As a follow-up, I’ll expand on some of those players highlighted there.
First off the bat is Mr Magic, Paul Bagshaw.
What more can you say, regarded as one of the best ever players never to win a Magarey, he was tough, skilful, flamboyant … and a champion.
I saw him firsthand in the later part of his career, but he hadn’t lost any of that magic.
Loved the way he just took everyone on and backed himself, but wasn’t pretentious and was humble as you could get. Was so versatile, could play in the square as well as CHF or CHB, didn’t matter, he was a champ anywhere you put him.
… and those dropkicks.
Sturt - 360 matches, 1964-1980
7x Sturt premiership player (1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1976) 5x Sturt best and fairest (1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1977) Sturt leading goalkicker (1978) Sturt captain (1973–1980) South Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2002) Sturt Team of the Century (ruck rover) Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2016)
Highlights reel of this champion (long before the days of 4K video!)
These are in no particular order, but next is Russell Ebert.
Herb to some, God to others, he was the ultimate footballer. Strong, tough, skilful, disciplined, committed and modest ... arguably the most complete footballer ever in the SANFL, with constant arguments as to whether the best ever was Ebert or Robran, the latter whose career was tragically cut short by the thug Leigh Matthews in a State game in 1974 ... but more on that for another day.
Could handball further than some could kick, and even invented the handball over the head, which probably would be outlawed in today's game.
His football prowess was only half the story, he was equally a champion off the field, never shy to help others, imparting his knowledge to improve his pupils both on the field and in their day to day lives.
I remember going to the Ebert & Weston Sports store on King William Rd, where amongst the many things I bought, was the iconic Glenelg lace-up guernsey, which I still have to this very day.
His majestic life was taken from him way too early by the insidious disease, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, the very same disease that took my sister at the age of 16.
417 games Port Adelaide: 1968–1978, 1980–1985 392 games North Melbourne: 1979 25 games
3× Port Adelaide premiership player (1977, 1980, 1981) 4× Magarey Medal (1971, 1974, 1976, 1980) Jack Oatey Medal (1981) 6× Port Adelaide best & fairest (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981) Port Adelaide captain (1974–1978, 1983–1985) Port Adelaide leading goalkicker (1968) Port Adelaide 'All-Time' games record holder (392) Port Adelaide best first year player (1968)
3× South Australian captain (1975, 1977, 1983) 29 games for South Australia South Australian coach 1996, 1997, 1998
Port Adelaide's greatest team (centre) Australian Football Hall of Fame, inducted 1996, Legend status 2022 South Australian Football Hall of Fame (2002) SANFL life member Port Adelaide life member (1977)
Next up is Graham Studley Cornes, who over the years, has in some minds, become somewhat of a polarising figure.
I’ll just let his playing ability speak for itself. I wouldn’t class him as a champion, but jeez he was bloody good and was extremely versatile over the course of his career. He could take a spectacular mark, which he did often, but could also play in the centre as a follower, up forward and even as a key position CHB.
He was a natural born leader, both on and off the field. He was tall at 6’2” for a follower, slim and extremely athletic.
He, like Russell Ebert, ventured over the border in 1979 to North Melbourne. Whilst Ebert played every game and was highly rated, Studley only managed 5 games and returned to the Bay, making the All Australian team and came close to winning the Magarey despite missing a number of games.
He is probably best remembered for that late mark and goal in the 1973 GF, but he actually did it again at the Parade in 1977, a game in which I played in the mini-league … for Norwood FFS. I remember him standing in heads to take the mark when the Bays were 3 points behind, then the siren sounded. Just like in 1973, he slotted the goal and was chaired from the ground. (3:00 minute mark of the video below).
Despite what some may think, he was and still is a man of character. In 1985 in his first year as coach of the Bays, Tony ‘Freddy’ McGuinness helped himself to Cornes’ hospitality by having an affair with his wife, but despite that, Studley was an ultimate professional as Freddy’s coach, culminating in winning the flag that year. Those eagle eyed amongst us would have noted the warm embrace Studley gave Freddy after that match on the ground, the sort of embrace a father would have given to their son.
Yes, he certainly was and is a different cat, but an absolute pleasure to watch and I was lucky to have been to many, many of his games.
Playing career
369 games 1967–82 Glenelg 317 games 1979 North Melbourne 5 games 1983–84 South Adelaide 47 games
Coaching career
1983–84 South Adelaide 46 (25–21–0)] 1985–90 Glenelg 149 (94–54–1) 1986–1999 South Australia 11 (9–2–0) 1991–94 Adelaide 89 (43–45–1)
Honours
SANFL premiership: 1973 3x Glenelg best and fairest Glenelg Captain: 1978 South Adelaide playing coach: 1983–84 Nine times Advertiser Team of the Year Glenelg Hall of Fame Representative
Next in this highly anticipated series is Barrie Robran.
Considered by many to be the greatest ever SANFL player, there is no doubt that he was a champion.
Born in Whyalla, Robran played his first game for the Roosters in 1967, where he tied for North’s B&F with the great Don Lindner and polled 3rd in the Magarey, as well as being selected in the State Team.
Won the first of his 3 Magareys in 1968, followed by 1970 and 1973.
By 1974, he had already established himself as a giant of the game, had won 7 consecutive B&Fs and was appointed Captain of the Roosters.
In the cruelest of fates, he severely injured his knee in the state game against Victoria on 2 June, crunched by Leigh Matthews, which by many accounts, was a bad faith act that Matthews could have easily avoided. Despite the injury and missing 10 games, he still was 3rd in North’s B&F and also 3rd in the Magarey.
Severely hampered by his knee injury, he had multiple operations over the next few years, but still managed to play 14 games in 1975, 13 in 1976, none in 1977, 9 in 1978, 5 in 1979 and his final 3 games in 1980.
I had the pleasure of seeing him play in the later part of career, after that cruel injury, but even though he was severely hampered, you could see and imagine how good he was. His greatness on the field was matched by his humbleness off the field, there was no pretence about this man, he was and is all class.
Unfortunately, I have searched high and wide for video footage and there is hardly anything I can find online, a complete travesty for such a great. Please let me know if there is footage out there so we can add to the thread.
Robran also played one Australian Club Championship game in 1971 (1 goal) and 2 Australian Club Championship games in 1972 (1 goal). He played one SANFL preseason game in 1979 (0 goals), giving him the well known figure of 201 senior games for North Adelaide.
3x Magarey Medal: 1968, 1970, 1973 7x North Adelaide Best and Fairest: 1967–1973 2x SANFL Premiership: 1971, 1972 Championship of Australia Championship: 1972 South Australia State team Captain: 1974 North Adelaide club Captain: 1974–1977 Australian Football Hall of Fame: Inductee 1996, Legend Status 2001 North Adelaide Team of the Century: (Ruck Rover) South Australian Football Hall of Fame North Adelaide Hall of Fame - (Icon Status) South Australia State selector: 1984–1998