SA Footy

For those that think that todays footballer is better than days gone by.
How do you think the most recent state team would go against this lot ?



S.A. National Football League Centenary Team at Football Park, 16 May 1977. Western Australia 15-18 d. South Australia 15-11. Back row: Graham Cornes; Peter Carey; Rick Davies. Third row: Graeme Dunstan; Neville Caldwell; Stephen Kerley; Max James; Peter Woite. Second row: Michael Taylor; Neil Button; Robert Klomp; Bruce Winter; Stephen Copping; Peter McInerney. Front row: Brian Cunningham; Darrell Cahill; Paul Bagshaw (Vice-Captain); Neil Kerley (Coach); Russell Ebert (Captain); Michael Graham; Phillip Gallagher

Or how about the 1980 side that smashed WA at Footy Park. That was a great side too.

Funnily enough I always thought that was one of the dodgiest State Teams to ever take the field. Five players each from the supposed big four. Picked more on past glories than form at the actual time me thinks.

Leaping Lindner wrote:Funnily enough I always thought that was one of the dodgiest State Teams to ever take the field. Five players each from the supposed big four. Picked more on past glories than form at the actual time me thinks.

I couldn't agree more LL. It was an absolute disgrace and I reckon it was what gave rise to the so called big 4. How R Sewer, R Robran and B Stringer missed out on that team were always a mystery to me given their form in the local comp at the time. I certainly didn't shed a tear when that team lost to WA in Adelaide for the first time in a long time.

Agreed LL, there's a few in there who were pretty lucky to get a state guernsey. Also, interesting that Westies finished third that year and couldn't get a player in there, despite producing that year's Magarey Medallist.

No Weston or Hodgy, WTF???

nickname wrote:Agreed LL, there's a few in there who were pretty lucky to get a state guernsey. Also, interesting that Westies finished third that year and couldn't get a player in there, despite producing that year's Magarey Medallist.

3rd in the 76 medal and winner of the 77 medal. Trevor Grimwood was good but he was no Peter McInerney

Leaping Lindner wrote:

nickname wrote:Agreed LL, there's a few in there who were pretty lucky to get a state guernsey. Also, interesting that Westies finished third that year and couldn't get a player in there, despite producing that year's Magarey Medallist.

3rd in the 76 medal and winner of the 77 medal. Trevor Grimwood was good but he was no Peter McInerney

Yeah, he was one I was thinking of. Although to be fair, IIRC Grimmy was having trouble with a hamstring in the latter half of 77 and this may have been a factor.

nickname wrote:

Leaping Lindner wrote:

nickname wrote:Agreed LL, there's a few in there who were pretty lucky to get a state guernsey. Also, interesting that Westies finished third that year and couldn't get a player in there, despite producing that year's Magarey Medallist.

3rd in the 76 medal and winner of the 77 medal. Trevor Grimwood was good but he was no Peter McInerney

Yeah, he was one I was thinking of. Although to be fair, IIRC Grimmy was having trouble with a hamstring in the latter half of 77 and this may have been a factor.

But this match was played in May, 1977 on the Adelaide Cup Day weekend. That was early in the season when he was dominating.

Leaping Lindner wrote:Funnily enough I always thought that was one of the dodgiest State Teams to ever take the field. Five players each from the supposed big four. Picked more on past glories than form at the actual time me thinks.

I can't talk for the other clubs, but Norwood was in sensational form early in 1977, thanks mainly to the efforts of the 5 players in that side. They were all in great form. Had Jim Thiel not injured his knee, he would have been in as well.

robranisgod wrote:
Yeah, he was one I was thinking of. Although to be fair, IIRC Grimmy was having trouble with a hamstring in the latter half of 77 and this may have been a factor.

But this match was played in May, 1977 on the Adelaide Cup Day weekend. That was early in the season when he was dominating.[/quote]

In that case they had no excuse. He actually had a better year IMO in 76, so it wasn't just a flash in the pan.

Nice touch including the disclaimer at the bottom of the photo

They would totally smash the current state side. Just look at the players. At least 47 premierships, 5 Magaery Medals and several others that came very close or just lost one. 2 coaches with 6 premierships. Simpson Medallist & All Australians, when it meant something to be awarded one not like today when they just hand them out.

Not bad for a dodgy side!!!!!!

FOURTH ESTATE wrote:They would totally smash the current state side. Just look at the players. At least 47 premierships, 5 Magaery Medals and several others that came very close or just lost one. 2 coaches with 6 premierships. Simpson Medallist & All Australians, when it meant something to be awarded one not like today when they just hand them out.

Not bad for a dodgy side!!!!!!

But also a couple of VFL rejects. It might belt the currrent SANFL side, but it did lose to WA here. The first team to lose for a very, very long time.

robranisgod wrote:

FOURTH ESTATE wrote:They would totally smash the current state side. Just look at the players. At least 47 premierships, 5 Magaery Medals and several others that came very close or just lost one. 2 coaches with 6 premierships. Simpson Medallist & All Australians, when it meant something to be awarded one not like today when they just hand them out.

Not bad for a dodgy side!!!!!!

But also a couple of VFL rejects. It might belt the currrent SANFL side, but it did lose to WA here. The first team to lose for a very, very long time.

That's very true, but that WA side was pretty good too. I recall that game and Brian Peake was an absolute superstar that day. Their ruckmen were Graham Moss and Stephen Michael, and other notable players like Rod Wiley, Phil Kelly, John Duckworth, Joe McKay, Doug Green etc. A very talented line up.

Players who were not able to make that team included Ross Glendinnig, Jim Sewell, Peter Featherby and Brian Adamson. WA had awesome talent in those days, IMHO clearly the number 1 state in Aussie Rules at the time.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:
That's very true, but that WA side was pretty good too. I recall that game and Brian Peake was an absolute superstar that day. Their ruckmen were Graham Moss and Stephen Michael, and other notable players like Rod Wiley, Phil Kelly, John Duckworth, Joe McKay, Doug Green etc. A very talented line up.

Players who were not able to make that team included Ross Glendinnig, Jim Sewell, Peter Featherby and Brian Adamson. WA had awesome talent in those days, IMHO clearly the number 1 state in Aussie Rules at the time.

Didn't WA beat Victoria that year??? As A/Hawk said losing to that WA side was not something to go kicking 10 shades of sh!t out of the cat over. Not sure they were the best state but they were a pretty fair side. Did Buckanara and Narkle play for them too that day???

am Bays wrote:

Adelaide Hawk wrote:
That's very true, but that WA side was pretty good too. I recall that game and Brian Peake was an absolute superstar that day. Their ruckmen were Graham Moss and Stephen Michael, and other notable players like Rod Wiley, Phil Kelly, John Duckworth, Joe McKay, Doug Green etc. A very talented line up.

Players who were not able to make that team included Ross Glendinnig, Jim Sewell, Peter Featherby and Brian Adamson. WA had awesome talent in those days, IMHO clearly the number 1 state in Aussie Rules at the time.

Didn't WA beat Victoria that year??? As A/Hawk said losing to that WA side was not something to go kicking 10 shades of sh!t out of the cat over. Not sure they were the best state but they were a pretty fair side. Did Buckanara and Narkle play for them too that day???

Yes, Narkle played but Buckenara didn't. I should qualify my statement, it was based on the fact that over the next 5 or so years, WA produced an incredible number of players who became stars. It seemed every player from WA made an instant impact on the game in the VFL and at state level, you can throw in Bosustow, Hunter, Hardie, Krakouer brothers, etc.

Can't recall the exact season, it was in the late 1970s when WA defeated the Vics in the first ever State of Origin match by 10-15 goals. SA's turn came from the mid 80s when we unleashed Platten, Kernahan. Bradley, Motley, etc onto the unsuspecting Victorian public.

Went and checked the shed an lo' and behold the budget from that game:

The WA side:

3 Les Fong
4 Keith Narkle
5 Rob Wiley
6 Tony Morley
7 Brian Peake
9 Gary McDonald (wonder how he got permission from the ABC to stop filming the Norman Gunston show... )
10 Dennis Hollins
11 Barry Day
12 Phil Kelly
15 Kevin Bryant
16 Stephen Curtis
17 Mark Olsen
18 Jeff Dickenson
19 Doug Green
20 Joe McKay
21 Steve Hargrave
22 Alan Orr
23 Steve Michael
24 John Duckworth
25 Graham Moss (reigning Brownlow medalist IIRC)
26 Ron Bayens

am Bays wrote:Went and checked the shed an lo' and behold the budget from that game:

The WA side:

3 Les Fong
4 Keith Narkle
5 Rob Wiley
6 Tony Morley
7 Brian Peake
9 Gary McDonald (wonder how he got permission from the ABC to stop filming the Norman Gunston show... )
10 Dennis Hollins
11 Barry Day
12 Phil Kelly
15 Kevin Bryant
16 Stephen Curtis
17 Mark Olsen
18 Jeff Dickenson
19 Doug Green
20 Joe McKay
21 Steve Hargrave
22 Alan Orr
23 Steve Michael
24 John Duckworth
25 Graham Moss (reigning Brownlow medalist IIRC)
26 Ron Bayens

The SA selectors should have been able to pick a good enough side to beat that WA side. For 33 years I have thought that SA lost that state game at the selection table and nothing that has been raised on this discussion has changed my opinion.

Is no.16 from WA the Stephen Curtis who played for Port Adelaide Magpies later on?