SA Footy

I was just having a look through the 73 grand final budget.
I noticed that on the same day(or weekend) as the preliminary final was played (North vSturt), the Coca Cola Cup Final was also played between Port and Torrens.
Does any one know the story behind this comp?
I thought it might have been for teams finishing outside the finals. But port Finished 4th and Torrens 7th.

For the record, it was Jack Cahill's last game. (great pic of him being chaired off the ground)
Port won by 11 points.
Max James kicked 10 and Brian Mulvihill 6. (interestingly their goals were included in their season tallies)

From http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/sanfl_night_series_and_pre-season_competition.htm#1973


SANFL NIGHT SERIES, KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION & PRE-SEASON COMPETITION GRAND FINALS
.
.
.
.
Explanation of Numbers of Teams Entering

1973 Coca-Cola Cup. Teams placed 6th-8th at the conclusion of the SANFL minor round, plus loser of the league elimination final.

Top Work! Thanks mate!

Port came 5th that year so how does that work?

Maybe fullpointsfooty is incorrect and as it was the first year the Top 5 was introduced the Elimination Final loser was included?

Yeah, it definitely included the loser of the Elimination Final.

The Coke final was John Cahill's last game as a player...

Magpiespower wrote:Yeah, it definitely included the loser of the Elimination Final.

The Coke final was John Cahill's last game as a player...

Also very famous photo of Jack in the change rooms after the game holding up his boots

1973 Coca-Cola Cup
(7th vs 8th)
7th -Torrens 5.4 11.8 17.15 25.22 (172)
8th - Woodville 6.5 7.10 11.11 13.14 (92)

(Winner vs 6th)
W - Torrens 2.3 6.5 10.10 17.16 (118)
6th - Central 5.5 6.11 9.15 15.18 (108)

Final (Winner vs Loser of Elimination Final)
EF - Port 4.6 8.8 16.8 18.12 (120)
W - Torrens 5.1 7.5 12.9 16.13 (109)

All matches were played at Adelaide Oval as curtain raisers to the finals.

An interesting format ... a sort of "iron-man" setup. For seventh or eighth to win would have been quite a feat with two elimination games before the final whilst Port (as loser of the EF) naturally got the easiest run, with just one successful contest to win the prize.

Imagine if Torrens had got up with Port having the week off in between ... nearly happened too.

On a similar topic, I picked up a copy of the Datsun Cup Budget from 1975(?) at Melbourne Sports Books when I was on holiday - does anyone remember this comp? Was it that unpopular that it was canned or was it just a special one-off ... the Budget doesn't give much of a hint but I do know that it was a knockout for the top eight sides at a certain date during the season.

Also, wasn't there some sort of competition where the top two teams played off for cash and/or a trophy during their second clash in that season - something like the President's Cup competitions in Queensland club rugby league still play for (the top two teams after one completed round play a game on the Queen's Birthday Sunday for cash and a trophy).

Benchwarmer wrote:An interesting format ... a sort of "iron-man" setup. For seventh or eighth to win would have been quite a feat with two elimination games before the final whilst Port (as loser of the EF) naturally got the easiest run, with just one successful contest to win the prize.

Imagine if Torrens had got up with Port having the week off in between ... nearly happened too.

On a similar topic, I picked up a copy of the Datsun Cup Budget from 1975(?) at Melbourne Sports Books when I was on holiday - does anyone remember this comp? Was it that unpopular that it was canned or was it just a special one-off ... the Budget doesn't give much of a hint but I do know that it was a knockout for the top eight sides at a certain date during the season.

Also, wasn't there some sort of competition where the top two teams played off for cash and/or a trophy during their second clash in that season - something like the President's Cup competitions in Queensland club rugby league still play for (the top two teams after one completed round play a game on the Queen's Birthday Sunday for cash and a trophy).

I believe the Datsun Cup was not that popular, due to it being in the middle of the season and interrupting it on a couple of occasions. And it was in 1975, I think that's part of the reason that there were only 18 minor round matches in that year. The Series was a knockout one, contested by the top 8 teams after Round 6. The Qualifying Matches were played between Round 6 and 7, the Semis between Round 9 and 10 and I reakon the final was played on the Queens Birthday, which was also in that break.



The Qualifying Matches were worked out as this: 1st Glenelg vs 8th South, 2nd Sturt vs 7th North, 3rd Central vs 6th Port, 4th Norwood vs 5th West.

The SANFL in response to the criticism of this competition, opted for the NFL Night Series the next year, played during the weeks. The VFA clubs replaced the VFL clubs in 1977; that continued until 1979. In 1980 and 1981 SANFL clubs participated in the VFL Night Series; then in 1982, the SANFL Night Series. (Along with the Grand Finalists from the previous year in the VFL Night Series until 1986) That continued until 1993, then in 1994 it was just a final, played between the top two teams after Round 9 on the following Tuesday Night (Eagles and Central). This was the last time a night competition match has been played in the SANFL.

The SANFL Escort cup in the early 80s had some way of playing a knock-out comp with 10 teams

Anyone remember the format? I remember working it out at the time as a 10 year old but can't remember 25 years later!

In 1982 and 1983 the knock out series was used. It was based on the final placings of the year before.

The bottom four teams from the previous season would have to play an extra match to reach the final:

1982:
Round 1 (previous seasons place in brackets)
(9th) Torrens d (7th) Central
(8th) North d (10th) Woodville

Qualifying Finals:
(4th) Norwood d (5th) West
(3rd) South d (6th) Sturt
(1st) Port d Torrens
(2nd) Glenelg d North

Semi Final:
Port d Norwood
Glenelg d South

Final:
Glenelg d Port

The same format was used in 1983:
Round 1:
(8th) South d (10th) Woodville
(9th) Torrens d (7th) North

Qualifying Finals:
(3rd) Port d (5th) Central
(4th) Sturt d (6th) West
South d (2nd) Glenelg
Torrens d (1st) Norwood

Semi Finals:
South d Sturt
Torrens d Port

Final:
Torrens d South

Does anyone have any umpires for any of those matches - I have not a single one recorded in my stats?

I have a few budgets from this era and I'll check these with fingers crossed... If anyone else has programmes from these games, perhaps you might be able to help

With fingers crossed
Mark B

I don't have umpires listed for those matches unfortunately.

I used to love going to the Escort cup at norwood and thebby!
They were a fantastic Wednesday night!

Got to see Bays beat port in a Grand final!
Torrens win something!
Snuck down to listen to Cornsey address South at half time of the final at thebby.
Scored a few footy's as well!