SA Footy

North proved point

Michelangaelo Rucci
Friday July 6th

On the national stage, SA has more black eyes than glory in the 70’s
There is the tragedy of triple Magarey medallist Barrie Robran having his grand career ruined by a knee injury suffered in a clash with Leigh Matthews in a state game at the SCG.
SA plays fewer than normal state games against Victoria because the SANFL and VFL were feuding.
And so the state’s greatest achievement on the national stage is left to North Adelaide.
The Roosters – facing VFL champion Carlton, WAFL premier East Perth, and Tasmanian king, City-South – plays at Adelaide oval for the 1972 Australian championship title not won by a n SANFL club since WWI.
North won by a point in a match always remembered for Carlton great Alex Jesaulenko at one stage stopping to applaud Robran as he ran towards goal.
North’s extraordinary win was built on the dynamic ruckwork of Gary Sporn, the brilliance of Robran at centre, wingman Barry Stringer, the 10 goal scoring chances to Adrian Rebbeck and the strength at centre half forward of Neil Sachse.
“That win” recalls North captain Bob Hammond who in 1977 coached Norwood to a national night title (Ardath Cup) against East Perth, “had some bearing in setting up a national competition.
“All those little steps amounted to what we have as a national game, played weekly today.
“We showed the ability of SA football which was under estimated for a long period of time.
“We made a statement about the standard of SA football – with a very good side that played in the 1971, 1972 and 1973 SANFL grand finals, winning two.”

________________________________________________________________
SCOREBOARD

NORTH 3.5 5.6 8.12 10.13 (73)
CARLTON 3.5 7.10 9.11 10.12 (72)

BEST – North Adelaide: B. Robran, Sporn, Rebbeck, Stringer, N. Sachse,
Webb. Carlton: Keogh, Nicholls, Jackson, O’Connell, Jones.
SCORERS – North Adelaide: Rebbeck 4.6, Plummer 2.0, D. Sachse 1.3, Webb
1.1, B. Robran, Marsh 1.0, Hearl, N. Sachse, von Bertouch 0.1 Carlton: Walls
3.2, Kennedy 2.1, Jackson, Worden 1.2, Crane, Keough 1.1, Nicholls 1.0,
Jesaulenko 0.1, rushed 0.2
UMPIRE - Bill Deller (VFL)
CROWD – 23213 at Adelaide Oval

This article wasn't put up online by the 'tiser, so I haven't been able to add the 3 pictures to it. If some one could scan the pic's from the paper and put them up (along with the captions), I'll add them to the original post.

Really enjoyed all of the articles which appeared in the paper regarding the SANFL heritage as part of AFL Heritage Week. Enjoyable. A nice reminder that there was more to Aussie rules than just the VFL.

Dogwatcher wrote:Really enjoyed all of the articles which appeared in the paper regarding the SANFL heritage as part of AFL Heritage Week. Enjoyable. A nice reminder that there was more to Aussie rules than just the VFL.

Agree totally DW, loved reading about the old sanfl. Would love to se more footage of those great games. First GF i went to was the 1977 not that i remember much about it was only young. Love getting the budget when goin to the sanfl to read the flashbacks, this year there doin 1977 and its a good read.

Yes i always love reading about this sort of stuff as well.

I'd be curious to know if any of the regular contributors on the forum was actually at this particular game. From what i've read and heard Jesaulenko was certainly put in his place by the great man.