Tiser team of the year

[Adelaide Hawk]

Kerley?? Was this guy actually any good as a footballer? I guess most of the people posting on this site probably wouldn't have see him play, given that he retired 40 or so years ago. I've always just had the belief he was tough and uncompromising and an inspirational coach, but never had the perception that he was a champion footballer (although i'm sure if you asked him personally he'd say otherwise!!).

I never saw him play but I'll bet London to a brick that Robran was a better ruck-rover.
I can understand AH's arguement for balance but Robran is wasted on a half-forward flank.

A Ruck-Rover when Kerley was at his peak played a different role to that which Barrie Robran perfected at North Adelaide. Ruck-Rovers were "run-with" ruckmen who had to be able to do a lot of ruck work. They weren't free-flowing mobile players like Robran and Bagshaw.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Kerley?? Was this guy actually any good as a footballer? I guess most of the people posting on this site probably wouldn't have see him play, given that he retired 40 or so years ago. I've always just had the belief he was tough and uncompromising and an inspirational coach, but never had the perception that he was a champion footballer (although i'm sure if you asked him personally he'd say otherwise!!).

When I started watching footy, Kerley was the SA Captain, and although he was nearing the end of his career I'd say I saw enough of him to realise he was great player. He was runner-up for the Magarey Medal in 1965 and several club B&F awards, 4 at West Adelaide, and one at 33 years for Glenelg in 1967.

Kerley played in an era where you needed to be very hard to get ahead, and Knuckles was as tough as they come. His skills were above average, a good kick, strong overhead mark, and he excelled in tackling and bumping. What set him apart from most others of his time was his dedication to the game and his superb physical conditioning. He was years ahead of his time in this aspect of the game. Even in his late 40s he could still train with and mix it with contemporary players more then 20 years his junior. At 6 foot only, he was able to take it up to the great Bill Wedding in the ruck, which is also testiment to his skill and athleticism.

Kerley could be a bit of a thug at times, as highlighted by his felling of Damien Nygaard , but he was a great player. Make no mistake about that. I have met some people (older West Adelaide supporters) who still believe Kerley was the best player they ever saw.

[Leaping Lindner]

I came across this article and thought it was interesting to this thread.
This a "Best SA Team since the war" as chosen in August 1994 by Fos Williams, Bob Hank, Jim Deane, Bo Morton, John Halbert and Merv Agars. All five picked their 21 and then the final team was made up from that.
Achievements in the VFL/AFL were obviously taken into consideration.

F - Rick Davies; Malcolm Blight; Bob Quinn
HF- Lindsay Head; Stephen Kernahan; Bob Hank
C - Ken Eustice; Russell Ebert; John Cahill
HB- Don Taylor; Len Fitzgerald; Geof Motley
B - Brenton Adcock; Ian McKay; Neil Kerley
R - Peter Darley; Barrie Robran; John Platten
(I - Shaun Rehn; Jim Deane; Paul Bagshaw)
Coach - Fos Williams

(The Advertiser "team of the year" team)
F: Rick Davies, Tim Evans, Lindsay Head
HF: Barrie Robran, Len Fitzgerald, Michael Aish
C: Ken Eustice, Russell Ebert, John Cahill
HB: Geof Motley, Paul Weston, Bob Shearman
B: Michael Taylor, John Abley, Paul Bagshaw
Ruck: Peter Carey, Neil Kerley, Foster Williams
(Int: Graham Cornes, John Halbert, Garry McIntosh)
Coach: Jack Oatey

The centreline is identical but every other line varies. Anyway interesting to compare.

[BPBRB]

Kerley?? Was this guy actually any good as a footballer? I guess most of the people posting on this site probably wouldn't have see him play, given that he retired 40 or so years ago. I've always just had the belief he was tough and uncompromising and an inspirational coach, but never had the perception that he was a champion footballer (although i'm sure if you asked him personally he'd say otherwise!!).

I never saw him play but I'll bet London to a brick that Robran was a better ruck-rover.
I can understand AH's arguement for balance but Robran is wasted on a half-forward flank.

A Ruck-Rover when Kerley was at his peak played a different role to that which Barrie Robran perfected at North Adelaide. Ruck-Rovers were "run-with" ruckmen who had to be able to do a lot of ruck work. They weren't free-flowing mobile players like Robran and Bagshaw.

Not correct Adelaide Hawk - often Robran did the combined ruck and ruck rover role around the ground especially when Patterson was injured himself so only one ruckman was selected and he rested in the fwd pocket when Robran was "on the ball". In the Barrie Robran Testimonial video Bob Hammond mentions this and coincidentally so does Kerley!

[Magpiespower]

"Best SA Team since the war" as chosen in August 1994 by Fos Williams, Bob Hank, Jim Deane, Bo Morton, John Halbert and Merv Agars...

Knew this wasn't a figment of my imagination.

From memory, Fos Williams team was very different from the others because he picked 'a team to win' rather than a team full of stars. Hence great players like Neville Hayes were slotted in across half-back. Fos also picked himself.

IIRC, Halbert picked McGuinness and McDermott.

Champion ruckman that he is, Rehn's selection in the 1994 team was a tad premature.

Could also question Bob Quinn's selection - he only played three seasons after WWII. Still, he won a Magarey in that time.

Also, Brenton Adcock or Bernie Smith?

[Adelaide Hawk]

Kerley?? Was this guy actually any good as a footballer? I guess most of the people posting on this site probably wouldn't have see him play, given that he retired 40 or so years ago. I've always just had the belief he was tough and uncompromising and an inspirational coach, but never had the perception that he was a champion footballer (although i'm sure if you asked him personally he'd say otherwise!!).

I never saw him play but I'll bet London to a brick that Robran was a better ruck-rover.
I can understand AH's arguement for balance but Robran is wasted on a half-forward flank.

A Ruck-Rover when Kerley was at his peak played a different role to that which Barrie Robran perfected at North Adelaide. Ruck-Rovers were "run-with" ruckmen who had to be able to do a lot of ruck work. They weren't free-flowing mobile players like Robran and Bagshaw.

Not correct Adelaide Hawk - often Robran did the combined ruck and ruck rover role around the ground especially when Patterson was injured himself so only one ruckman was selected and he rested in the fwd pocket when Robran was "on the ball". In the Barrie Robran Testimonial video Bob Hammond mentions this and coincidentally so does Kerley!

I'd like some North supporters to back up what you are saying because I have no knowledge of this. North always had good ruckmen around the Patterson era such as Sporn, Spry, etc.

[Adelaide Hawk]

"Best SA Team since the war" as chosen in August 1994 by Fos Williams, Bob Hank, Jim Deane, Bo Morton, John Halbert and Merv Agars...

From memory, Fos Williams team was very different from the others because he picked 'a team to win' rather than a team full of stars. Hence great players like Neville Hayes were slotted in across half-back. Fos also picked himself.

I think you are right. I know that he rated John Marriott and Bill Wedding as the best 2 ruckmen he had seen, unless he changed his mind later on.

[Leaping Lindner]

Williams' Team.....

F - John Platten; Stephen Kernahan; Peter Darley
HF- Russell Ebert; Don Lindner; John Halbert
C - Barrie Barbary; Barrie Robran ; John Cahill
HB- Ken Eustice; Don Taylor; Geof Motley
B - Graham Cornes ; Ian McKay; Brenton Adcock;
R - Bill Wedding; Malcolm Blight; Fos Williams *
(I - Shaun Rehn; Len Fitzgerald; Jeff Potter)

Seems Wedding was still rated by Williams but Darley must have edged out Kneebone in the end.

(* Fos picked himself as playing coach obviously)

[BPBRB]

Kerley?? Was this guy actually any good as a footballer? I guess most of the people posting on this site probably wouldn't have see him play, given that he retired 40 or so years ago. I've always just had the belief he was tough and uncompromising and an inspirational coach, but never had the perception that he was a champion footballer (although i'm sure if you asked him personally he'd say otherwise!!).

I never saw him play but I'll bet London to a brick that Robran was a better ruck-rover.
I can understand AH's arguement for balance but Robran is wasted on a half-forward flank.

A Ruck-Rover when Kerley was at his peak played a different role to that which Barrie Robran perfected at North Adelaide. Ruck-Rovers were "run-with" ruckmen who had to be able to do a lot of ruck work. They weren't free-flowing mobile players like Robran and Bagshaw.

Not correct Adelaide Hawk - often Robran did the combined ruck and ruck rover role around the ground especially when Patterson was injured himself so only one ruckman was selected and he rested in the fwd pocket when Robran was "on the ball". In the Barrie Robran Testimonial video Bob Hammond mentions this and coincidentally so does Kerley!

I'd like some North supporters to back up what you are saying because I have no knowledge of this. North always had good ruckmen around the Patterson era such as Sporn, Spry, etc.

I am a North supporter so you don't believe me ! Anyone who has seen the Barrie Robran video (PM wedgie for a copy) can refer to the mention about this by both Hammond and Kerley towards the end.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Kerley?? Was this guy actually any good as a footballer? I guess most of the people posting on this site probably wouldn't have see him play, given that he retired 40 or so years ago. I've always just had the belief he was tough and uncompromising and an inspirational coach, but never had the perception that he was a champion footballer (although i'm sure if you asked him personally he'd say otherwise!!).

I never saw him play but I'll bet London to a brick that Robran was a better ruck-rover.
I can understand AH's arguement for balance but Robran is wasted on a half-forward flank.

A Ruck-Rover when Kerley was at his peak played a different role to that which Barrie Robran perfected at North Adelaide. Ruck-Rovers were "run-with" ruckmen who had to be able to do a lot of ruck work. They weren't free-flowing mobile players like Robran and Bagshaw.

Not correct Adelaide Hawk - often Robran did the combined ruck and ruck rover role around the ground especially when Patterson was injured himself so only one ruckman was selected and he rested in the fwd pocket when Robran was "on the ball". In the Barrie Robran Testimonial video Bob Hammond mentions this and coincidentally so does Kerley!

I'd like some North supporters to back up what you are saying because I have no knowledge of this. North always had good ruckmen around the Patterson era such as Sporn, Spry, etc.

I am a North supporter so you don't believe me ! Anyone who has seen the Barrie Robran video (PM wedgie for a copy) can refer to the mention about this by both Hammond and Kerley towards the end.

Geez, I'm sorry I ever brought it up.

[Magpiespower]

Williams' Team.....

F - John Platten; Stephen Kernahan; Peter Darley
HF- Russell Ebert; Don Lindner; John Halbert
C - Barrie Barbary; Barrie Robran ; John Cahill
HB- Ken Eustice; Don Taylor; Geof Motley
B - Graham Cornes ; Ian McKay; Brenton Adcock;
R - Bill Wedding; Malcolm Blight; Fos Williams *
(I - Shaun Rehn; Len Fitzgerald; Jeff Potter)

Seems Wedding was still rated by Williams but Darley must have edged out Kneebone in the end.

(* Fos picked himself as playing coach obviously)

Memory must be fading in my old age - Fos's team isn't so different after all!

A little surprised that Fos didn't pick Chicken Hayes and John Abley...

[Punk Rooster]

Shaun Rehn highly over-rated...

[Adelaide Hawk]

Attention Spell Check (or anyone else who knows):

Wilson from Glenelg in the 1955 team, is that Trevor Wilson?

[Leaping Lindner]

Attention Spell Check (or anyone else who knows):

Wilson from Glenelg in the 1955 team, is that Trevor Wilson?

Could be Bill Wilson according to info I have joined Glenelg from Richmond in 1955.

Ah yes, thank you LL. Bill, short for William. I had W.Wilson listed but there's no W.Wilson for Glenelg in our list of SA players.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Does anyone know when is this year's team is going to be announced?

[JK]

1975
F Carey (G) D Phillis (G) G Bennett (G)
HF Graham (St) Dillon (N) Keddie (SA)
C MacFarlane (G) Ebert (PA) Light (PA)
HB Casey (St) Nelson (St) Colbey (G)
B Taylor (N) Winter (St) Woite (PA)
R Davies (St) Bagshaw (St) Nuna (St)
Res Wynne (N) Marker (G)

Fascinating ... I know Norwood and Glenelg played off in the GF of 75', but one has to wonder how Sturt missed out with 7 reps in this team including the entire 1st ruck division, anyone remember how the finals series unfolded in 75'?

In fact with the exception of Bob Keddie, the entire team is composed of Glenelg, Norwood, Port and Sturt players

[JK]

Oh, and another question ... Who is G. Bennett (listed as a Bay player in the Fwd Pocket)?

I don't recall seeing him in the footage of the 75 GF.

[spell_check]

Does anyone know when is this year's team is going to be announced?

The Advertiser today says tomorrow.

[spell_check]

Oh, and another question ... Who is G. Bennett (listed as a Bay player in the Fwd Pocket)?

I don't recall seeing him in the footage of the 75 GF.

Greg Bennett. No, he didn't play in the GF, I know someone will be able to answer why.

[JK]

Oh, and another question ... Who is G. Bennett (listed as a Bay player in the Fwd Pocket)?

I don't recall seeing him in the footage of the 75 GF.

Greg Bennett. No, he didn't play in the GF, I know someone will be able to answer why.

Yet another Spell_Check moment to throw on the highlight reel .. Cheers mate!