Season 1970 pt2

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Season 1970 pt2

Postby FOURTH ESTATE » Sat May 09, 2020 6:26 pm

Norwood had a close fought round 11 battle with the Panthers before scarping home by 19pts. At the Bay, Glenelg let an opportunity slip by kicking 1.7 in the second quarter against the Double Blues to go down by 31pts. The Eagles gave Woodville a lesson in pressure football to run out winners 22.13 - 10.10. Port Adelaide defeated North Adelaide by 4 goals at Prospect and West Adelaide managed to defeat the Bulldogs to remain in touch with the four. By the end of the round only percentage separated Glenelg, Norwood & West Torrens for 4th place.

Glenelg got back into winning form with a comfortable 46pt win over the Woodpeckers at Oval Avenue. Central District after a slow start ran over the top of South Adelaide in the second half to win by 56 pts. Sturt while winning were showing some indifferent form and seemed to struggle against the lower sides. Against West Adelaide at Unley Oval the Double Blues seemed to be in some trouble at half time and in danger of losing their first game of the season. Trailing by 9 pts 5.3 – 2.12, Sturt were able to restrict West Adelaide to only 0.4 after half time while managing 2.7 themselves to run out winners by 6 pts 4.19 to 5.7. Port Adelaide put a dent in Norwood’s chances with a 20pt win over the Redlegs at Adelaide Oval, while North Adelaide also got back in the winners list with a comprehensive 57pt win over the Eagles at Thebarton.

The following round Sturt further dented West Torrens finals hopes with a return to form 11 goal win at Thebarton. South Adelaide won its first game since round 4 when they toppled Woodville by 21pts at Adelaide Oval. Glenelg’s bad kicking in front of goal again almost cost them another game before taking control of the game against West Adelaide to run out winners by 18 pts at the Bay. North Adelaide continued to gain confidence under new coach Mike Patterson with a strong 51pt win over Norwood at the Parade. Central District brimming with confidence following their previous weeks win over the Panthers were still searching for their first ever win against the Magpies. Trailing by 1pt at the last change the Bulldogs were confident of achieving a boil over at Alberton but it was not to be as the Magpies steadied in the last quarter to run out winners by 17pts.

The round 14 clash between Woodville and Sturt at Woodville Oval gave the Blues the feeling of deja-vu. The previous season in round 19 Woodville upset the Double Blues at Woodville Oval by 19pts. Trailing 3.16 – 8.4 at three quarter time the Double Blues held the Woodpeckers to only 2pts in the last quarter while managing to kick 3.5 to run out winners by 5pts
(Vision of the 1969 game remains as one of the only possible minor video footage that is still available from the 1969 season, the only other video footage that remains, is the 1969 Grand Final, SA vs Vic Carnival and Richmond vs Sturt end of season Championship Match)

Central District upset North Adelaide at Elizabeth by 32pts, Glenelg thou un-convincing defeated South by 38pts.
Port Adelaide defeated West Adelaide by 9 goals at Richmond and Norwood sent the Eagles to their 3rd consecutive loss by almost 6 goals at the Parade. With 6 rounds to go, positions for a spot in the finals was down to five sides. Sturt, Port Adelaide, Glenelg & North Adelaide were currently in the four with Norwood just outside. Woodville, West Torrens & West Adelaide were now 3 games outside of the 4 and highly unlikely to make it but could cause a few upsets in the remaining 6 rounds.

Round 15 provided the upsets needed to keep the season interesting. West Torrens caused a major upset by toppling the Tigers by 8pts at Adelaide Oval. Port Adelaide only led the Panthers by 8pts at half time in their clash at Alberton before unleashing a 11.13 -2.5 second half against the hapless Panthers to run out winners by 70pts.
North Adelaide easily accounted Woodville by 13 goals while West Adelaide trailing the Redlegs by 6 goals at the last change 3.13 – 9.13 stormed home with a 6.7 – 1.1 in the last term to draw with the Redlegs 9.20 – 10.14
Sturt did just enough in their game against the Bulldogs at Unley to run out winners by 36pts.

Whilst they were still undefeated for season 1970 the form of the Double Blues at times was far from convincing. In most games they found a way to win which good sides will do but it was a case of one quarter was enough to win most games. This was the story in their round 16 clash with South Adelaide. Their second quarter in which they kicked 5.10 – 2.4 was enough for them to hang on by 11pts. Port Adelaide finally finished of any finals hopes the Eagles had with an 8 goal win at Thebarton. North Adelaide continued cementing in their place in the four with a 7 goal win over the Bloods. Norwood was well in control of the Woodpeckers to run out winners by 5 goals.
At the Bay at slow start by the home side and bad kicking finally caught up with the Tigers as they slumped to their second straight defeat to go down by 1pt to the Bulldogs (Central District only second ever win over the Tigers and their first at the Bay).

With 4 games to go only Norwood was the only team outside the four that had a chance to make the finals if the Bays or Roosters slipped up. Determined to make the finals Norwood gave Glenelg a 41pt thumping at the Bay on the back of an 8 goal last quarter to send the Tigers out of the 4 for the first time since round 3 and with some tough games to come the Tigers were in serious danger of missing the finals for 1970. Sturt got back to some of their best form with a 64pt demolition of the Roosters at Unley on the back of 10 goals from Jim Tilbrook.
The Roosters were always going to struggle after they failed to score in the first quarter and the Double Blues managed 6.10. Central District won their 5th game of the season with an 11goal win over the Eagles. Port Adelaide went on a goal scoring spree at Woodville Oval to defeat the hapless Woodpeckers by 169pts 31.25 (211) to 6.6 (42) to inflicted the heaviest loss on the Woodpeckers since they entered league ranks in 1964. Port Adelaide Full Forward Eric Freeman enjoyed a big day out against the Woodpeckers by kicking 14 goals.
West Adelaide won their 6th game for the season with a 23pt win over the Panthers at Richmond.



Top 5 after round 17

Sturt 17-0 61.36%
Port 15-2 61.23%
North 10-7 55.92%
Nwd 9-6-1 49.34%
Glenelg 9-8 50.86%

Round 18 posed more questions than it answered in the race for the finals. South Adelaide just got over the line against West Torrens by 4pts. West Adelaide had a comfortable 6 goal win over the Woodpeckers. The remaining 3 games was where the interest was. At Prospect Oval North Adelaide were having the better of the duel with the Tigers despite only leading by 1 goal at half time as the Roosters were playing the better football. A 7 goal third term would see the home side stretch out their lead to 29pts at the final change 14.10 – 9.11 and it seemed as thou Glenelg’s chance of consecutive finals appearances something they hadn’t done since 1950-51 were looking were looking very slim. Norwood in their match at the Parade led the Bulldogs by 41pts at half time and had all but sewn up the game and gained a 1 ½ game break over the Tigers for fourth spot. The Bulldogs were not going to go down without a fight and slammed on 6.3 to the Redlegs 0.3 to only trail by 5pts at three quarter time. With the Tigers seeing the changing fortunes on the scoreboard from the Parade at three quarter time and sensing an upset in the making kicked into high gear in the last quarter and kicked 5.5 to the Roosters 1.5 to go down by 5pts. Glenelg full forward Dennis “Fred” Phillis had a kick for goal after siren some 65 yards out and with the aid of a 15 yd. penalty was able kick truly to bring the Bays to within 5 pts after the siren. This goal was to prove crucial several weeks later.
Central District ended up causing the boilover at the Parade by holding out the Redlegs in the last quarter to win by 8pts. The biggest shock of the day was at Alberton Oval where Sturt’s slow starts and indifferent form finally caught up with them as they suffered their first defeat for the year at the hands of the Magpies by 6pts. Injuries also beset the Double Blues, with Malcom Greenslade having to leave the field in the first quarter with concussion and Daryl Hicks in the last with a twisted knee. Despite trailing the Magpies by 3 goals at half time the Double Blues managed to hold the Magpies goal less in the 3rd term to only trail by 3pts at ¾ time. An even last quarter would see the home side go on to win by 6 pts and inflict the Double Blues with their first loss of the year. For Sturt it was the end of a run of 20 consecutive minor round victories dating back to round 20 - 1969

Norwood was still 1/2 a game ahead of the Tigers but still 1.51% behind but round 19 was going to even make it tighter. West Torrens trying to salvage something out of the season gave West Adelaide a 71pt hiding at Thebarton. Central District had similar intensions when it gave Woodville a 69pt thrashing at Elizabeth.
Port Adelaide now only one game behind Sturt and wanting the Minor Premiership in their Centenary Season defeated North Adelaide at Adelaide Oval by 20 pts in a very highly entertaining game. Norwood wanting to put fourth spot out of the reach of the Tigers and pick up some much needed percentage went on a goal kicking spree against South Adelaide at Norwood. With 12 goals on the board by half –time a big win loomed but South’s accurate kicking for goal was keeping them in the game. After half-time South Adelaide came out and played as thou they were the ones playing for a finals spot. A 5 goal quarter to the home sides 3 goals reduced the much need percentage the Redlegs required. Spurred into action the Redlegs ran away with the game in the last quarter to win by 51pts but only managed to increase their percentage by .74%

It was Do–or–Die for the Tigers as they ventured out to Unley, where they had only won at once since 1961.
Facing a similar situation to their 1967 clash against the Double Blues at Unley Oval, which was also Graham Cornes first game the Tigers on that occasion recorded at 53pt win and secured their spot in the finals. A loss and a Norwood win and it was mothballs for 1970. Knowing that is now or never the Tigers played like men possessed and caught the Double Blues off balance. Another slow start by Sturt would see them down by 21pts at the first change. A 5 goal second term got the Blues back into the game but the Tigers still led at half time 10.7 to 9.8. Glenelg kicked it back into high gear in the third term kicking 6.4 to Sturt’s 3.6 to lead by 21pts again at the last change. Not to be outdone the Blue Boys threw everything at the Tigers in the last quarter but to no avail as the Tigers steadied knowing a spot in the four was on the line to run out winners by 5pts 19.13 to 17.20 and dislodge the Double Blues from top spot.

After the match jubilant Coach Neil Kerley mounted a table in the Glenelg room and congratulated his players. He said,” You were great and you will be pleased to know that $400 has been made available by the committee and supporters. The $200 mentioned to you last night has been doubled. ” John Goldfinch who came on as a reserve 5 minutes before the end of the game was the luckiest of the recipients. Each player received a $20 match bonus for winning the game.

Round 20 offered many different permutations of where the top five sides could end up. As in the 1969 season, fourth place would be decided in the last minor round game of the season. The only certainties were that Port Adelaide & Sturt would play off in the Second Semi Final & North Adelaide would play in the First Semi Final but their opponent was still unknown. The Minor Premiership was still up for grab with only .54 between the Magpies & Double Blues. North Adelaide guaranteed a finals spot had nothing to play for but form.
For the Tigers & Redlegs it was a different story. Both sides had shown that they were worthy of playing finals football but also they had shown some very indifferent form during the season. It seemed quite simple for the Redlegs, win and they were in. A loss or draw and a Tiger loss they would still make the finals. For the Tigers it was simply a case of win and hope Port Adelaide who was the form side would either draw of defeat the Redlegs. Norwood’s biggest problem is that they had not won at Alberton since 1966 and their average losing margin at the ground since their last win was 5 goals. Glenelg’s problem was not much better. After having begun the 1969 season with 11 straight wins the Tigers stumbled against the Eagles at the Bay to lose by 8pts to their first loss of the season. Compounding the situation the Eagles had upset the Tigers some 5 weeks earlier by the exact same margin 8pts at Adelaide Oval.

Woodville finished out the season with a 65pt win over the Panthers 16.14 – 6.9. With only 3 wins for the season one more than the previous year the Panthers collected their second consecutive wooden spoon. North Adelaide took on Central District at home and sent the Bulldogs back to Elizabeth with a 23pt loss to avenge their 32pt loss in round 14 with the final score being 12.9 – 8.10. The Bulldogs finished the season in 7th place with a 7-13 record their best record since their 8-12 record in 1965. The following 2 seasons would see the Bulldogs create their own magic.
Sturt having lost their last two games and top spot needed to regain some form with the finals about to begin. Season 1970 had been a disappointment for the Bloods after promising so much the season before.
Both sides with something to prove clashed at Adelaide Oval, and once again Sturt got off to a slow start but only found themselves down by 7pts at quarter time. Both sides continued in a dour struggle in the second quarter but the Double Blues got the slight upper hand to lead by 2pts at half time. As in previous weeks the Blues faltered in the third quarter as the Bloods kicked 5 goals to 1 to take a 4 goal lead at the last change. Sturt fought back in the last quarter and held the Bloods to 1pt but it was still not enough as the Bloods held on for a 9pt win 10.10 to 9.7

Glenelg knowing that a win over the Eagles and some help from Port Adelaide was their only way of playing finals in 1970. The Tigers set about doing their part and had control for most of the game. Glenelg full Forward Fred Phillis kicked 5.0 to take his season tally 93 goals for the season. While over at Alberton Norwood were doing their best to make the finals. After an even first quarter of 3 goals each the Redlegs were able to take the lead at Half time by 7pts with a score line of 6.0 – 4.5. The Magpies slowly clawed the lead back to only trail by 4 pts at three quarter time. With the around the ground scores going up at both grounds a place in the four was going to come down to the last quarter of football in the minor round. Glenelg opened their lead up until the Eagles decided to stage their own come back and managed to kick 5 goals in the last quarter but the Tigers were able to steady and run out winners by 9pts 15.11 – 13.14. Having done their bit and won the Tigers were now waiting on the result at Alberton to see if they had made the Final Four and would not have to wait long. Norwood extended their lead in the last quarter until Port Adelaide bit back in true Magpie fashion to narrow the lead to 1pt in time on. A frantic few minutes followed until John Ede managed to kick a behind and the scores were now tied up. Not knowing the score at the Bay both sides fought out a draw at Alberton, Norwood 10.5 – Port Adelaide 9.11. As the players left the oval Norwood coach Robert Oatey once entering the change rooms was informed that even thou they had drawn the match and Glenelg had won and they were both level on 22 premiership points, but Glenelg’s superior percentage had seen them leap over the Redlegs to claim fourth spot by .86%.

While the Champagne flowed at the Bay upon hearing Norwood’s demise at the hands of the Magpies, it was a very different scene at Alberton as the reality set into the Redlegs change-rooms that they would not be playing finals in 1970 for the first time since 1965.
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Let that be a lesson to you Sturt. You don't beat Glenelg 3 times in a row in Grand Finals and get away with it.
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