1978 The year it was

[mal]

MICHAEL GRAHAM
Stats leading into the GF
26 years old
Recruited from Penola
1971 debut for ST
State footy 73/74/75/77
Western Border medalist 1970
161 games
257 goals
15 games and 24 goals in 1978

Known as the Flash, and what an exhilarating footballer
I can still envisage the Flash bounding away, bouncing the footy at breakneck speed
One of the alltime great SANFL footballers to watch
To me a legend on and off the field


Here is a partialy edited article about the Flash on 30/9 written by that brilliant journalist Mike Coward

DOING IT FOR DAD
Michael Graham wants to command a perFORMance for his adopted father Jack Oatey
...and see Jack engineer his 11th flag
"" Jack has been like a 2nd dad to me, he has had a tremendous effect on my life, I just want to play for Jack, he makes that sort of feeling at the club."'
"" If he coaches next year I will play on, If he dosent I might go elsewhere but the flag is what were all worrying about at the moment ""

VFL
In recent years Melbourne FC has taken more than a casual interest in the ST champ

STURT
"" Ive always been very happy at ST.""
"' I was very shy when I first started and they[ST] made me feel at home.""
"" Football has helped my life and it has given me an identity in life.""

GRAHAM
A non smoker and a non drinker, although on GF nights he permits himself a Southern Comfort and orange
He does admit to enjoying a game of cards and an EW wager on dogs and ponies
Graham is anxious to play footy for another 5-6 years
"' I would like to coach one day or somehow stay involved with football as long as I live."'
Graham is an enthusiastic worker for the Aboriginal community, and with CD footballer Wilbur Wilson, has organised many of the fraternity's sporting events
Graham said he would like to be involved in the administration of a hostel

FOOTNOTE [pardon the pun]
Graham said his bruised heel had improved steadily and that he was fit for todays action


DID YOU KNOW
I read somewhere that Flash was a Taxi Driver in the 70s ?
Is that right ?


QUESTION
Is flash the quickest running ST footballer in the last 50 years ?

[Adelaide Hawk]

ADVERTISER TIPSTERS
All tipped ST to win the Grand Final
Those writers were
Gordon Schwartz
Merv Agars
Mike Coward
Tony Becker

Deservedly so, but it's interesting to note Glenelg Coach John Nicholls and Port Adelaide Captain Brian Cunningham wrote articles saying they thought Norwood could win it. Cunningham ended his column by saying "If Norwood can play as it did last week, if Button can go with Davies, and if the striking power can be increased, it will win. I've got a sneaking suspicion it can do all that, and it will be Mike Taylor and his men who will drink from the T.S.Hill Cup".

Smart man that Bucky

[Adelaide Hawk]

MICHAEL GRAHAM
QUESTION
Is flash the quickest running ST footballer in the last 50 years ?

Take out the word "Sturt" and I believe it's correct. I cannot recall seeing a quicker runner in any grade of football, in any era. "Flash" was a great sobriquet. With pace, I'm talking about the speed he ran WITH the ball, not just leg speed.

[robranisgod]

MICHAEL GRAHAM
QUESTION
Is flash the quickest running ST footballer in the last 50 years ?

Take out the word "Sturt" and I believe it's correct. I cannot recall seeing a quicker runner in any grade of football, in any era. "Flash" was a great sobriquet. With pace, I'm talking about the speed he ran WITH the ball, not just leg speed.

A better judge than any of us says that he is the fastest footballer that he has ever seen

[mal]

JIM MICALANNEY

Partially edited article written by Tony Becker
Published 30/9 Grand Final day


JIMS LESSON BEFORE THE FINAL

JM 81 game career was built out of a Premiership performance
He has be re-instated to NWs 22 man squad to assist the Redlegs 2nd title assault in 4 years

NW V GL 1975 G/F
A boyish faced 19 year old in 1975 he was rushed into full forward for the G/F after having been selected in the 18 only 3 times during the year
As the leading goalkicker in the final he kicked 2-1 in the clubs 12 point win over GL
Relegated to the reserves late this season, his selection on Thursday night comes in similar circumstances to 1975

DISSAPOINTING 1978 SEASON
It has been a disappointing season for the 1977 State Full Forward
He acknowledges it but cannot give a reason for it
Down on form and flat, his finals preparations were further upset by a severe bout of the flu which he FINALly threw off early this week

G/F MOTORCADE
The 22 year old teacher at Direk Primary School at Salisbury preferred the norMALlity of sports elective day at school rather than the city motorcade
"" I was offered the afternoon off from school but it is not fair on the other teachers to leave my class during the elective""

SQUAD
Although he did not know his position yesterday he was approaching the game as if he was named in the 20
"" The game is of th utmost imPORTance as Grand Finals are."" A nervous but cool Michalanney said yesterday
"" There are no 2nd chances obviously.""


BIG JIM
Underrated honest reliable footballer
That he made the 77 State team is a surprise to me
Played a lot as a tall forward, rarely kicked bags of goals , but as I recall consistently chipped in with 2-3 goal perfomances
JM came to Norwood from Rostrevor College
Debuted in 1974
Leading goalkicker in 1976 with 67 goals
The following stats 1978 up to the GF
20 games
36 goals
155 career goals

MOTORCADE
Jim didnt attend the motorcade preferring to stay at school
Probably sums up the man, preferring an allegiance to a fanfare[never met him, just seemed that sort of person]
The motorcade took place on Thursday
Oatey and Hammonds boyz were driven from Victoria Square to Rundle MALl
They were cheered by about 5000 people in the malL
The players were introduced to the masses by that great politician, Sir Donald Dunstan
The Don had asked Oatey to excuse any partisanship !!!
Sir Don was at the time the number 1 ticketholder for Norwood
Just for the record driver Bill Wickes drove Jack Oatey around and there was room for a ST player in the front seat
It happened to be Oateys star player Rick Davies

[robranisgod]

Jim Michalanney and Phil Gallagher are the only two Norwood players to have played in all Norwood's 4 premierships between 1975 and 1984.

[GWW]

Apparently Jim is now the principal at Ceduna Area School.

[mal]

This was some of the Advertiser news on 30/9/1978

1 Pope John Paul dies from a heart attack
2 Air fares up 5% Adelaide to Sydney now $88-20
3 John Martins 112th birthday
4 Horwood Bagshaw lose 1.5 million
5 Jeff Thomson joins up with Kerry Packers WSC
6 Datsun 200B GL costs $5799
7 Old Colonist Hotel Beer $8-40 a dozen
8 RAA 75th birthday
9 Yankalilla area school Gala Day Frog race
10 Midnight Bingo at Kildare College


If you were buying houses , these were a house from each area

UNLEY $33,000
NORWOOD $39500

Weather Forecast
Fine
Estimated Maximum 20 degrees

The Advertiser Race tipsters for Saturday at Morphettville
R JONES
V LEWIS
P JACKSON
D MARKHAM
B DAY
J ROWE
R KEEGAN
J ONEIL [still tipping on Coast FM Saturday mornings]
R FEWINGS [still tipping on 5RPH Saturday mornings]

A horse called Dulcify was having its 3rd race start
Dulcify the Colin Hayes trained horse won on debut on September 2nd at odds of 300/1
I remember that race I was there !

[mal]

If you stayed home and watched TV , this was the menu

ADS7
800 GRAND FINAL PREVIEW
930 SEVENS SUPER SATURDAY
1130 LEAGUE RESERVES FOOTBALL [ Used to watch these games ]
220 MOVIE [The Black Night]
400 THE STEVE CURTIS MUSIC EXPRESS
530 HARDIE FERADO PREVIEW
555 X LOTTO DRAW
600 NEWS
630 THE BIG REPLAY [SANFL/AFL Grand Finals]
935 MOVIE [The wonderful country]
1120 NIGHT MOVES [This was a music show ?]
125 CLOSE

ABS 2
1200 COUNTRY ROAD
100 MATCH OF THE DAY
200 SKIING
320 RUGBY LEAGUE [1978 English Challenge Cup]
400 RACING [TAB Daily Double from Morphetville]
445 HOCKEY[Canada v Russia]
535 SURVIVAL [With Johnny Farnham, what the hec was this ?]
600 COUNTDOWN [Repeat]
655 WEATHER
700 NEWS SPORT
730 QUEST 78
825 FOUR CORNERS
920 VFL GRAND FINAL
1120 CLOSE

NWS9
725-1230 HEY HEY ITS SATURDAY as follows :
726 STAR TREK
750 SPACE GHOST
815 BIRDMAN GALAXY TRIO
840 SPACE KIDDETTES
905 MILTON THE MONSTER
930 MIGHTY MOUSE [Not Neville Harris ]
955 GHOST BUSTERS
1020 DEVLINS
1045 CLUB CLUB
1110 HEY ITS THE KING [Not Neil Kerley]
1130 TIME TUNNELL [One of my all time favorite TV shows]

1230 MOVIE [Underwater City]
200 NATIONAL SOUND UNLIMITED
400 LOOK LAUGH LISTEN AND LEARN
430 CURIOSITY SHOW
530 FOOTBALL REPORT
600 NEWS
630 MCDUFF THE TALKING DOG[What the ...]
700 BIG JOHN LITTLE JOHN
730 LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE
830 POLICE STORY
MOVIE [Happy Ending, not the SANFL Grand Final ]
1135 ON THIS DAY
1140 CLOSE

SAS 10
830 SUPER FRIENDS
930 MARVEL HEROES
1000 KING LEONARD [Not Frank from WA]
1030 MISSION MAGIC
1100 GREEK AFFAIR
1200 MOVIE [Flaming Feather]
130 MOVIE [Brighty of the Grand Canyon]
300 VIVA VALDEZ
400 WHAT IN THE WORLD
430 JUNIOR JURY
500 THE ADVENTURES OF BLACK BEAUTY
530 COWBOY IN AFRICA
630 YOUNG TALENT TIME
730 EMERGENCY
830 MOVIE [River of no return]
1015 IT TAKES A THIEF
115 MOVIE [Prelude to fame]
1245 CLOSE

There was plenty of SANFL football exposure on TV back in those days
Used to watch the seconds games until half time and then go to the Football or the Races or play scrubber footy

On Sunday was the best TV show of all
NWS9
1200-135 THE FOOTBALL SHOW
Channel 9 obviously put it in this time slot to precede World Championship Wrestling ...

[robranisgod]

Despite what was the suggested program lineup for Grand Final day, I have a feeling that the Grand Final was actually shown live. Does anyone else remember that happening?

[Goat Herder]

Despite what was the suggested program lineup for Grand Final day, I have a feeling that the Grand Final was actually shown live. Does anyone else remember that happening?

I'm sure you're right mate. That was the first SANFL GF I can remember (shame I can't remember the year before.. ) and I remember watching it on a little 34cm black'n white tv, propped up in bed crook as a dog with a dose of the mumps! Cracker game of footy. Bruce Winter switched to the reigning premiers the year after, by memory...?

[Adelaide Hawk]

I can't recall who it was, but I heard a story of a Norwood supporter who couldn't get a ticket and was out in his garage listening to the game on the radio when his son came in and asked why he wasn't watching the game on TV. I think it was a very late decision to televise it live, but just what motivated it, I have no idea.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Bruce Winter switched to the reigning premiers the year after, by memory...?

That's correct, along with Robert Barton.

[JK]

Im certain they showed it live, because I was only 6 and watched my old man tearing his hair out with a few empty cans on the table .. By the end of the game there was an empty bottle of Scotch on the table and he was a crying mess lol.

[am Bays]

Listened to it at the Cowell Show.

[mal]

30/9/1978

COLIN CASEY

Pre game there was an injury rumour, that ST defender Colin Casey may not play
Here is the partially edited report by that brilliant journalist Mike Coward
Coward is just about the most articulate media person Ive followed
The only criticism of Mike is that at times you need a dictionary for all the deciphering !

WILL CASEY PLAY ?
State full back Colin Casey will play for ST in todays GF
Rumours that Casey had broken down were rife in Adelaide football circles yesterday
"" Wild horses would not keep me away "" Casey said last night
"" The stories are laughable , I'll be there.""
Casey was said to have broken down at training at Unley Oval on Thursday night
ST team manager Ted Langridge also emphatically denied the rumours
Casey returned to the rooms about 10 minutes b4 the other ST players on Thursday night
"" Colin went in early because Jack Oatey was satisfied with his work and didnt want to flatten him"" Langridge said.
Earlier in the week Casey had a stomach upset and was told to train lightly Tuesday night
The previous week he was treated for a leg injury

JIM DERRINGTON
And not long b4 he [Casey] went in, he was seen with disconchalent rover Jim Derrington, who damaged a hamstring and could not be considered


CASEY
Born Broken Hill
6'3''
88.5 kg
1971 League debut
1972 ST Best and Fairest[Baggy won the previous 3]
State player 74/75/78
180 games leading into the GF
23 games played in 78
Kicked 2 goals this season, career total of 73

Colin Casey a very very good reliable defender
Owned a Sports store in partnership with Sandy Nelson
Employed in the sports store was Gary Hardeman
Nelson had a knee operation pre season and missed the season [I assume he retired]
Hardeman broke his cheekbone in the ST V NM game in September and missed the GF
And to think it was rumoured Casey might be out as well

DERRINGTON
Born Adelaide
5'8''
71 kgs
Joined ST from NW high school
1977 debuted
Played 20 games this season, career total 25 games
Kicked 34 goals this season for a total of 37 goals

Jim Derrington at this stage of his career was a good rover, and an exceptional sMALl forward
Was he ever almost a NW player ?
Im assuming that becoz he went to NW High School
To play 20 games for the season and then miss the GF with a damaged hamstring must have been devastating for Jim

[robranisgod]

JIM DERRINGTON
And not long b4 he [Casey] went in, he was seen with disconchalent rover Jim Derrington, who damaged a hamstring and could not be considered


DERRINGTON
Born Adelaide
5'8''
71 kgs
Joined ST from NW high school
1977 debuted
Played 20 games this season, career total 25 games
Kicked 34 goals this season for a total of 37 goals

Jim Derrington at this stage of his career was a good rover, and an exceptional sMALl forward
Was he ever almost a NW player ?
Im assuming that becoz he went to NW High School
To play 20 games for the season and then miss the GF with a damaged hamstring must have been devastating for Jim

Quite a few Sturt players went to Norwood High School. Bruce Winter and Richard Murrie were certainly two others in that era. School zones and footy zones didn't always match. e.g. as you may well know Mal Port players including Andy Porplycia John Harvey Tim Ginever and Bruce Abernethy all went to Woodville High School as did Torrens players such as Milan Faletic and Neville Mead.

[dedja]

I was at Norwood High at the time and it would have been about a 50/50 split of Norwood/Sturt supporters ... and as RIG as stated, players from each side went to the school.

Just like the joke about Kiwis being Aussies ... Norwood, Sturt, same thing ...

Oh, and Norwood High is in Magill, not Norwood.

[Adelaide Hawk]

School zones and footy zones didn't always match.

The one that has always had me confused was Silvano Cece. I played school football with Silvano, and he told me he had the choice of clubs between Sturt and Norwood, something to do with an anomaly in zoning. Typically modest, he chose Sturt because the Norwood juniors were too strong .. but the silly thing was he would have walked into the Norwood junior teams anyway. He was a schoolboy star, pity we never saw the best of him.

Bruce Winter was always a Norwood supporter at school, so maybe the chance to play for the team he supported as a kid swayed his decision.

[sapaul]

78 was the first grand final to be shown live. Ian Day mentions it at the start of the game.