Most exhilarating SANFL Moment

[devilsadvocate]

The sound-barrier breaking 'Magpies' chant that swept Footy Park after Port kicked the first goal in the last quarter of the 1994 Grand Final. Actually, the whole last quarter was exhilirating.

Tom Carr's match-saving spoil in the dying minutes of the 1999 Grand Final against Norwood.

I was there for both of those. Best football days I can remember, watching the Magpies in the '90's.

Interesting to see so many people's fav moments are against Port.

[Magpiespower]

I think the rivalry between Port and Glenelg magnified greatly from the grand final in 77, through to the 81 grand final, the "Granger" incidents, that Final when Abernerthy hit the post (87?), then to the 2 grand finals in 88 and 90. Before the late 70's i would assume there wasn't much of a rivalry at all between the 2 clubs.

As well as few bitter court battles (in 1981 and 1990), some spiteful matches (Bloodbath at the Bay, 1983) and Scott Salisbury!

[JK]

I think the rivalry between Port and Glenelg magnified greatly from the grand final in 77, through to the 81 grand final, the "Granger" incidents, that Final when Abernerthy hit the post (87?), then to the 2 grand finals in 88 and 90. Before the late 70's i would assume there wasn't much of a rivalry at all between the 2 clubs.

As well as few bitter court battles (in 1981 and 1990), some spiteful matches (Bloodbath at the Bay, 1983) and Scott Salisbury!

Don't want to hijack a thread, but briefly, what were these court battles over, I can't remember them?

[Dogwatcher]

The first time I stepped on to Football Park - in the mini-league in the mid 80s. We played Norwood - Ardtornish Primary School.
It was a double header game and it poured with rain for most of the day.
I can't remember who played the other game - may have been Woodville v Torrens.

That would have to be Round 13 1985.

Thanks Spelly - sounds about right.
That was my first season of footy!

The second time I played mini-league was also at Footy Park, against West Torrens. Chris Lindsay scored a few goals for the Eagles that day - we went down.

[Magpiespower]

Don't want to hijack a thread, but briefly, what were these court battles over, I can't remember them?

1981 - Another ugly incident involving Grave Danger, this time with Neville Caldwell.

1990 - Port's ill-fated AFL bid. IIRC, Glenelg were on the front foot more than the other clubs.

But the greatest scandal - a Glenelg player kicking our harmless runner, David Arnfield.

Why anyone would have a go at Arnie is beyond me?

[GWW]

Don't want to hijack a thread, but briefly, what were these court battles over, I can't remember them?

1981 - Another ugly incident involving Grave Danger, this time with Neville Caldwell.

1990 - Port's ill-fated AFL bid. IIRC, Glenelg were on the front foot more than the other clubs.

But the greatest scandal - a Glenelg player kicking our harmless runner, David Arnfield.

Why anyone would have a go at Arnie is beyond me?

I know quite a few Port supporters who would like to do that as well

[JK]

Cheers MP .. I do recall those battles now, yes the 90's was certainly a huge year in furthering or creating a pretty fierce rivalry among Port and the Bays.

[am Bays]

Fair to say for a 20 year epoch whilst the Glenelg v Port rivalry wasn't greater than Port v Norwood an argument can be made that it at least equalled it.

As others have said other than 5 GFs, there was 1 prelim, 5 2nd Semis, and 3 other finals.

The minor round games between the two clubs were generally pretty close, there was certainly plenty of on field incidents (Granger, Salisbury, Mahoney and the Stringers were no angels), the "Now, go out and do to those bastards what they have been doing to you for the last 50 years" half time speech by Campbell in 1983 and the documented off field dramas between the two clubs and yep it was fialry intense rivalry there for 20 years.

Certainly Mark alluded to how much Glenelg was respected (not feared) by Port when he came over in 93.

By 1995 the rivalry was cerainly starting to diminish as we drifted into a pit of mediocrity

[MagareyLegend]

North's 1972 Champions of Australia victory over Carlton.

[McAlmanac]

the "Now, go out and do to those bastards what they have been doing to you for the last 50 years" half time speech by Campbell in 1983

There might be a school of thought that such a speech might be a bit hollow coming from somebody who had just walked into the club.

[GWW]

Yeah, i agree "Mr 1 to 10" wouldn't have had much idea about Port's history during his years in Western Australia

[Macca19]

I started going regularly in 87 but my first football memories are in 88 as a 6 year old and definately in the first 4 years of memories Port v Glenelg was the standout rivalry. Come 93 onwards, Norwood took over as the main rivals again and almost every match in the mid 90s involved 1-2-3 players getting knocked out/suspended in Port v Norwood games. I remember numerous brawls. Bowman knocking out Hodges after a mark which started a huge all in brawl in 94 (?), Primus and Leys going toe to toe in 95, Delaneys face being rearranged by McCormick (?) in 95, numerous brawls involving Chris 'Bucket o Beef' Prime and Mcintosh.

There seemed to be a distinct spite/hatred between Port v Glenelg in the late 80s through to the mid 90s. Those games were certainly interesting to go to mainly because you could cut the tension in the crowd with a knife. Going to those games, you expected from before the first bounce argument after argument and loads of backnforth abuse in the crowd. Was great.

I think though the heaviest rivalry in the 90s for Port, whilst only lasting for a couple of years was against Centrals in the mid 90s. Full of spite both on and off the field. Numerous all in brawls, suspensions, close games, 2 grand finals.

[JK]

Fair call I reckon Macca ... From my perspective (and I know this isn't the same for all Legs fans), Port v Norwood never requires anything "big" to happen, it just always will be special, and perhaps has a bit of respect to it ... Maybe because both have held their own against one another in the big ones - I know a lot of Port supporters that are supremely confident everytime against anyone, yet they are a little more hesitant when it's against our mob.

As a neutral, from the 80's onward there has appeared to be a lot of spite in the Port v Bays rivalry ... Has made for some awesome clashes over the years ... The 80's in particular where it ran for virtually every year, with each club having their "moments in the sun".

[smithy]

My most exhilarating SANFL moments would probably be watching Peter Motley play for sturt



and the 1988 Sturt vs Port game at Football Park.
Possibly the greatest minor round game ever.

[JK]

My most exhilarating SANFL moments would probably be watching Peter Motley play for sturt

I reckon Mots was one of those players/blokes all South Aussies loved watching even before the tragedy

[GWW]

My most exhilarating SANFL moments would probably be watching Peter Motley play for sturt

Possibly the greatest minor round game ever.

That would depend upon which team you barrack for

[smithy]

My most exhilarating SANFL moments would probably be watching Peter Motley play for sturt

I reckon Mots was one of those players/blokes all South Aussies loved watching even before the tragedy

Agreed CP, the thing is people are probably more saddened by the events than what he is...( I am )
He was my hero growing up and I visited him in the Julia Farr centre as a lad and that's how I got my limited edition picture of him signed ( which is in the picture but the flash ruined it)
There were only 100 of them released and I am the only other person he has met that has one besides himself.
( Maybe Geof has the other 98????)
He's moved on big time and is one of the funniest buggers going around.

[smithy]

My most exhilarating SANFL moments would probably be watching Peter Motley play for sturt

Possibly the greatest minor round game ever.

That would depend upon which team you barrack for

Regardless of the result GWW, and you did go on to win the flag...............you have to agree it was a VERY good game

[JK]

My most exhilarating SANFL moments would probably be watching Peter Motley play for sturt

I reckon Mots was one of those players/blokes all South Aussies loved watching even before the tragedy

Agreed CP, the thing is people are probably more saddened by the events than what he is...( I am )
He was my hero growing up and I visited him in the Julia Farr centre as a lad and that's how I got my limited edition picture of him signed ( which is in the picture but the flash ruined it)
There were only 100 of them released and I am the only other person he has met that has one besides himself.
( Maybe Geof has the other 98????)
He's moved on big time and is one of the funniest buggers going around.

Im probably lucky because Im a friend of a very close relative of his ... But as much as I always respected him onfield, I grew to respect him even more offf-field after the accident - Quality bloke in every sense of the words!!

[GWW]

Yeah you're right Smithy, it was a good game, had a lot in it, high scoring, a bit of controversy with the Dilena/Johnston incident as well. I thought Whittlesea was a standout for Sturt that day.