Magarey Medal runners up.

[robranisgod]

IMHO, the unluckiest runner up would have to be Peter Cloke in 1979. I went to Prospect Oval one day to watch a mate of mine Mark Doherty play his first league game for North Adelaide. I was standing around the grandstand side wing when I saw John Duckworth clearly strike Cloke with as clenched fist. It was about 20 metres from where I was standing and I had clear view.

Duckworth should have gone, didn't, and went on to win the medal in front of Cloke. Oh, and Cloke was giving Duckworth the greatest bath of all time that day as well.

Yep! IMO Jonas was a much better player for Centrals that year and to this day I am still to work out in a League as it was then, how a player with Duckworth's style could win a MM???

Yet a mate of mine who followed Torrens thought Duckworth was a certainty. He maintained that Central played Torrens three times that year and Duckworth was b.o.g. each time. Andy Bennett was actually favourite that year, but never figured in the finish. Clokey did have an absolutely outstanding year that year.

An intersting aside about Cloke is that one Friday night about 12 years ago Tim Lane asked Tom Hafey who the best mark he ever coached was. Tommy responded I can't split two. Royce of course and Peter Cloke. Tim Lane queried Peter Cloke. Tommy replied yes, David's elder brother. I never coached anyone more courageous in the air. Anyone who saw him play for North would have to agree, he was absolutely fearless. It didn't stop Tommy sacking him because of the limitations of his body, but boy was a great SANFL player in a very, very ordinary side.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I would have loved to have seen a one-on-one contest between Ross Dillon circa 1975 and Peter Cloke circa 1979. They were two of the best exponents of the tough contested mark I've seen at SANFL level.

[Magpiespower]

Didn't Gags consider switching to Port at one stage?

Around '78?

Many other players have been just as unlucky over the years. The list of runners up from 1945 to 1990 who never won a medal reads like a who's who of SANFL football. Players such as... Craig Bradley

Probably would've won the '83 medal if he didn't cut short his season after round 15 to tour England with the Australian under-19s cricket side (reakon he might've been vice-captain, too.)

IIRC, finished fourth on 31 votes, just four votes behind Tony Antrobus.

Seven games gone begging and given the form he was in that year...

[Adelaide Hawk]

Didn't Gags consider switching to Port at one stage?

Around '78?

Yes, it was in 1979. A brief period of unrest where he considered an offer from Port Adelaide but I wouldn't think he was ever serious about moving.

[GWW]

Neil Craig apparently considered an offer from Port too. I presume that was around the time when he left Norwood and went to Sturt. I think he finished up at Sturt primarily due to his cousin Rick Davies being there.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Neil Craig apparently considered an offer from Port too. I presume that was around the time when he left Norwood and went to Sturt. I think he finished up at Sturt primarily due to his cousin Rick Davies being there.

I haven't heard the Craig to Port one, but I also think Craig was destined to play for Sturt as he was very much a disciple of the Oatey family, especially Robert.

[robranisgod]

I would have loved to have seen a one-on-one contest between Ross Dillon circa 1975 and Peter Cloke circa 1979. They were two of the best exponents of the tough contested mark I've seen at SANFL level.

They certainly had a great duel for the last three quarters of the extremely high scoring game at Norwood Oval in early May 1975. North led at quarter time 11 goals to 7, but Norwood ended up winning by about 24 goals to 22 goals. Dillon killed Rodney Robran early. Cloke moved from Centre Half Forward to Centre Half Back where he had some affect on Dillon but they both marked brilliantly. Cloke also had a fanastic first half against Norwood at Prospect later in the year, but I don't know whether he stood Dillon. It was wet daay, but Cloke's marking kept North in the game until half time. Norwood killed North in the second half.

[GWW]

I haven't heard the Craig to Port one, but I also think Craig was destined to play for Sturt as he was very much a disciple of the Oatey family, especially Robert.

I'm not sure how close he was to signing with Port, but i think there was at least an offer that he may have given some consideration to.

[spell_check]

This is a list of runners up from the years I have handy; vote conversions were done for 1934-38; 1945; 1978-85. Note that in tied winners, it goes to the next place (or really, 3rd), and players who were ineligible are excluded from calculations eg. Darley, Kernahan and McIntosh for 1st and Wallace for equal 2nd.

Code: Select all

1934   Max   Murdy   South   19
1936   Sid   Burton   North   18
1937   Harold   Hawke   North   23
1938   Edward   Biggs   Sturt   16
   Max   Murdy   South   16
1939   Tom   Warhurst   Norwood   15
1940   Max   Murdy   South   14
1941   Jack   Oatey   Norwood   22
1945   Doug   Olds   Norwood   18
1946   Ray   Hunt   Glenelg   21
   Lew   Roberts   Port   21
1947   Alan   Hickinbotham   South   15
   Neville   Way   Norwood   15
   Foster   Williams   West   15
1948   Jim   Deane   South   21
1949   Jim   Deane   South   16
1950   Allan   Crabb   Glenelg   16
1951   Jim   Deane   South   20
1952   Lyall   Griffin   North   20
1953   Neil   Davies   Glenelg   20
1954   Ray   Linke   South   21
1955   John   Halbert   Sturt   19
1956   Haydn   Bunton   North   16
1957   Rex   Johns   Port   14
1958   John   Halbert   Sturt   15
1959   Clayton   Thompson   Sturt   15
1960   John   Halbert   Sturt   19
1961   Hayden   Linke   Glenelg   18
1962   Peter   Obst   Port   17
1963   Jeff   Bray   West   22
1964   Peter   Darley   South   24
1965   Neil   Kerley   South   15
1966   Robert   Simunsen   Woodville   18
   Trevor   Hughes   West   18
1967   Barrie   Robran   North   17
1968   Robert   Oatey   Norwood   20
1969   Ken   Eustice   Glenelg   16
1970   John   Cahill   Port   18
1971   Peter   Marker   Glenelg   20
   Phil   Haughan   Central   20
1972   Sony   Morey   Central   16
1973   Michael   Graham   Sturt   20
1974   Rick   Davies   Sturt   21
1975   Peter   Marker   Glenelg   19
1976   Barry   Norsworthy   Central   25
1977   Max   James   Port   22
1978   Russell   Ebert   Port   24.5
1979   Peter   Cloke   North   19.5
1980   Michael   Taylor   Norwood   22.5
1981   Mark   Naley   South   19.5
1982   Mark   Naley   South   15.5
1983   Bernie   Conlen   West   16.5
1984   Craig   Bradley   Port   25
1985   Peter   Motley   Sturt   25.5
1986   Andrew   Payze   Torrens   20
1987   Anthony   Burgess   West   21
   Darel   Hart   North   21
1988   Gilbert   McAdam   Central   18
1989   Simon   Tregenza   Port   20
1990   Eddie   Hocking   Central   15
   Scott   Lee   Central   15
   David   Marshall   Glenelg   15
   Simon   Tregenza   Port   15
1991   Garry   McIntosh   Norwood   20
1992   Andrew   McKay   Glenelg   16
   Brodie   Atkinson   North   16
1993   Nick   Chigwidden   Glenelg   15
   Shayne   Breuer   Eagles   15
1994   Brodie   Atkinson   North   16
1995   Anthony   Ingerson   Central   16
   Robert   West   Port   16
1996   Fabian   Francis   Port   15
1997   Simon   Feast   Sturt   15
1998   John.   Cunningham   Norwood   13
   Brodie   Atkinson   Sturt   13
   Simon   Feast   Sturt   13
1999   Nick   Chigwidden   Glenelg   16
2000   Gavin   Colville   Eagles   15
2001   Ben   Hollands   West   17
2002   Justin   Cicolella   Eagles   14
2003   Ben   Nelson   Sturt   19
2004   Gavin   Colville   Eagles   21
   Matthew   Slade   Central   21
2005   Nick   Gill   North   20
2006   Justin   Cicolella   Eagles   17
   Stephen   Kenna   South   17
2007   Brant   Chambers   Sturt   14
   Luke   Crane   Sturt   14
   Dean   Howard   North   14
   Ben   Nelson   Sturt   14
   Brad   Symes   Central   14
2008   James   Boyd   South   19
2009   James   Allan   North   17

[spell_check]

So, Murdy has the most runners up without winning it with three; and doubles to Chigwidden, Cicolella, Colville, Feast, Marker, Nelson and Tregenza.

[spell_check]

:lol:
Bastard

As seen in the table, they both got runner up twice.

In fact, (and ok, this is off topic) for Colville, top 20 placings were:

1998: eq 20th
1999: eq 8th
2000: 2nd
2001: eq 14th
2002: eq 4th
2004: eq 2nd

For Cicolella:
1999: eq 3rd
2000: eq 14th
2001: eq 14th
2002: 3rd (or 2nd, considering joint winners)
2003: 3rd
2004: 4th
2005: eq 5th
2006: eq 2nd

You could make a case of "vote taking off each other" in 1999, 2002 and 2004, although you could say the same for Sheedy and Weatherald in 2002 (winning it anyway) along with Thomas and Slade in 2004.
1999 saw Cicolella tie for third with Rhett Biglands (6 votes behind Damian Squire), then Colville and Jason Dylan were equal 8th. 52 votes divided into 4 players, while the nearest Sturt player to Squire (21) was Matthew Powell (with 9 votes).

[JK]

Didn't Gags consider switching to Port at one stage?

Around '78?

Yes, it was in 1979. A brief period of unrest where he considered an offer from Port Adelaide but I wouldn't think he was ever serious about moving.

WOW, I would never have picked that!!

The stories I'd been told a few years back, was that behind closed doors Gallagher was ultra voiceful and vehement, that Norwood in it's style of football should never be associated with Port's ... Came from pretty good authority too, but with anything 2nd hand you never really know for sure.

If true, maybe the 84 GF had a bit to do with it, I know Aishy and a couple of others weren't impressed with the treatment they received at the time.

[GWW]

What year did Gallagher retire? I presume he played in the 84 GF but haven't noticed him in any footage. Or did he retire a year or 2 earlier?

[Interceptor]

What year did Gallagher retire? I presume he played in the 84 GF but haven't noticed him in any footage. Or did he retire a year or 2 earlier?

Not sure when he retired, but he definitely played in the 84 premiership.

[GWW]

Thanks for clarifying that. I have an idea his last season was 85, although not sure of that, and thought that might not be close to the truth if he didn't actually play in 84.

[JK]

Thanks for clarifying that. I have an idea his last season was 85, although not sure of that, and thought that might not be close to the truth if he didn't actually play in 84.

Pretty sure he played in 85' mate, seem to remember him pulling a hammy at the Bay that year ... Reckon it would have been his final season also.

[baggy8]

Phil Gallagher played his last game in '86

[FlyingHigh]

:lol:
Bastard

As seen in the table, they both got runner up twice.

In fact, (and ok, this is off topic) for Colville, top 20 placings were:

1998: eq 20th
1999: eq 8th
2000: 2nd
2001: eq 14th
2002: eq 4th
2004: eq 2nd

For Cicolella:
1999: eq 3rd
2000: eq 14th
2001: eq 14th
2002: 3rd (or 2nd, considering joint winners)
2003: 3rd
2004: 4th
2005: eq 5th
2006: eq 2nd

You could make a case of "vote taking off each other" in 1999, 2002 and 2004, although you could say the same for Sheedy and Weatherald in 2002 (winning it anyway) along with Thomas and Slade in 2004.
1999 saw Cicolella tie for third with Rhett Biglands (6 votes behind Damian Squire), then Colville and Jason Dylan were equal 8th. 52 votes divided into 4 players, while the nearest Sturt player to Squire (21) was Matthew Powell (with 9 votes).

Thanks Spelly.
Cicca would have been young to finish 3rd in 1999, especially given Pavlich had a pretty good year for us. In 2004 I reckon he missed up to six games towards the end of the year with a borken hand/finger, otherwise you'd think he would have bolted it in.

[sapaul]

So, Murdy has the most runners up without winning it with three; and doubles to Chigwidden, Cicolella, Colville, Feast, Marker, Nelson and Tregenza.

Brodie Atkinson 3?

[spell_check]

2001 was that season, FlyingHigh.