1964 SANFL Mobil Cards – Part 2: Glenelg

September 10, 2024 by 11 Comments

In Part 2 of Swish’s 1964 SANFL Mobil Card series, four Glenelg Football Club stalwarts were featured, Doug Long, Colin Richens, Brian McGowan and Harry Kernahan.

Almanac Footy: SA v WA 1971 – Run Of The Mill

July 2, 2024 by 13 Comments

This between-Carnivals state game between SA and WA in 1971 was full of household names, but is largely forgotten. Swish take us back to the days of Ansett, Golden Fleece, AMSCOL and players with names such as Bob, Graham, George, Len, Terry and Ian.

SANFL 1976 – Sonny Morey’s 200th Game: Footage and Interviews

May 13, 2024 by 21 Comments

Sonny Morey is a pillar of this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round in the AFL. We first published Swish’s piece about Sonny Morey in 2016. It’s timely to re-visit it. [Check out the superb pre-match and post-match interviews with Gordon Schwartz]

From the video vaults of 1976 – Sonny Morey is interviewed by Gordon Schwartz on the day of his 200th SANFL game. Includes footage before, during and after the match. Where does Torrens stalwart Bobby Gibson fit in? Whatever happened to Golden Breed?

Almanac Book Review: ‘Stories for Harry & Ray’ by Michael Sexton

February 26, 2024 by 5 Comments

Swish has had a read of Mike Sexton’s latest book ‘Stories for Harry & Ray’. He recommends it highly in this review.

1964 SANFL Mobil Cards – Part 1: Central District

February 22, 2024 by 17 Comments

‘Swish’ launches Part 1 of his 1964 SANFL Mobil cards series with Central District, one of the two new additions to SANFL League ranks in that year. You may know of Gary Window and Ken Eustice, but Sam Donovan and Jock O’Brien had colourful careers too.

Almanac Memoir: Swish Agonistes – A 70s Tribute to Sandy Stone

February 20, 2024 by 28 Comments

Attention: men (and women) ‘of a certain age’. Mark ‘Swish’ Schwerdt has drilled into your collective unconscious and found memories you thought you’d forgotten. [A classic from ten years ago reprised. – Ed]

Almanac Life: The Things I Miss (and some I don’t)

December 23, 2023 by 23 Comments

Swish opened The Age to Page 2 today and saw something that got him thinking.

Almanac Footy: Qualifying For Finals Success

September 21, 2023 by 1 Comment

No club likes to be dumped from the finals in straight sets, but Swish spares a thought for those clubs that win their Qualifying Final, only to miss out on a spot in the Grand Final. Will it happen again this week?

SA v WA 1968: Home Ground Advantage

August 22, 2023 by 14 Comments

When South Australia and Western Australia met in Adelaide in 1968 the result went as expected. Both sides were sprinkled with names that were legendary in their respective states, some went on to national prominence but for others it was their only shot at State-level footy. Read what the SA Football Budget had to say about these stars of the 1960s. There’s a treat in store for those with a connection to Broken Hill also.

Almanac Cricket – Crease, Wicket Leave, Safe etc. – What Was Yours?

July 12, 2023 by 13 Comments

Swish asked Twitter about a particular Bairstow-related backyard cricket rule. How would you have responded?

SANFL 1970 Grand Final – Sturt v Glenelg: A Fistful Of Flags

June 5, 2023 by 8 Comments

Swish was gifted the Budget from the 1970 SANFL Grand Final by Sturt fan Phil Daly, which was the final of Sturt’s five successive flags.

SANFL 1967 Grand Final – Sturt v Port Adelaide: Back To Back Blues

May 16, 2023 by 5 Comments

The 1967 SANFL Grand Final was a rematch of the 1966 decider, pitting Jack Oatey’s skills based approach against Fos Williams’ physical style of football. The bigger, bolder ‘souvenir’ Football Budget says much about mid-1960s Adelaide.

Almanac Life: Elizabeth South Primary, Grade 7, 1972.

January 28, 2023 by 30 Comments

Swish reckons that 1972, his final year of primary school at Elizabeth South was up there with his best. [Fine memoir – JTH]

SANFL Blow-ins 1960-1990 Part 4: North Adelaide

December 23, 2022 by 14 Comments

After a lengthy hiatus, Swish returns with the next club in his series of SANFL Blow-Ins, looking at the North Adelaide Roosters.

1971 SANFL Mobil Cards – Part 10: Woodville

September 19, 2022 by 13 Comments

Here’s the final club of Swish’s SANFL 1971 Mobil Cards series, the Woodville Woodpeckers (as they were). Blight, Holland, Huppatz, Simunsen – what stars they all were!

SANFL 1973 Grand Final – Glenelg v North Adelaide: The Stud Gets Up

August 29, 2022 by 6 Comments

The 1973 SANFL Grand Final went down as a classic tussle, not decided until deep in the final term after a famous mark by Graham Cornes. Swish takes us back almost 50 years, to a time of car-salesman coaches, Vulcan oil heaters and groovy graphics.

Almanac Footy History: First Class Sheffield Shield Footy Connections, 1971

June 11, 2022 by 22 Comments

The days of the dual footy/cricket champion are long gone, but Swish saw a couple from the top shelf in a 1971 Sheffield Shield game, along with a pretty handy supporting cast.

1972 SANFL Grand Final – North Adelaide v Port Adelaide: Same Again Thanks

May 5, 2022 by 22 Comments

It’s fifty years since North Adelaide completed back-to-back SANFL flags. Swish takes a look at the 1972 Grand Final Footy Budget and provides some observations from the Roosters’ acclaimed win in the Champions of Australia a fortnight later.

Almanac Footy – SA v Victoria: Cup Day Canter for the Vics (1970)

January 31, 2022 by 26 Comments

This 1970 state game went according to the usual SA v Victoria script, but the curtain-raiser contained an intriguing team of Indigenous schoolboys from the Northern Territory.

Almanac Holiday Greetings – How To Make Gravox

December 21, 2021 by 12 Comments

Swish’s hopes that no-one stuffs up this year’s celebratory roast.