Year spot.

 

New coach Len Fitzgerald appointed Kernahan as his skipper in 1964, a fitting reward for the service that the stout-hearted ruckman had given over his 87 career games to date. His thoughtful pose in the Mobil Footy cards backed up Blair Schwartz’s comments in the album:

 

“[Kernahan] has developed from a serviceable club footballer into a State representative mainly because of his ability to absorb everything he hears and sees. He is essentially a team-man who at times has had to carry the Glenelg rucks. Well-judged leaps and vice-like grip when marking are his tow greatest attributes”

 

Glenelg rebounded into the top four with 12 wins and two draws, the best of which was a win over eventual premiers South Adelaide in Round 9. Kernahan brought up his SANFL games century during the year. The first semi-final against Sturt saw the Bays go down narrowly. In a hectic final term, Kernahan dropped a sitter in defence which cost a goal, but he later cancelled out that blunder with a goal of his own late in the term.

 

Kernahan led his side again in 1965 but early losses saw the Tigers playing catchup until they faded out badly late in the season to finish sixth. He also regained his State spot.

 

In 1966, his League career was derailed when Kernahan’s employer, the Commonwealth Bank, transferred him to Whyalla. He spent three seasons as South Whyalla’s captain-coach. Kernahan was part of a three-way tie for the Whyalla League Medal in 1967. Playing against such future SANFL stars as Barrie Robran and Graham Cornes, Kernahan took the Demons to bottom place of the Spencer Gulf League in 1966, but when the Whyalla League was reconvened in 1967 they finished second and won the 1968 flag. Harry was named in South Whyalla’s Team of the Century in 2019 (as was his future successor to the role of Glenelg FC General Manager, Laurie Rosewarne).

 

 

 

 

Returning to the city in 1969, Kernahan met a different Glenelg club – Neil Kerley was about to start his third season as captain-coach, his Whyalla opponent Cornes was the Tigers’ reigning Best and Fairest, the club’s jumper was not the black-with-gold-yoke and Harry was now in his early thirties. In Kernahan’s first game back for the Bays, he had a strong tussle with South’s Peter Darley in ruck, gained the ascendancy after the long break and potted three valuable majors. He was best on ground in Round 3 when Glenelg trounced the ’66, ’67, ’68 premiers Sturt. He had lost none of his ability or form during his three year absence.

 

After Round 9, his team was undefeated and Kernahan gained a state team berth in the ANFC Carnival held in Adelaide. To quote the Football Budget, he remained ‘solid, reliable [with] great stamina and courage’. The best of his three games was against Tasmania, where he shared ruck-roving duties with Robran (now in his third season at North).

 

 

 

 

 

Glenelg dropped only three games on the way to a rare Minor Premiership but were unable to get past the finals-hardened Blues in the Second Semi. Kernahan rucked manfully in the Prelim Final win over West Adelaide, but the Sturt’s Oatey-driven machine proved too good in the Grand Final over Glenelg (despite Royce Hart’s appearance for the Tigers). Kernahan was amongst his team’s best. His return season was capped off with his second Advertiser Team of the Year spot.

 

The experiences of both Glenelg mirrored those of its aging (war) Horse as both the club and Kernahan produced patchy performances throughout 1970. With Kerley now a non-playing coach, the Bays hovered around the top four for most of the year but fell against some lesser lights. Only an unlikely draw between Norwood and Port saw Glenelg scrape into September on percentage. Given a sniff of finals, Kernahan rose to the occasion and hauled his side over the line against North in the First Semi-Final, despite being knocked rotten in the last quarter.

 

He was quieter in Glenelg’s surprise usurping of Minor Premier Port Adelaide in the Preliminary Final. This was probably due to the outsized ‘bloomers’ that Kernahan brought to the game, which caused great merriment in the crowd, but left him ‘bloody embarrassed and humiliated’ until a more suitable pair was found at half-time. Coach Kerley reminded the assembled Tiger huddle at the last change that Kernahan’s age may be a factor in his poor showing and he needed to lift significantly (or words to that effect). Kernahan admitted to ‘throwing one’ at the coach, before he was restrained by cooler heads. Kerley’s rocket worked and Glenelg was into successive Grand Finals on the back of a huge last quarter effort from The Big Horse, although Glenelg had to go into damage control to convince their main ruckman to front up for the Grand Final.

 

 

 

 

Although Sturt again succeeded in the decider, giving the Blues five-in-a-row, it was no fault of Kernahan (who was ably assisted in ruck by Wayne Phillis).

 

The indefatigable Horse finally gave way to the ravages of a knee injury after playing four games in 1971, his career in the black and gold finishing after 176 games for 149 goals plus 10 games for South Australia.

 

Kernahan’s post-playing career is also impressive. He was appointed as Kerley’s assistant in 1971 and 1972. In 1973, he succeeded Ray Curnow as Secretary/Manager of the Glenelg Football Club. He held this position from 1973 to 1987, overseeing the club’s most successful era, with three premierships (1973, 1985, 1986). Harry and wife Annette’s sons Stephen (’85) and David (’85,’86) were both premiership players at Glenelg whilst eldest son Gary represented Glenelg at U17 and U19 level.

 

 

 

 

Kernahan was described as having an ‘Investment Consultancy’ when he became a Charter Member of the Somerton Park Rotary Club in 1987.

 

Harry also served as South Adelaide’s General Manager in the 1990s. He passed away aged 74 in 2012.

 

Harry Kernahan is one of the eighteen Greats of Glenelg

 

He was inducted into the SA Football Hall of Fame in 2018 – the footage of the ceremony contained here gives an indication of the breadth and depth of his marvellous footballing life. He was inducted into the Glenelg Football Club Hall of Fame (1961-1976) in 2001.

 

Mike Sexton’s reflections upon Harry’s passing in 2012 underline his great importance to the Glenelg Football Club.

 

 

 

References

General References

Mobil football photos album 1964 (author’s collection)
South Australian Football Record Year Books (author’s collection)
South Australian Football in the Sixties – Gyss (author’s collection)
South Australian Football Budgets (author’s collection)
South Australian Country Football Digest – Lines (author’s collection)
1964 A Game, A Season, A State – Sexton (author’s collection)
Footy World Magazine (1966-71) (author’s collection)
Fos Williams On Football 1959-1965 – Sexton (ed.) (author’s collection)
Footy in the 1960s – Roberts, Winkler (eds.) (author’s collection)
Pride Of The Bay – Cornwall and Wood (MCC Library)
Tiger Souvenir 1969 – Glenelg Football Club (gfchistory.com)
The Stolen Dream – Devaney (author’s collection)
SA Football Budget (author’s collection)
VFL Football Record (author’s collection)
australianfootball.com
afltables.com
History of the Glenelg Football Club – gfchistory.com
Glenelg Football Club – glenelgfc.com.au
wiki.snoutslouts.org

 

Doug Long

The Age via Google Newspapers

Colin Richens

SA Footy Stars of the Past – Whimpress (author’s collection)

Brian McGowan

The Age via Google Newspapers

Harry Kernahan

SA Footy Stars of the Past – Whimpress (author’s collection)
Pound For Pound – Cornwall and Eustice (author’s collection)

 

 

More from Swish Schwerdt can be read Here.

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

 

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