The best SANFL team..

[am Bays]

Ok this will be impossible to judge objectively as we all bring our personal bias' but what do we think which is the best SANFL team - inspired from the bays 85 thread again. FWIW all the teams are simply awesome and I am envious of people on here who got to see some of the earler teams. Its why I appreciate my copy of the Pash papers to get a feel for those earlier era's.

For the sake of the early late 40s early 50s Norwood and Port in the 50s I have chosen one of their Premisership teams but happy to take expert opinion if another side of that club's era was better.

And no discussion on the best SANFL team can proceed without considering the early 70s Barrie Adelaide teams....

I really rate our 1985 team (six All-Australians or Australian reps in it) but find it hard to envisage a team better than Ports 1980 side.

[GWW]

All extremely strong, very hard to compare teams and very hard to compare eras.

Port was very dominant in 1980, with Ebert winning the Magarey, Evans the goalkicking.

Glenelg's 85 side was very strong too as we all know. Does anyone have their win/loss record for that season?

North's 72 side was obviously very good because they had the greatest SA born footballer. Just having him in the side meant they would probably be competitive against any other side.

Sturt's 76 side was dominant when it mattered and included one of the best individual performances seen in a grand final.

The sides from 50 or so years ago were obviously very strong too.

Too hard to make a judgement really, except to say they were all worthy of being labelled as champion teams.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Glenelg's 85 side was very strong too as we all know. Does anyone have their win/loss record for that season?

14-8 for the minor round but swept the finals.

The most awesome team I've seen over a season is the 1983 West Adelaide team (I still have nightmares about the way they smashed us in the 2nd semi), and I'd place the 1973 Glenelg team second, 1980 Port Adelaide third .. but that's just me

[Adelaide Hawk]

Of those Norwood teams in the 1940s & 1950, I think it is generally regarded at Norwood that the 1946 team was the better of the three. The spirit of old '46

[Magpiespower]

1914 Port Adelaide.

The most awesome team I've seen over a season is the 1983 West Adelaide team (I still have nightmares about the way they smashed us in the 2nd semi), and I'd place the 1973 Glenelg team second, 1980 Port Adelaide third .. but that's just me

Loved watching that team on 'The Big Replay' every week.

Except when they came from the clouds to beat Port by one point at Richmond in round 15. Craig Bradley's last game for the season. Season over.

Really should've done more. But I guess that's Westies. Frustrating.

IIRC, they were top of the ladder late in '82.

Then dropped their last five games to miss the finals.

By percentage after Central kicked 30 goals against Glenelg in round 22...

[Rik E Boy]

No room for Westies 83? That was a bloody good side. Exciting to watch, an absolute goal kicking machine. I was a shattered man walking away from that second semi in 1983. They were awesome.

regards,

REB

[am Bays]

No room for Westies 83? That was a bloody good side. Exciting to watch, an absolute goal kicking machine. I was a shattered man walking away from that second semi in 1983. They were awesome.

regards,

REB

Beat me to it, was in the process of moifying the poll, after AH's post.

[Leaping Lindner]

1914 Port Adelaide.



...

Pre-War yes, although West of 1908 would make a placing.

Post-War it's hard to judge. I could make a case for ALL the teams in am's poll. That being the case I'll choose the team that wasn't just premiers of South Australia but premiers of the whole of Australia

[JK]

Im not sure if we're only talking pre-AFL years, but the Norwood 97' team was pretty awesome.

Of the list on offer I've only seen a few, but the Westies 83' team is a clear standout for me ... Would have loved to have seen the earlier teams.

[Adelaide Hawk]

No room for Westies 83? That was a bloody good side. Exciting to watch, an absolute goal kicking machine. I was a shattered man walking away from that second semi in 1983. They were awesome.

regards,

REB

It was almost a relief to lose the Preliminary Final to Sturt so we wouldn't have to cop another pasting in the Grand Final. To Sturt's credit they put up a really show in a high quality Grand Final but West got up by 5 goals.

In round 3 1984, West hammered us again by 10 goals at the Parade and it looked like West were on their way to another flag, but Bruce Lindner broke his leg the following week, West fell away, and by the time round 20 came along, Norwood handed West a 13 goal thrashing at the Parade. It was amazing to see such a good side fall apart so quickly.

[robranisgod]

No room for Westies 83? That was a bloody good side. Exciting to watch, an absolute goal kicking machine. I was a shattered man walking away from that second semi in 1983. They were awesome.

regards,

REB

It was almost a relief to lose the Preliminary Final to Sturt so we wouldn't have to cop another pasting in the Grand Final. To Sturt's credit they put up a really show in a high quality Grand Final but West got up by 5 goals.

In round 3 1984, West hammered us again by 10 goals at the Parade and it looked like West were on their way to another flag, but Bruce Lindner broke his leg the following week, West fell away, and by the time round 20 came along, Norwood handed West a 13 goal thrashing at the Parade. It was amazing to see such a good side fall apart so quickly.

I think that you hit the nail on the head with Westies in 1983. Other than Mark Mickan, sure a huge loss, they had no injuries. I have never known a side to be so injury free. Two other things that made Westies different to other premiers is that their premiership side was based around an absolute awesome forward line, their midfield was good, but not special compared to midfields of that era as was their defence. The other thing that makes me think that they may have been slightly overrated as a premier is that they had seven Victorian rejects in the side. Sure they fitted perfectly into Westies team, but I would have thought that all players in some premiership sides of that era would have been good enough to make it in the VFL.

[selion]

Westies defence that year was pretty reasonable too!
Mark Dreher at CHB, probably the most balanced two-sided player I have seen. And played for SA the following year.
Craig Williams was All-Australian Full Back.
Tony Burgess held Davies to 2 goals in the GF after Davies had kicked 150 goals for the year and went on to play at Collingwood.
Larry Watson was strong & tough.
Johnny kantalaftis had a great year and may have won a B&F the year before.
Greg Summerton was Mr Reliable.
Peter Winter, the same, although the Jumbo prince had a day out on him through the year.
So it was a pretty settled back 6 all year. Would be interested to see the Points Against that year. I know the points for may have been a record at the time.
I think it was a very even side and like was mentioned, had a pretty reasonable run with injuries.

[robranisgod]

Westies defence that year was pretty reasonable too!
Mark Dreher at CHB, probably the most balanced two-sided player I have seen. And played for SA the following year.
Craig Williams was All-Australian Full Back.
Tony Burgess held Davies to 2 goals in the GF after Davies had kicked 150 goals for the year and went on to play at Collingwood.
Larry Watson was strong & tough.
Johnny kantalaftis had a great year and may have won a B&F the year before.
Greg Summerton was Mr Reliable.
Peter Winter, the same, although the Jumbo prince had a day out on him through the year.
So it was a pretty settled back 6 all year. Would be interested to see the Points Against that year. I know the points for may have been a record at the time.
I think it was a very even side and like was mentioned, had a pretty reasonable run with injuries.

The side never had a weakness, but I just thought it unusual that its strength was its forward line. Most premiership sides strength is usually its midfield with one or two gun forwards and a solid defence. Better judges than me think that it was the best SANFL side ever, I know that my absolute hero does.

[Hondo]

The only mark I can put on that West 83 side is that it didn't go on with it as all the other sides in the list did. I understand the injury problems in 1984 yet by 1985 North beat them in the prelim final and then they were a non factor again until 1991. Is that a fair criticism or should we just appreciate the one brilliant year for what it was and not get hung up on longevity to judge a great SANFL team?

As an aside, I don't think the 87 North side gets enough kudos in these sort of discussions but maybe I am biased. Also the Port sides 88-90. How would Port 1989 line up man for man v 1980? I think we'd be surprised.

[robranisgod]

The only mark I can put on that West 83 side is that it didn't go on with it as all the other sides in the list did. I understand the injury problems in 1984 yet by 1985 North beat them in the prelim final and then they were a non factor again until 1991. Is that a fair criticism or should we just appreciate the one brilliant year for what it was and not get hung up on longevity to judge a great SANFL team?

Which makes me think that 1983 was just a freak year when all the planets aligned. Also I think that a number of the other good teams of the era were on the slide, had a bad year or in the case of North were just starting to develop. As someone mentioned West finished 6th in 1982 and 7th in 1984.

[Adelaide Hawk]

The only mark I can put on that West 83 side is that it didn't go on with it.

It's interesting isn't it? You look at all the teams Kerley took to flags, where they came from, and where they ended up.

Kerley took West top in 1961, but they had a good team under Oatey with a number of experienced finals players, and were runner up in 1962 before Kerley was sacked.

Taking over bottom team South, he swept all before him winning the flag in his first year 1964. They slipped to third in 1965 and 4th in 1966. Many would argue he could have taken South to more than the one flag.

He then took bottom team Glenelg straight into the top 4 in 1967, then floundered in 1968 before making Grand Finals in 1969 & 1970. Then after two very unproductive years, the Tigers had a sensational year in 1973, and although they played the next 2 Grand Finals, couldn't bring home the bacon.

Returning to West in 1981, he lifted them from near bottom to a flag in 1983, then they faded badly in 1984. Gone in 1985.

I've always been fascinated that Kerley's forte appeared to be going to struggling clubs, weeding out the men from the boys, squeezing what he could out of the available talent, and as a result was not able to maintain the hunger/passion/intensity (whatever it may be) to follow it up.

I've always likened his 1973 flag with his 1983 one. Ordinary the year before, then shot to the top mainly through an emphasis on all out attack and a focus on outscoring whatever the opposition could mange.

[Magpiespower]

How would Port 1989 line up man for man v 1980? I think we'd be surprised.

Bit of crossover in those teams...

1980 Premiers
F: Greg Boyd, Tim Evans, Darrell Cahill
HF: Stephen Clifford, Milan Faletic, Ross Agius
C: Bruce Abernethy, Mark Williams, Kym Kinnear
HB: Tony Hannan, Greg Phillips, Peter Hofner
B: Ivan Eckermann, Trevor Sorrell, Ian Bradmore
R: Chris Natt, Russell Ebert, Brian Cunningham (c)
Int: Robert Dolan, Andy Porplycia
Coach: John Cahill

1989 Premiers
F: David Hynes, Scott Hodges, David Brown
HF: Rohan Smith, Darren Smith, Wayne Mahney
C: David Hutton, Stephen Williams, Simon Tregenza
HB: Bruce Abernethy, Greg Phillips, Paul Northeast
B: George Fiacchi, Roger Delaney, Greg Boyd
R: Russell Johnston (c), Andrew Obst, Tim Ginever
Int: Russell Boyd, Phil Harrison
Coach: John Cahill

Missing are Tony Giles (1980) and Adrian Settre (1989), both regulars in those years...

[Hondo]

For all the talk about 1980 you could make a case for the 1989 side

I think the defence in 1989 was stronger, I think 1980 is better through the midfield and the forwards are close to break even arguably although I would personally have the 1989 side in front

[nickname]

Which makes me think that 1983 was just a freak year when all the planets aligned. Also I think that a number of the other good teams of the era were on the slide, had a bad year or in the case of North were just starting to develop. As someone mentioned West finished 6th in 1982 and 7th in 1984.

We actually finished sixth again in 1984 but, with 6 rounds to go, had 12 wins and 4 losses.
As AH said, it is interesting that Kerley was never able to build a dynasty of premiership success at a club. I think our mistake after '83 was that as players got injured or left or retired, we kept trying to patch up the 83 side with the odd player here or there rather than trying to build another premiership side from a foundation. Understandable though, given how good we were in '83 and how unfamiliar we were with premiership success.

[Magpiespower]

SANFL shootout.

Port '80 v West '83.

Raining goals...