SANFL Blow-ins 1960-1990: Part 5a – Norwood

 

 

After an absence of several years, this is Part 5a of the series that celebrates the (foreign) legion of those who came from outside South Australia to have a crack in the SANFL between 1960-1990 inclusive.

 

As a reminder, this introduction to the series outlines a few ground rules, some of which can be a little rubbery.

 

This article covers those that played their first League game with Norwood from 1960-ish to 1975. Part 5b will cover the new starters from outside of SA’s borders during the seasons 1976-1990.

 

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Alan Killigrew blew in to Norwood as coach in 1959 after taking the helm at St Kilda from 1956-58. Norwood titan Wally Miller penned this wonderful picture of ‘Killa’s’ time at Norwood, during which the club improved greatly, without winning a premiership.

 

Many footballers came to Norwood during Killigrew’s time, but the steady stream of very good footballers continued after that, boosted by the club’s ability to provide accommodation for recruits at its Carmel Court boarding house.

 

Norwood did extremely well from its crop of blow-ins from 1960-1990, providing captains, premiership players and stalwarts, but this article also recognises those whose stay at The Parade was briefer than others.

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Although he commenced at Norwood in 1959 (before the arbitrary cut-off used for this series), Broken Hill Central’s John Vickers is a worthy player to start with. Of the twenty-one new players blooded by coach Alan Killigrew that year, Vickers was the only player to put together a lasting career at the Parade. He began as a half-back before nailing down a spot on the half forward flank. After Norwood put an end to Port Adelaide’s run of six successive flags by trouncing the Magpies in the 1960 Preliminary Final, Vickers and teammate Haydn Bunton Jr made a night time sortie to the famed Black Diamond Corner in Port Adelaide. They attempted to change the colours of the ‘silent policeman’ from black and white to red and blue, until interrupted by the real thing. North Adelaide took out the 1960 Grand Final the next week, Vickers kicking a pair of goals in Norwood’s loss. Vickers again tasted defeat a year later in the ‘Turkish Bath’ Grand Final against West Adelaide in his 50^th game. During his eight seasons from 1959-66, Vickers kicked 56 goals from his 111 games. A highlight in his last season was playing in a rare win at Alberton in his 100^th game. Vickers was named in the Budget for Central Districts’ first match in 1964, indicating how close he must have been to a transfer to the new club at Elizabeth.

 

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Geoff Feehan started his junior football at Christian Brothers College in St Kilda in 1950, under the coaching of ‘the little 32-year-old with the tongue of fire’ Alan Killigrew then playing for Elwood. Moving to the Ovens and Murray League, rugged ruckman and defender Feehan attracted the VFL recruiters with his standout season for Wodonga in 1955. He was reunited with Killigrew in 1957 at St Kilda, taking out the best first year player award. Two more serviceable seasons followed at the Junction Oval before reuniting with Killigrew at Norwood in 1960. His reputation as a clubman continued at Norwood and he formed the SANFL’s most damaging ruck partnership with Bill Wedding. Feehan was in Norwood’s best few in the 1960 Grand Final loss and was solid a year later against West in the ‘Turkish Bath’ Grand Final loss. Feehan played 56 games in the red and blue from 1960-63 before coaching Warracknabeal for several seasons, finishing with a season at Sandy Bay (Tas) in 1968.

 

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A fringe player at St Kilda during 1959, Maryborough (Vic) big man George Dellar had earlier been noticed by Killigrew (a friend of Dellar’s boss) in the Ballarat League. Joining Norwood in 1960, he was used in the ruck and across half back that season and was 19^th man in the Grand Final. Dellar brought to Norwood a welcome mix of popular personality and football toughness, never being one to shirk. In 1961 he was used to shadow West Adelaide’s Neil Kerley with some success during the season. However, Kerley was alert to this tactic during the Grand Final, ironing out Dellar at the initial centre bounce and the West captain went on to be his side’s best in a torrid victory. Dellar remained a beacon in defence in 1962. His 52^nd and final game for Norwood came in that year’s Preliminary Final loss. A bad pre-season injury put paid to his League career in 1963, but Dellar continued at local level with Roseworthy then Hectorville.

 

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Brian Bowe, came to St Kilda in 1958 after 90-odd games for Kyneton in the Bendigo League. After two seasons (14 games)  he was discarded by the Saints, so he again turned out for Kyneton in 1960, playing in the centre in a precious flag victory over Rochester. Late in 1960, he was approached by Killigrew and was soon lodging in the quiet locale of Kent Town in preparation for a fresh chance at Norwood. Another member of the 1961 Grand Final loss, Bowe was a solid contributor for Norwood until 1965, totalling 74 games.

 

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Peter Brenchley had played in Melbourne’s VFL premierships of 1957 and 1959 as well as the 1958 loss but had only accumulated 29 appearances in his three seasons at senior level. In 1960 Norwood recruited the courageous small man and against North Adelaide he continued his string of Grand Final appearances. He was in and out of the League side in 1961, eventually playing in Norwood’s Seconds flag. He returned to Melbourne in 1962 and played in the VFA for Waverley and Camberwell, where he also coached.

 

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When Phil Stephens arrived at St Kilda in 1959, he had already played 30-odd games for Deloraine (Tas) before about 50 games at North Launceston, where he was renowned for his goal-kicking prowess. His time in the VFL was very brief, mustering up six games before being halted by a knee injury. Seeking a new home, the Saints were persuaded to send yet another player Norwood’s way in 1960. Possessing height, strength and a booming screwpunt, Stephens rapidly shot to the top of the SANFL goalkickers, snaring State selection in SA’s huge win against Victoria, kicking six goals. Although he never fully recovered form after an appendix operation, he finished the season with 50 goals, including two in the losing Grand Final. He was not as potent in 1961, restricted to 14 games for 33 goals and missing a berth in the Grand Final. Stephens made a solitary appearance in 1962 and finished at the Parade with 88 goals from 31 games. He resumed his career at North Launceston in 1963 and was rewarded with Tasmanian representation in 1964. He retired at the end of 1968 with 163 games for the Robins. Stephens is an inductee of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.

 

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John Elder was on the wrong end of an administrative bungle when the Wycheproof kid joined Collingwood in 1955. Elder was only able to play twice for the Magpies, despite a promising debut when standing Footscray’s rugged Charlie Sutton. South Melbourne sorted out a clearance in 1956, and he put together 17 games in 1956/57 for the Swans. The most notable of these was in the 1956 Night Series against St Kilda at the Lake Oval, where he was knocked unconscious ‘150 yards’ away from another melee. Norwood eventually discovered the rugged half-back at Colac, and he came to The Parade in 1960 as one of Killigrew’s growing band of imports. Elder played 11 League games but finished the year and his time at Norwood in the Seconds premiership win over Port.

 

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Ian Gordon (aka ‘Buster’) played his single game for St Kilda in 1957, coming to the Saints in 1956 from the Ballarat League’s Golden Point. Spending 1958 with Port Melbourne in the VFA, he was the Ballarat League’s Best and Fairest when he returned to Golden Point in 1959. He had just turned 27 when he lobbed at Norwood, playing as a tough and courageous low to the ground half-back/centreman. He took his place in the pivot in the 1960 premiership decider, doing well against North’s Ray Trenorden, but the narrow loss was his last time as a Norwood Demon. He was a popular host at his Courthouse Hotel in Bacchus Marsh during the 1970s.

 

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Starting out with Prahran in the VFA, Lester Ross won the Latrobe Valley Football League Best and Fairest in his single season with Moe. St Kilda snapped him up in 1959 and in his VFL debut he outpointed Footscray legend Ted Whitten. After impressing during his first ten games, Ross was axed for the Round 11 match against Carlton and consequently departed from St Kilda. He played Sunday suburban football in 1960. Ross was another Killigrew acquisition in 1961 and he finished third in the Magarey Medal, having the best of opposition centreman such as Motley, Shearman and Magarey Medallist Halbert during the season. Ross was hard to stop, showing an ugly but effective style as he found his way out of danger. After an 18 game first season (including the Grand Final loss to West Adelaide) in which Ross polled 12 Magarey Medal votes, 1962 proved disappointing for both Ross and Norwood. He found his way to South Adelaide in 1963 after only 27 occasionally brilliant Norwood games. Played mainly as a half-forward, Ross played in the Panthers’ historic 1964 flag, flourishing under the guidance of Neil Kerley. Over five seasons in the Blue and White, his 72 games featured creative and clever play. Trying his luck at Subiaco in 1968, Ross found misfortune when his arm went through a window after he had played just a single game for the Maroons. His sons, Lester Jr and Jonathon also played for Norwood.

 

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Ray Gimm came to Norwood in 1961, from the Perth suburb of Wembley. He occupied the full back spot in the Seconds for much of that year, although he also played five League games. It was similar in 1962, totalling three senior games while vice-captain for the Seconds. With Killigrew gone, Gimm was given a good run in the League side in 1963 at full back, appearing 19 times and snagging the three Magarey votes in one game. He only played the one League game in 1964, for a total of 28 games. A capable baseballer who represented WA in the 1960 Claxton Shield, Gimm was handy with the bat playing for the Norwood Redsox in the SA Night Baseball League at Norwood Oval.

 

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Les Amery had performed very well at Richmond YCW, Melton and Richmond Districts clubs before trying his hand at VFL level with Richmond in 1956. The determined centreman/rover broke into the League team four times for the Tigers, spending the rest of his time in the Reserves during 1956/57. He moved to Camberwell then Richmond Amateurs before arriving at Norwood in 1962. Amery was very comfortable at SANFL level, racking up 70 goals across 39 goals in his two seasons at The Parade. He returned to Victoria, playing a season at Warburton in 1964. Amery resumed at Richmond Districts in 1965, completing the treble of a premiership, club B&F and competition B&F, which he had also done in 1955.

 

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Victorian John Graham was spotted at East Gambier in 1962, showing out with his wet weather skills. He was a fine player across the centre and fitted in well when joining Norwood in 1963. Graham played 17 games, taking out Norwood’s Best First Year Player before moving on. [Update 3/9/25 – Graham arrived at East Gambier from Frankston in the VFA in 1962]

 

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In 1963, Ian Della-Polina moved from Perth to Adelaide to further his Architectural studies and commenced in the flag-winning Norwood Thirds (U/19s) midway through the season. His uncle Bill Rainoldi had played 228 games for West Perth as a rover and represented his state. Della-Polina, also a rover, graduated to the League squad in 1964, playing four games. He initially played in glasses but adapted to contact lenses during the season. He dominated the Seconds competition winning the Seconds Magarey Medal and chased down Centrals’ Trevor Jarman to take out the Messenger Second Eighteen Trophy. Consigned to the Redleg Seconds for all of 1965, Della-Polina moved to West Adelaide in 1966, where he played four more league games. After football, he became a teacher of Transcendental Meditation.

 

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Kerry Corrigan had featured in three junior premierships for Perth and was recommended to incoming Redleg coach Haydn Bunton Jr by Bill Wedding in 1965. Corrigan’s Norwood League debut was inauspicious, warming the bench for the duration in a narrow Round 8 win against West Adelaide at home (none of the four reserves from either side were given a run that day). Dropped to the early game the following week, Corrigan badly injured a knee. After an ill-advised reconstruction, the knee gave way again in 1966 during a Seconds match, prompting a return to his home state. Stints at local clubs Bayswater, Cranbrook and Busselton followed before Corrigan resettled in South Australia.

 

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Another ex-Perth player to join Norwood in 1965 was Syd Simeon, a full-forward who had kicked 18 goals from eight games in his debut season for the WA version of the Demons. Selected for the League side in the opening round of 1965, Simeon’s two goals against Woodville were not enough for him to keep his place and he spent the rest of the season in the Seconds. As an onlooker to the final minor round game against Centrals at Adelaide Oval, which Norwood narrowly lost, Simeon ‘confronted’ umpire Brian Lees on the ground after the final siren – this was Simeon’s final act as a Norwood player. Charged with assault, he was imprisoned for ten days and suspended by the SANFL for 12 months. He swiftly returned to WA. From 1968-71, he coached Boyanup-Capel-Dardanup in the South West National Football League (as it was then known). He won the SWNFL Best and Fairest in 1969 after winning the League’s Media Award in 1968. Simeon took out the Top Goalkicker for 1971 with 71 majors, a feat that he repeated in 1972 when he moved to the South Bunbury club. As a publican in WA’s South-West, Simeon’s garrulous personality won him many admirers.

 

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George Pickering came from ‘the West’ in 1965 and the big follower slotted right in, playing 20 games that season. Injuries got in the way in 1966, restricting him to six Senior games, although he led the way in ruck in Norwood’s victorious Seconds Grand Final. His next two seasons yielded 12 games and 4 games. After 42 Redleg games he went to Payneham in the Amateur League as playing coach, also making the State Amateur team in 1971. He also had subsequent success at St Dominic’s.

 

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Norwood had lacked a spearhead with firepower for decades when Ian Brewer arrived at The Parade in 1965. His senior career commenced with Collingwood, joining the Magpies in 1956 from Sale in eastern Victoria and playing 5 games. He scored 18 goals by Round 7 of 1957 but tailed off thereafter. Shifted to full-forward in 1958, he topped the VFL goalkicking with 73 goals including a haul of eight and four bags of six and played in what would be Collingwood’s last premiership until 1990. Brewer was not able to repeat that stellar form over the next three seasons, and his games and goal tallies declined each year. During this time he was dealing with the after effects of hepatitis which he caught due to Collingwood’s unhygienic approach to flu vaccinations. After 84 Magpie games with 164 goals, Brewer moved to St Kilda in 1962, but did not play a senior game. A move to Claremont in 1963 did the trick. With 55 goals, Brewer was a hit, although the Tigers were firmly stuck to the bottom of the ladder. In 1964, Claremont hit rare form at the end of the season winning the Grand Final over East Fremantle – Brewer’s 5.7 haul in the Preliminary Final against Perth was a huge contribution to Claremont’s first flag since 1940, as were his two late goals in the Grand Final.

 

After 43 games and 105 goals in the west, Brewer moved to Norwood where he proved to be a sensation. His tally of 96 goals for the fourth placed Redlegs easily led the SANFL, snagging two bags of 10 goals along the way. Norwood were off the pace in 1966 and missed the finals – this proved costly for Brewer as his 76 goal tally was overhauled by Port’s Eric Freeman during the Magpie finals campaign. Brewer was selected in the Advertiser Team of the Year in both 1965 and 1966. The peripatetic Brewer’s next move was as captain-coach of Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray League in 1967. The Hawks lost the Grand Final against Wodonga but dropped to seventh spot in 1968. Under Brewer they rebounded in 1969, losing the Preliminary Final. Brewer’s return to Norwood in 1970 was cut short after only three games, giving him a Redleg contribution of 44 games for 179 goals.

 

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There was a lull in Norwood’s interstate recruiting until 1968, when South Melbourne’s Bob Kingston entered the Redleg ranks after a protracted clearance tussle with South Melbourne. Kingston hadn’t turned 17 when he played his first game for the Swans in 1961. At 6’3”, the Spotswood kid would be used wherever a big bloke was needed, centre half-back, centre half-forward or in the ruck but according to Lou Richards in his comments about Kingston in the 1964 and 1965 VFL Mobil Cards “he hasn’t yet acquired the ability to be always in the right place at the right time”. His 1965 season was clearly his best, heading the Swans’ goalkicking with 48 majors from full-forward and he was appointed South vice-captain in 1966. An Adelaide-based employment promotion in 1967 saw Kingston attempt to move to Norwood. He played the season opener for the Swans but returned to Adelaide. He was back in Melbourne mid-season after South knocked back numerous clearance requests, but a torn thigh muscle restricted him to three games.

 

He was finally released to Norwood by South in mid-1968 after a patchy 91 game, 102 goal VFL career., and played nine games  for his new club that year. Norwood never really saw the best of Kingston with injury keeping him off the park for all of 1969. He made his SA debut against Victoria in 1970, but after 21 games at Norwood, Kingston sought a move to Port Adelaide. From 1971 to 1974, Kingston played 51 games for the Magpies and represented SA twice in both 1971 and 1972. A broken arm playing full back against Victoria proved to be a turning point in the career of his replacement Malcolm Blight, whose performance against Peter McKenna paved the way for Blight’s All-Australian selection. Kingston’s football administration career included four seasons at Norwood from 1986 to 1989 and he was General Manager of the Northern Territory Football League in the late 1990s.

 

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Greg Kuchel went from Goulburn NSW to play for Rutherglen in the Ovens and Murray League, eventually playing a few Reserves games for Carlton in 1967. A wool classer, he played three League games for Norwood in 1968 and won the club’s Most Improved. He improved even further in 1969 and the tall (198cm) young left footed ruckman was a key member of the senior side in his 20 games. He took this great form into the early stages of 1970, gaining State squad selection. Unfortunately, he broke a leg at State training and his season was over. Employment took Kuchel to Naracoorte in 1971, although he appeared five times for Norwood late in the season. His appointment as captain-coach of Naracoorte in 1972 brought an end to his time at Norwood after 33 games. Kuchel played for Casterton (Vic) in 1974 and Ringwood in 1975, before another employment transfer took him to Wagga in 1976. Playing for the North Wagga Saints from 1976-81 (coach in 1979), as the Farrer Football League’s premier ruckman, Kuchel won consecutive club Best and Fairests in 1976/77. He also represented NSW and the Farrer League on many occasions.

 

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Darwin’s Mike Poulter was already a young star for the Waratah club in Darwin before he joined Norwood in 1968, having represented the NTFL against a Victorian All-Stars combine in 1967. For the next decade or so, Poulter spent his footballing winters at Norwood and summers in Darwin. Initially used on the wing, the athletic Poulter proved extremely versatile. He was most popular with the Redleg faithful and cut a fine figure with his oiled limbs and impressive head of tightly curled hair. As a centreman whose overhead marking had noticeably improved, he brought up his 50^th game in 1970, was chosen in the State squad and won Norwood’s Best and Fairest in just his third season. He continued to provide reliable service, often at full back, over the next few seasons under coach Robert Oatey.

 

When Bob Hammond took over, Poulter took on a more attacking on-ball role, which he performed with gusto in Norwood’s drought-busting 1975 flag. He wound up his SANFL career after 175 games and 36 goals at the end of 1977, moving to Athelstone in the nascent SAFA competition. Poulter was awarded Life Membership at Norwood, an honour that he was given by Waratahs in 1973/74. Back home, he moved briefly to the Darwin club as captain-coach before returning to Waratahs. His final football destination was the Banks Bulldogs in Darwin’s second-tier. Poulter was named in the Waratah Team of the Century alongside such names as Maurice Rioli and Gilbert McAdam.

 

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Broken Hill Central left-footer Brian Dunlevy came down to Norwood in 1967, becoming a fixture in the Seconds until making his League debut in 1969. Equally adept and handling the resting rucks or rovers, the dependable team-man played all seven of his senior games that year. He played in two consecutive Seconds flags, 1969 and 1970.

 

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Phil Carman was born and bred in Edenhope, close to the SA border in Victoria’s Wimmera. According to the VFL Country Zoning in place in the late 60s, Carman ‘belonged’ to Collingwood. Carman played for his local club in the then Kowree-Naracoorte Football League, which consisted of clubs from both sides of the border. He came under notice as a teenager when the Magpies played a trial against the Kowree-Naracoorte league in 1967 and Carman was invited to train at Victoria Park in August of that year. In 1968 he blossomed in the Edenhope senior ranks under the coaching of former Port Adelaide player (and future bookmaker) John McBain. Collingwood extended another invite to the city but showed scant interest in Carman once he arrived. Former Norwood player Brian Johnson was Phil’s mother Annie’s cousin, and he put the Redlegs onto Carman’s emergence late in 1968. Clever scouting by Norwood Recruitment Manager Bob Truelove was followed by a visit to the Carman family in Edenhope by club President Bert Baulderstone and coach Bob Oatey. A cunning plan was hatched, whereby in 1969, the Carman family would be relocated to Norwood’s new player accommodation complex Carmel Court in Kensington with a place at King’s College arranged for young Phil. With Annie having been widowed a few years before, this was a very suitable arrangement all round.

 

Carman played football for his school in 1969. Super-fit due to the amount of work he put into his body outside of football training itself, he dominated. Norwood made its first clearance applications for Collingwood, who were initially clueless about his current whereabouts. Despite this lack of interest, they stubbornly refused to clear Carman. Carman was invited to train with Norwood’s League team in January 1970. After a process that reflects badly on all concerned, the shenanigans centring on an Edenhope policeman, the SANFL eventually granted a permit that allowed Carman to become a Norwood player henceforth. Making his debut against Port Adelaide at The Parade, Carman was an instant sensation at centre half-back, a position he had never played. He was selected in the State squad straight away. The 19-year-old was set to make his State debut when the national ruling body the ANFC and the VFL (or were they one and the same?) convinced the SANFL to revoke Carman’s permit. Carman’s 1970 was suddenly over at Norwood after 10 games. Determined to ignore Collingwood’s continued overtures and stay in Adelaide, Carman acted as Norwood runner throughout 1971 but found a way to return for Edenhope’s finals series and played in his first and only premiership. The discovery of a torn meniscus in his left knee at the end of 1971 was the final straw for the ‘Woods, who gave up the fight and released their hold on Carman.

 

Carman resumed his Redleg career in May 1972 and came back with a harder edge playing as an on-baller or key forward. Carman’s supreme athleticism was regularly on display, high vertical marks, evasion, accurate disposal and hard hits were his trademarks. In early 1973, a similar injury in his right knee caused much discomfort to Carman, who adapted by becoming a predominantly left-footer. He was selected in his first State team against the Big V in Adelaide and with four goals, Carman certainly proved to Collingwood that he would be a star in the VFL. An operation on the knee could not be avoided and Carman missed nine games. At the end of 1973, Norwood replaced Bob Oatey as coach with North Adelaide’s Bob Hammond. This displeased Carman greatly, as Oatey had been a huge influence on Carman. Despite this, Carman’s 1974 was his most complete, kicking 49 goals from his 21 games and playing for SA twice. But after only 58 Norwood games/89 goals, Carman was finally drawn to Collingwood.

 

After a slow start to the 1975 season, Carman’s brilliance shone at VFL level and he was selected for Victoria against WA. In the second quarter, WA’s Gary Malarkey stood on Carman’s foot and that ended his Big V debut and also the next eight Collingwood games. Returning wearing white adidas boots courtesy of EJ Whitten, Carman spearheaded his club into the finals and won the sobriquet ‘Fabulous Phil’ from Lou Richards. He won the Copeland Trophy and finished three votes behind Brownlow winner Gary Dempsey, despite only playing 14 games, all under the ‘tutelage’ of Murray Weideman. The next year was a wipeout, with Weideman seeming to lose interest as did the players as the year progressed. Tom Hafey was appointed coach in 1977 and the Pies vaulted back into the finals, finishing Minor Premiers. The headstrong Carman was solid without being outstanding that year. An indication of his temperament can be gleaned from his free kick count, 23 for and 75 against. A two match suspension for striking Hawk Michael Tuck in the Second Semi Final cost Carman a berth in the drawn Grand Final against North Melbourne and its replay. Many at Collingwood blamed Carman’s lack of discipline for their failure to take out the flag that year. Despite that, Carman was appointed vice-captain in 1979, swapping his #9 jumper for #2 but essentially ignoring the responsibilities of the new role and treating club training as an optional extra. He played the first ten games without setting the world on fire, missing ten of the next twelve through injury, but made the finals side (on the bench) for the third-placed Pies. The losing Prelim was Carman’s last game for Collingwood, on the nose after a dismal personal season.

 

Over the next four years, Carman scraped together 33 games at Melbourne (1979), Essendon (1980/81) and North Melbourne (1982). He received a 16 week suspension for headbutting boundary umpire Graham Carbery in 1980 against St Kilda (plus 4 weeks for jobbing Gary Sidebottom), which was the low point of Carman’s by then grim career. He resumed for the Dons under new coach Kevin Sheedy in 1981, but injured his achilles tendon which cut his season short after six games. Sheedy then let Carman go to a new footy home at Arden Street. Under Barry Cable in 1982, Carman was only a bit player at North and his VFL career sadly fizzled out like a damp squib, a far cry from the fireworks exhibition that began in 1975. His total VFL record was 100 games, 204 goals and 1000 headlines.

 

Carman was still in high demand – he spent two years at Eastlake in the ACT (where he was again suspended for an altercation with an umpire) before stints with Kangaroo Flat, Benalla and Sandhurst in regional Victoria. Carman’s surprise return to the SANFL as Sturt’s coach in 1995 saw him take the now bereft and perennial cellar dwellers at Unley to the brink of success in 1998, where the Double Blues were minor premiers but lost the Grand Final to Port Adelaide. That Sturt won its next flag in 2002, the year after Carman’s final year in charge, was as much due to Carman as it was to new coach Brenton Phillips.

 

He continued coaching in the country at Kangaroo Flat, East Gambier and Sebastopol.

 

Phil Carman was certainly Norwood’s most enigmatic blow-in.

 

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A teammate of Poulter’s in Darwin, Peter Murphy ventured down to Norwood in 1969. He played throughout 1969 and 1970 as a key defender in the Seconds. Managing three League games in defence in 1970, Murphy played in Seconds premierships in both his years at the club.

 

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Having had enough with the officialdom of 1969 WANFL Premiers West Perth, John Wynne considered a move to the VFL before contacting Norwood on the suggestion of Damien Nygaard. Wynne was already a regular State player for the Sandgropers and toured the USA and UK with Harry Beitzel’s Galahs in 1968. The big skinny kid who was equally capable on the ball or as a key forward loved playing under Polly Farmer, but after 79 games for the Cardinals that was it. Norwood GM Ron Kitchen invited Wynne over ‘for the weekend’ and Wynne stayed for 14 years from 1970. One of the attractions was the opportunity to reside at Carmel Court. He was a commanding presence on and off the field and appeared twice at Centre Half-Forward for his new state in 1971. After he’d been with the Redlegs for a couple of seasons, he was prepared to field offers from the VFL. Norwood was able to arrive at some off-field arrangements, such as the ‘management’ of Sam’s Disco, the legendary Wood St venue, which satisfied Wynne.

 

On the field, Wynne provided a dose of vigour and leadership which Norwood appreciated, as did the Croweaters who he continued to represent. Incoming Norwood coach Hammond named Wynne his vice-captain in 1974 and his inevitable rise to the captaincy in 1975 coincided with Norwood’s first premiership since 1950. The man known by all as ‘Two Eight’ (for his playing number) had racked up 120 games at season’s end. He retained the captaincy through 1977, which included victory in the NFL Ardath Cup (fondly remembered for its mid-week night games at The Parade). Handing over the skipper’s role to Michael Taylor, Wynne’s playing contributions were restricted due to persistent knee and ankle issues, but the most important of his eight games in 1978 was in Norwood’s surprise Grand Final victory where he managed to ruffle the collective feathers of the Sturt bench during an incursion into the coaches’ box. Still, Des Foster’s final quarter guess aside, you don’t win too many deciders kicking 14.26 as the Double Blues found.

 

Wynne played on when his body permitted from 1979-1982, including a near-premiership in 1980 under new coach Neil Balme. He finished his Norwood days with 193 games and 110 goals. He lent his considerable expertise in advisory roles with the ‘Legs before returning to live in WA. He coached West Perth in 1985 (fourth place) and 1986 (fifth). A true legend of the Redlegs, Wynne was selected in the Norwood Team of the Century and the Norwood Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the WAFL and SA Football Halls of Fame.

 

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Ross Dillon was a very talented junior cricketer and footballer from Kyabram, who came to the Melbourne Demons as a teenager after intense interest from Richmond, Geelong and Carlton. Entering senior ranks at the beginning of 1966 under mentor Norm Smith, Dillon injured a knee at training after Round 6 missing the rest of the season. He came back in 1967 but the knee required further treatment in 1968 which kept him to a handful of games.  Regaining full fitness, Dillon was selected for Victoria in the 1969 Adelaide Carnival, ostensibly as backup centre-half-forward to Royce Hart, but impressing in his three appearances, especially when he replaced Hart during the Carnival-deciding game against South Australia, kicking three goals on All-Australian centre-half-back Rick Schoff. Dillon was Melbourne’s top goalkicker in 1969 (48 goals) and 1970 (41), but the Dees were perennial losers once Norm Smith had departed.

 

An Achilles injury picked up from running Melbourne’s roads restricted Dillon to 18 mostly losing games across 1971 and 1972, so once he was not offered a contract at the end of ’72, Dillon was looking elsewhere after 85 games (23 wins) and 133 goals. A coaching offer in Tasmania was briefly considered, as was a move to South Melbourne, before narrowing his options to Glenelg and Norwood. The Parade was to be his home for the next six seasons. An instant hit for his new club, Dillon impressed with his aerial ability and strong hands in 1973, snagging the Redlegs’ goalkicking with 46. He followed up with 40 majors in 1974 under new coach Bob Hammond and importantly proved his resilience, playing 46 games in his initial pair of seasons.

 

Norwood’s 25 year premiership drought was broken in 1975 as Dillon dominated throughout the season. His red-hot form saw him installed as the SA CHF against Tasmania and Victoria and his 66 goals (plus 9 in the League Cup) topped Norwood’s tally. Dillon was third in the Magarey Medal with 18 votes – Port’s Peter Woite won with 20 votes and Glenelg’s Peter Marker polled 19. Although quelled by Wayne Phillis for three quarters in the Grand Final, he moved more freely once ‘Butch’ was thrown onto the ball and  Dillon kicked the sealer in the final term. In a very memorable season, Dillon was awarded Norwood’s Best and Fairest. Dillon’s output was reduced during 1976, although he snared bags of eight and six at the business end of the season. He brought up his 100^th appearance in the Red and Blue in 1977, but time had reduced his explosiveness. Ever the clubman, Dillon took on the Reserves captain-coach position in 1978, but was in good enough form to warrant League selection again towards the end of the year. On Grand Final Day, he skippered to Reserves to a 40 point win over West Adelaide in the curtain raiser to Norwood’s History Making win over Sturt. Two more Reserves games in 1979 that was it as a player.

 

After 114 games and 242 goals for Norwood, Ross Dillon decided to continue his career outside of football, in the newsagency and book selling caper. One of his best selling titles at Dillon’s Bookshop on The Parade includes this chapter from our own Malcolm Ashwood.

 

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Greg Midson played for Lindisfarne in Tasmania’s Amateurs and came to Norwood in 1974. The stocky flanker/rover was soon in the League side, playing against Woodville in Round 5. That was his only senior game, returning to the Reserves where he played in their premiership side that year. In a fine display Midson was in the Best Players and slammed through four goals. It was his only season at The Parade.

 

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Shortly after captaining the NTFL in a win over the QAFL in April 1974, Darwin’s John ‘Bubba’ Tye came to Norwood with an impressive NTFL career under his belt. Brother of former West Torrens player Arthur Tye, John Tye was a three-time premiership player with the Darwin Buffaloes before transferring to Nightcliff in 73/74 and winning his second Chaney Medal as Best on Ground in another winning Grand Final. He was also runner up to Michael Graham in the Nichols Medal for the NTFL Best and Fairest. At Norwood he was used as a rover/flanker. Tye played six league games for the Redlegs and was a standout in the 1974 Reserves Premiership in his only season in the SANFL. He played for Griffith in NSW the next winter. Returning to Nightcliff, Tye won the Nichols Medal as well as his club’s B&F in 1978/79. In the Darwin off-seasons he played variously with Port Lincoln South, West Gambier and Sandgate (QAFL). John Tye was widely regarded as the best player in the NTFL since Cyclone Tracy and brother Arthur referred to him as ‘the real Crocodile Dundee’, such was his ability to live off the land. If only the fishing was better at The Parade, Norwood could have found itself with an absolute champion for many seasons.

 

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Graeme Dunstan was the son of Maurie ‘Mocha’ Dunstan who played 72 games for Collingwood from 1949 to 1954 before settling in Fish Creek, where he coached the locals in the Alberton League. Graeme was given his father’s nickname when he also joined Collingwood in 1971. He played as a key forward in the Reserves where he topped to Pies’ goalkicking in 1972 with 29 before being selected for his League debut covering for an injured Peter McKenna in the First Semi Final loss to St Kilda, kicking 2.5. He played 30 senior games across 73/74, the Elimination Final win over Footscray being his final VFL game. As part of the deal to bring Phil Carman to Collingwood, Dunstan transferred to Norwood in 1975. His younger brother Ian commenced at Footscray in 1973, eventually playing 172 games at the Western Oval plus 6 for North Melbourne.

 

Dunstan made a slow start for the Redlegs, an elbow injury keeping him off the park for the first half of the season. Once fit, he proved a dangerous foil to Dillon and Roger Woodcock across half forward, kicking 25 goals and more importantly playing in Norwood’s much awaited 1975 flag. His 1976 tallies of 15 games/22 goals were just ok. In 1977, he started on the bench in Round 1, but when Rod Pope was injured, Dunstan took over his half back flank and six weeks later he was selected for his first and only State game. All up he played 26 games for the ‘Legs that year, including the winning final of the NFL Ardath Cup. He was up and down in 1978, missing out on the League Premiership win over Sturt, playing a key role in the Reserves flag and 1979 was similar. With the arrival of Neil Balme as coach in 1980, Dunstan seemed to get a second wind, regaining a regular spot in the League lineup and playing 42 games across 1980/81. He finished at Norwood after 129 games, moving on the coach Athelstone in the SAFA and later Tea Tree Gully. He remained in the game for some time, as Sturt’s General Manager for seven years from 1998, was Football Manager at the Crows from 2005 then was Football Manager for the Adelaide SANFL side. Dunstan can also be seen lending an occasional hand at the Sturt Bowling Club.

 

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Stephen Kerley started 1971 in Melbourne’s Under 19s from the Bentleigh McKinnon Youth Centre competition and was selected for the League side in the last round of the season, kicking 0.4 from full forward. He was able to play in the Under 19 premiership a few weeks later. Switched into defence, he returned to the seniors for the latter half of 1972 and was a regular throughout 1973. A highlight of that season was his 29 kick, 16 mark performance against Carlton’s Robert Walls in Round 3, the lowlight was a sickening collision with Kevin Neale against St Kilda in Round 12 which may have ‘jarred one of his fillings loose’ according to The Age. Kerley started and finished the 1974 season in the league side but mustered only ten games – after 43 games (and 3 goals 13 behinds), he moved to Norwood in 1975, still only 22 years old. He slotted straight into Centre Half Back and was most reliable for the entire season. Although allowing 3 goals to his Glenelg opponent Peter Carey, Kerley’s defensive efforts in a winning Grand Final went a long way to ensuring victory.

 

Kerley proved both consistent and durable throughout his six season Redleg career and was picked as the SA centre-half-back in 1977, alongside Dunstan. His second flag came in 1978 where he continued to anchor Norwood’s defence. He brought up his 100^th SANFL game in 1979. Kerley’s final season at The Parade was in 1980, where he spent more time up the ground. After 132 goals and 19 games, Kerley moved to North Adelaide where he played 21 games in 1981, including one ‘interesting’ game where he was opposed to his former coach, Neil Balme. Injuries restricted him to a handful of appearances in 1982, his final season. Kerley played for Victor Harbor for three seasons, enjoying the freedom of playing in attack. An accountant by trade, Kerley successfully ran his own practice for almost four decades.

 

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Bill Nalder was recruited by Richmond in 1969 from Lalbert in north west Victoria as a large-bodied ruckman with a big reputation after receiving All-Australian Schoolboy honours in 1967. He played in premierships in U19s (1970) and Reserves (1971, 1973) but found himself down the pecking order in the Tiger big man stakes behind the likes of Craig McKellar, Brian Roberts and Neil Balme. Nalder played 14 senior games for the Tigers in 1972/73, being dropped for the 1973 finals race and winning the Reserves Best and Fairest. He briefly appeared in the Reserves in 1974 before being leased to Preston in the VFA for the rest of that year. Moving to Norwood in 1975 without a pre-season under his belt, the now bearded ‘Big Bill’ worked his way into the League side by Round 5, playing 15 games wherever a big body was needed. However Nalder was back in the Reserves come finals time, playing in the curtain-raiser premiership. It was a similar story for Nalder in 1976, eight league games and another Reserves flag.

 

Still only 24 years old, Nalder found a new home at Central District in 1977, rucking consistently well enough to come third in the Bulldog B&F, continuing into 1978 for a total of 40 games. Unlike many of his colleagues, the then Student PE Teacher reported that his favourite drink was “black tea with plenty of sugar” in a Football Budget profile. Returning to Victoria in 1979, Nalder played on for almost a decade, at Rochester, bitter rivals South Bendigo (where he coached) and Sandhurst, Bairnsdale and finally Shepparton League club Lemnos.

 

If you have any special memories of any of these players, please let us now in the comments below. Similarly for any errors, omissions or queries  that may arise.

 

Acknowledgements

 

On-line resources

 

Redlegs Museum (http://www.redlegsmuseum.com.au) – this lovingly curated site was of enormous assistance and is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in footy history

 

Norwood FC (http://norwoodfc.com.au)

 

St Kilda FC (http://www.saints.com.au)

 

Sandy Bay Past Players (http://sandybayfcpastplayers.wordpress.com)

 

Demonwiki (http://demonwiki.org)

 

AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame (http://afltashalloffame.com.au)

 

Collingwood Forever (http://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au)

 

Collingwood FC (http://www.collingwood.com.au)

 

Ballarat News (http://timesnewsgroup.com.au/ballarat)

 

Tigerland Archive (http://tigerlandarchive.org)

 

South West Football League (http://swfl.com.au)

 

Eaton Boomers FC (http://www.eatonboomers.com.au)

 

South Bunbury FC (http://www.sbfc.com.au)

 

KB On Reflection (http://kbonreflection.wordpress.com)

 

NSW Australian Football Heritage Association (http://nswfootballhistory.com.au)

 

AFL Riverina (https://websites.mygameday.app/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-1046-0-0-0&sID=13441)

 

Territory Stories (https://territorystories.nt.gov.au)

 

AFL Tables (http://afltables.com)

 

WA Football Hall Of Fame (http://wafootballhalloffame.com.au)

 

AFL NT Hall Of Fame (http://www.aflnt.com.au/about/hall-of-fame)

 

Swans On Screen – Griffith Football Club (http://www.swansonscreen.com)

 

NT News (http://www.ntnews.com.au)

 

History of the Glenelg Football Club (http://gfchistory.com)

 

Australian Football (http://australianfootball.com)

 

Conversations With Cornesy (https://fiveaa.com.au/podcast/conversations-with-cornesy/6e2b7d05-22d9-41a0-b530-bfeccadeeca5)

 

 

Books and Publications

 

Red And Blue Blooded – Mike Coward

 

Fabulous Phil – Matt Watson

 

SANFL Football Budget – various editions

 

SA Football Year Book – various editions

 

Football Times Year Book – various editions

 

Footy World Magazine – various editions

 

 

More from Swish Schwerdt can be read Here.

 

 

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