Famous inter-club transfers ... why did they do it?

[Adelaide Hawk]

Gavin Wheaton was another one we lost very early to Norwood. He had an outstanding start to his career with us, playing in the centre. But not long afterwards (1976 I think) he transferred to Norwood (I have an inkling that may have been another falling out with Fos) but I don't think he lasted all that long there.

Gavin played 38 games for West but only 2 for Norwood. For memory he had injuries and retired prematurely. I used to play both cricket and football against him when he was at St.Peters College. He always looked as though he would make it in one of the sports, he was a very handy batsman for West Torrens.

[JK]

Simon Neave norwood to Torrens

That was always one I was unhappy with ... I thought Neave had shown plenty at Norwood.

I know in those days there was pretty stiff competition to make the league team, but I always felt the club had under-valued his ability.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Damian Obst was a good pickup from Sturt. Good pace and skills off a wing, we could do with a player like him right now.

[JK]

Damian Obst was a good pickup from Sturt. Good pace and skills off a wing, we could do with a player like him right now.

He was a good fit in a team that had hard nosed ballwinners on every line

[nickname]

Am I right in thinking Enright (was it Robert) switched from Port to Torrens? Seem to recall him being a very good player for the Eagles.

[schimma]

Am I right in thinking Enright (was it Robert) switched from Port to Torrens? Seem to recall him being a very good player for the Eagles.

yep bob enright, ended up captain for the escort cup premiership in 84 against south at thebby. think bobby is president of the past players still at eagles

[schimma]

Dale ellis Eagles to south thanks to ron



Richard Groke eagles to north
setchel north to eagles
jason dillon port to eagles
mark jefferies north to eagles

[Adelaide Hawk]

Don Roach from West Adelaide to Norwood in 1969, Gave the Redlegs some much needed experience in our developing young list.

[dedja]

Back to the reason why players transfer between clubs, there have obviously been a few that have done it because they needed needed to get an opportunity elsewhere or didn't gel with the coach (which can be a win-win for both sides by the way).

Out of interest, who do you think are the coaches that have turned over the most players to other clubs, and how many would they have sent on their way? Some have been mentioned already like Knuckles, Nunan, Fos, etc.

[schimma]

Back to the reason why players transfer between clubs, there have obviously been a few that have done it because they needed needed to get an opportunity elsewhere or didn't gel with the coach (which can be a win-win for both sides by the way).

Out of interest, who do you think are the coaches that have turned over the most players to other clubs, and how many would they have sent on their way? Some have been mentioned already like Knuckles, Nunan, Fos, etc.

ron fuller has lost up to 50 players from Eagles.

[Hondo]

It strikes me that through the 70s and 80s the so-called big 4 (joined by North in the late 80s) were maintaining their superiority over the rest partly because they were nabbing the best players from the other 5-6 teams!

It seemed to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. By moving to either Port, Norwood, Glenelg, Sturt or North to play finals, those players were weakening their old teams so those teams had even less chance to play finals. Thus compelling another group of players to move from the lower sides for the same reason the next season. And so on and so on .... The top 4-5 teams then reaped the monetary benefits of attendances and supporters to gain more advantage over the rest. Looking at which teams made finals in the 70s and 80s backs my theory up.

Is that a fair observation? So many of these transfers are [South/Torrens/Woodville/Central/West] player - [Port, Glenelg, Sturt, Norwodd, North]. Or, it's fringe players from the second group going to the lower sides to get games.

[Adelaide Hawk]

When I began watching football in the 1960s, inter-club transfers were far more rare than they are these days. The main reason being that clubs had a hold over players and could enforce bans, and as in the case of Bob Shearman could miss a whole season waiting for a clearance.

Players really only changed clubs if they got coaching jobs, and even then they weren't guaranteed a clearance, i.e. Kerley, Eustice etc. Geof Motley was appointed coach of Glenelg in the early 60s, but Port's refusal to clear him saw Motley return to Alberton.

As we ventured into the 70s, clearances became more commonplace as clubs were able to demand amounts of money, or the SANFL would set the fee and conditions of transfer.

In the 80s we saw a plethora of good players moving to higher ranked clubs in pursuit of premiership success in the twilights of their careers.

These days players transfer all over the place, mainly in search of opportunities. There wouldn't be too many players transfering for more money, etc.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Is that a fair observation? So many of these transfers are [South/Torrens/Woodville/Central/West] player - [Port, Glenelg, Sturt, Norwodd, North]. Or, it's fringe players from the second group going to the lower sides to get games.

Yes, to a degree, but those clubs were able to gain those players BECAUSE of their superiority in the first place. It's not a lot different to what happens now, with the higher ranked clubs having greater ability to obtain better recruits because of their status. I know of a number of players this decade who were interested in joining Norwood but were lost the moment higher ranked clubs showed similar interest.

That's life.

Ask South if they'd be a better team with Rhys Archard, Scott McGlone and Chris Hall still in their team.

[bulldogs]

fantastic topic. Kym Curtis left Port to Torrens i think. Had a wretched knee

[stampy]

peter cousins torrens to glenelg

justin scripps glenelg to norwood
ben mcentee ditto

[am Bays]

I thought this thread was about famous transfers??? After halfway through p3 hardly anyone of note has been raised bar Nunan and Van Burtoch

[Adelaide Hawk]

I thought this thread was about famous transfers??? After halfway through p3 hardly anyone of note has been raised bar Nunan and Van Burtoch

And you've mentioned them again ... well done.

[ORDoubleBlues]

Matt Cooper - Sturt to Eagles

[Magpiespower]

A famous one that didn't happen...

Jim Deane to Port. Was appointed captain/coach in 1950 but South refused to clear him. Which lead to perhaps the most successful transfer of all-time.

Fos Williams to Port. Not a bad second choice.

Poached our other champion coach from another club, too. Jack Cahill was a die-hard South man and dreamed of following in his uncle's footsteps, the great Laurie Cahill.

But after young Jack won the McCallum Medal for South, 'Big Bob' discovered he lived in Port's zone. The ultimatum: play for Port or don't play at all.

We should poach from other clubs more often...

[smithy]

We should poach from other clubs more often...

Yeah, More like Matthew Knights please.