SA Footy

Obviously with Tim Weatherald notching up his 300th game this weekend, there has been some discussion about what current day players may also reach this magical milestone.

As I mentioned in the other thread, I think that Central's Paul Thomas (28 y.o - 169 games to date) might be able reach this milestone if he plays on for another 5 or 6 years and possibly a Steve Summerton (22 y.o - 72 games to date) at the Magpies could reach this acheivement before their career finishes.

Below is a list compiled by the great stats man Phil Herden on all the 300 game players in the SANFL's history:

Phil Herden wrote:
300 Game Players in SANFL History


P.Carey (Glenelg - 467)
R.Ebert (Port - 421)
R.Sewer (Woodville & Glenelg - 394)
M.Redden (North - 389)
G.Cornes (Glenelg & South - 385)
G.McIntosh (Norwood - 382)
P.Bagshaw (Sturt - 374)
G.Fielke (West - 373)
R.Davies (South & Sturt - 370)
L.Head (Torrens - 364)
G.Phillips (Port - 358)
D.Marshall (Glenelg - 358)
B.Winter (Norwood & Sturt - 353)
D.Smith (Port - 350)
S.Palmer (South - 338)
N.Craig (North, Norwood & Sturt 332)
M.Aish (Norwood 322)
J.Paynter (Glenelg & Sturt 322)
J.Seebohm (Glenelg 320)
T.Ginever (Port 315)
F.Bills (Torrens 313)
R.Pope (Norwood & West 314)
A.Payze (Torrens & Eagles 314)
R.Oatey (Norwood & Sturt 310)
P.Vivian (Central 308)
J.MacFarlane (Glenelg 307)
D.Sanders (North 305)
K.Thomas (Norwood 300)
M.Parker (North & Woodville 304)
M.Taylor (Norwood 302)
C.McDermott (Glenelg & North 301)
D.Lindner (North 300)
P.Gallagher (Norwood 300)

T.Weatherald (Sturt & Norwood 299*)

* Tim Weatherald becomes the 34th player in SANFL history to reach this milestone this weekend v Port Adelaide @ Alberton

G. Fielke 327 Games (Premiership Point Games H&A/Finals)
32 SANFL Cup Games
1 Representative Game (City v Country)
5 NFL/AFC Cup Games
24 Adelaide AFL Games
16 Collingwood AFL Games
8 State (StaeLeague/Origin) S.Australia

In time I hope to break down all the other players so we can compare apples with apples (WAFL and AFL Stats) BUT as you can see, there are a lot of Cup Games for players on this 200 Game plus list (In Grantley's case, 37 Games). This will effect many SANFL stats as the AFL/VFL and WAFL stats do not count these pre-season or cup games in their totals.

In any case, Tim Weatherald - Take a Bow!

Feel free to post away with the years these players listed carved out their careers and perhaps when they notched up the 300 game milestone.

As a lad growing up in the 60s, we were made aware of the greats of the game from bygone eras, unlike the youth of today who are consumed by the AFL.

For years, the most games played by anyone was Johnny Taylor with 258. This record seemed untouchable until one day surpassed by Lindsay Head. Lindsay went on to become the first player to attain the 300 game milstone.

The 300 game list, whilst a wonderful achievement, and well done Timmy, is a little misleading in terms of football greatness. Some players on that list played in an era when they played up to 30 games in a season, whereas greats from the 1920s were playing 12 games a year, so anything over 100 games was a valuable contribution. 150 was superb.

Although Rod Pope became the first player to notch 300 in a Norwood jumper, he played most of his footy for West Adelaide. The first person to register 300 Norwood games was Michael Aish, closely followed by Keith Thomas, and then along came Garry McIntosh who cruised past them both.

Remarkable achievement in today's SANFL.

Especially considering his games tally hasn't been inflated by a pre-season comp...

I would love to know how many games John Reedman played. It would be almost impossible to find out (due to poor records from the 1800s) but it would have to go close to 300.
He started playing league in 1887 and finished in 1909 (after not playing in 1908 season).
He might not have reached 300 but he would certainly have played 200 , and was probably the first SA player to achieve this.

Copied from Snouts Louts Wiki Page:

Peter Carey holds the league record for most games played, with 448 appearances.

Nicknamed 'Super', Carey also represented South Australia on 19 occasions, giving him a total of 467 games at senior level which was a record until Craig Bradley pushed the mark to 501.

Carey played in a variety of roles in his career including centre half forward and ruckman. He won Glenelg's Best and Fairest award in 1975, 1979 and 1981 as well as topping their goalkicking in 1973. From 1983 until 1988 he was club captain, including back to back premierships in 1985 and 1986. He had earlier participated in their 1973 premiership team, with six goals in the Grand Final win over North Adelaide.

In 1981 he won the first ever Fos Williams Medal and for his performances with South Australia he also earned All Australian selection in both 1979 and 1980.

Career Highlights
Peter Carey - Glenelg 1971 – 1988
448 games
521 goals
Captain of Glenelg, 6 years (1983-1988)
Member of 3 premiership teams (1973,1985-86)
Three time Best and Fairest for Glenelg (1975,1979,1981)
Best on ground 1973 Grand Final (6 goals)
Leading goal kicker for Glenelg 1973
Played 19 games for South Australia
All Australian 1979, 1980
Fos Williams Medalist 1981
Inducted SANFL Hall of Fame 2002
Inducted Glenelg Hall of Fame 2002
Awarded the OAM for services to Australian Rules football in 1989
Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2009

I'm looking at the Sunday Mail 24 May 1987, the day after 'Super' played his 400th Game (V West Torrens @ Glenelg with over 10,000 in attendance) and it states he was 33.
He retired after our GF loss to Port in 1988, so by this info, would say he retired at 34 years of age.

Whatever way you cut it that effort of Peter Carey's is astonishing

Leaping Lindner wrote:I would love to know how many games John Reedman played. It would be almost impossible to find out (due to poor records from the 1800s) but it would have to go close to 300.
He started playing league in 1887 and finished in 1909 (after not playing in 1908 season).
He might not have reached 300 but he would certainly have played 200 , and was probably the first SA player to achieve this.

That's a fair call. I doubt he would have reached 300 as they played so few games in a season back then, but you never know I guess. Certainly 200 would have been reached you would imagine.

the dedication & commitment shown by all these men & their families is sensational

Ralph Sewer played in four different decades - also a fair effort.

It seems to have been 22 games a year in the minor round (well was in my days as an avid SANFL watcher). Just wondering when this happened. How many games pre-'84 with only 8 sides. Did they just play each other twice, or 3 times to give 21 games?? What about 64, 65 with 10 teams - just a matter of a home & away game initially??

Guess I'm trying to put say Lindsay Head/Don Lindners efforts (in particular) in perspective

From the WW2, they played 17 from 1945-1950, then 18 from 1951 to 1960, 19 from 1961-62, 20 from 1963-1970, 21 from 1971-1973, 22 from 1974-

Started with 17 after WW2, then went to 18 in the 1950s, 19 in the 1960s, then to 20 in 1963, 21 from 1971 and 22 in the mid 70s. Back to 20 after the Crows went into the AFL.

One for Spelly: I'm just wondering how many of those players were best on ground in their 300th game? Tim Weatherald was today.

Agreed entirely on that last point, AH, Weatherald was outstanding.

Nick Wark plays his 71st game tomorrow against Glenelg. He is 20 at present, so would be the best outside chance of the current players, but would need a lot to go his way still.

One bloke on that list who will cop flack from now until those who saw the era he played in are dead and buried, Darren Smith, clearly does not get the recognition he deserves. CHF in one of the most dominant teams at some would say the high point of SANFL football is a remarkable achievement.

7 time premiership player to boot.

Agreed Booney, much maligned, but was an excellent contributor in the mid to late 80's/early 90's.

As an opposition supporter, I often thought that Cahill played Smith as somewhat of a sacrifice player, that their gameplan didn't revolve around a dominant CHF. Of course, if Port were getting thumped, and Smith got a touch late in the game it stood out like dogs balls that he hadn't had a big game. Is this a fair assessment, and how Port supporters perceived him, or what did you value as his main contributions to the side?

I saw Smith play enough good games against Norwood over the years to rate him as a player. Never quite understood all the "Doreen" crap.

Darren Smith
1984-1998
343 games
499 goals
6 state games
Also played 9 games and kicked 10 goals for Adelaide (1991-92).
Drafted #11 by Essendon, 1989 National Draft.

Honours
Premierships 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996.
Night premiership 1989.
Reserves premiership 1983.
Leading goalkicker 1986, 1987, Most Consistent 1988, 1997, Most Dedicated 1989, Most Courageous 1992, Best Team Man 1995.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:I saw Smith play enough good games against Norwood over the years to rate him as a player. Never quite understood all the "Doreen" crap.

Don't agree with it but...

Reakon there was a perception he was 'soft'.

Frustrating at times with his brain-fades.

But no doubt he was a great player in a great era for the club...