Vale Alf. Skuse
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 9:32 pmSouth Adelaide Football Club is mourning the loss of 1964 Premiership Player Alf Skuse.
For those who had the pleasure of seeing him play, Skuse was a tenacious and talented half forward flanker/rover, who made played 139 games for the Panthers between 1962 and 1970.
A member of the 1964 Premiership side that defeated Port Adelaide by 27 points, Skuse played on a half forward flank that day and was one of the best players on the field and instrumental in South beating the Magpies.
Hailing from Gawler, Skuse was the eldest son of 9 children.
Working for Mr Leo Odea in his racing stables while attending Gawler High School, Skuse would be up at 5am every day to work the horses before going to school.
Two years before joining South Adelaide, in 1960 he would play in the Elizabeth and District Premiership side and also won the Best and Fairest and Mail Medal in 1961 playing for Willaston.
Described as a natural footballer, Skuse topped the Panthers goal kicking in 1966 with 38 goals and finished his career 195 goals.
This goal total could have been higher where through 6 matches in 1966 Skuse kicked 6.25.
Blessed with blistering speed and widely considered to be the quickest half forward in the SANFL for much of his career, Skuse also won the Bay Sheffield in 1964 and was once described by Jeff Pash as "a ready made rover from the beginning, with all the required virtues, including pace".
Skuse played for Gawler and District Football Club in the Under-17s in the 1950s, winning a Best and Fairest.
To show Skuse class as a footballer, he did not play any Reserves football for South Adelaide, and was the first player to wear Adidas Football Boots.
Alf also played 9 times for South Australia, including matches at the 1966 Hobart carnival.
SAFC 1964 Premiership player, SAFC Hall of fame, SAFC Life member.
For those who had the pleasure of seeing him play, Skuse was a tenacious and talented half forward flanker/rover, who made played 139 games for the Panthers between 1962 and 1970.
A member of the 1964 Premiership side that defeated Port Adelaide by 27 points, Skuse played on a half forward flank that day and was one of the best players on the field and instrumental in South beating the Magpies.
Hailing from Gawler, Skuse was the eldest son of 9 children.
Working for Mr Leo Odea in his racing stables while attending Gawler High School, Skuse would be up at 5am every day to work the horses before going to school.
Two years before joining South Adelaide, in 1960 he would play in the Elizabeth and District Premiership side and also won the Best and Fairest and Mail Medal in 1961 playing for Willaston.
Described as a natural footballer, Skuse topped the Panthers goal kicking in 1966 with 38 goals and finished his career 195 goals.
This goal total could have been higher where through 6 matches in 1966 Skuse kicked 6.25.
Blessed with blistering speed and widely considered to be the quickest half forward in the SANFL for much of his career, Skuse also won the Bay Sheffield in 1964 and was once described by Jeff Pash as "a ready made rover from the beginning, with all the required virtues, including pace".
Skuse played for Gawler and District Football Club in the Under-17s in the 1950s, winning a Best and Fairest.
To show Skuse class as a footballer, he did not play any Reserves football for South Adelaide, and was the first player to wear Adidas Football Boots.
Alf also played 9 times for South Australia, including matches at the 1966 Hobart carnival.
SAFC 1964 Premiership player, SAFC Hall of fame, SAFC Life member.
