SA Footy

I noticed in today's Advertiser, Rucci had an article in his "Rucci's Roast" column about candidates for the "Greatest SA Country Team", which is certainly an interesting read.

I do think the format is a little bit sloppy though as it leads to the team being inflexible eg Hannaford and Robran both named as CHF candidates. Obviously Robran would make the side but i wouldnt have him at CHF, he would be better used as a ruck rover, with Hannaford as the CHF. The way the side is picked, Hannaford would be an interchange player at best. Similar with Cornes and Kerley as the ruck rover.

Also was interesting to see former Sturt champion Michael Graham as a candiate, i always thought he was from the NT?? I presume he must have spent some time in SA before moving up North??

Anyway, given the format in the paper, i thought i'd have a go at picking a side:

FF: Rick Davies, Tony Modra, Jeff Potter

HF: Mark Ricciuto, Barrie Robran, Don Lindner

C: Ken Eustice, Russell Ebert, Michael Graham

HB: Mark Bickley, Greg Phillips, Andrew McKay

FB: Michael Taylor, Sandy Nelson, Paul Bagshaw


R: Michael Redden, Graham Cornes, Fos Williams

INT: Shaun Rehn, Tyson Edwards, Neil Kerley, Ian Hannaford

COACH: Fos Williams


I must admit there was one position, right forward pocket, where candidates were Jeff Potter, Colin Richens, and Roger Rigney, where i knew only a little about each player, and in fact virtually nothing about Richens. I've gone for Potter but not with any conviction.

Did anyone else see the article and/or have any other comments to make?

GWW wrote:I noticed in today's Advertiser, Rucci had an article in his "Rucci's Roast" column about candidates for the "Greatest SA Country Team", which is certainly an interesting read.

I do think the format is a little bit sloppy though as it leads to the team being inflexible eg Hannaford and Robran both named as CHF candidates. Obviously Robran would make the side but i wouldnt have him at CHF, he would be better used as a ruck rover, with Hannaford as the CHF. The way the side is picked, Hannaford would be an interchange player at best. Similar with Cornes and Kerley as the ruck rover.

Also was interesting to see former Sturt champion Michael Graham as a candiate, i always thought he was from the NT?? I presume he must have spent some time in SA before moving up North??

Anyway, given the format in the paper, i thought i'd have a go at picking a side:

FF: Rick Davies, Tony Modra, Jeff Potter

HF: Mark Ricciuto, Barrie Robran, Don Lindner

C: Ken Eustice, Russell Ebert, Michael Graham

HB: Mark Bickley, Greg Phillips, Andrew McKay

FB: Michael Taylor, Sandy Nelson, Paul Bagshaw


R: Michael Redden, Graham Cornes, Fos Williams

INT: Shaun Rehn, Tyson Edwards, Neil Kerley, Ian Hannaford

COACH: Fos Williams


I must admit there was one position, right forward pocket, where candidates were Jeff Potter, Colin Richens, and Roger Rigney, where i knew only a little about each player, and in fact virtually nothing about Richens. I've gone for Potter but not with any conviction.

Did anyone else see the article and/or have any other comments to make?

Cripes! Just a "bit" of talent there. And I'm you I always thought Flash was a NT player. Anyway the team looks fine to me.
Ian Hannaford is a hard one but from what I've read (don't think I'm being bias here) Don Lindner would edge him out as the "2nd" CHF anyway. Moving Robran onto the ball would be nice, but you'd be wasting Cornes, and besides Robran use to dominate games at CHF. People are going to disagree with Redden and Davies as 1st and 2nd ruck and Rehn on the bench(but i wouldn't ).

Not a lot of difference between Richens and Potter, both wonderful players for Glenelg and Port Adelaide respectively. Maybe I would just edge Richens ahead as he mastered both the roving and back pocket positions.

I would also argue the coaching position. Jack Oatey had a better record.

Micheal Graham won the Mail Medal playing for Penola in 1970
not sure how many season he played for them but he debuted for Sturt in 1971

I would have B. Wedding (Norwood) in Ruck over M. Redden. Sure Redden played alot of games for North, but Wedding was named in F. Williams best state side.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:Not a lot of difference between Richens and Potter, both wonderful players for Glenelg and Port Adelaide respectively. Maybe I would just edge Richens ahead as he mastered both the roving and back pocket positions.

Four B&F's each, but Potter's were in a top side that won three flags during his career. 23 State games is a pretty fair record as well - not sure how many Richens played. Having said that, they were before my time.

Actual side picked:

Forwards: Rick Davies, Tony Modra, Jeff Potter

Half Forwards: Mark Ricciuto, Barrie Robran, Don Lindner

Centreline: Ken Eustice, Russell Ebert, Michael Graham

Half Backs: Tyson Edwards, Greg Phillips, Andrew McKay

Backs: Michael Taylor, Sandy Nelson, Paul Bagshaw

1st Ruck: Sean Rehn, Neil Kerley, Fos Williams

Interchange: Mark Bickley, Graham Cornes, Mick Redden, Bill Wedding

Coach: Jack Oatey.