1978 The year it was

[Adelaide Hawk]

Freddy Bills was more of a cult figure than star player

Don't know about that Mal. He played 313 games and 7 for SA, including a place in the famous 1963 team that beat Victoria at the MCG. Captained the club for 3 seasons and won 4 best & fairest awards. No doubt one of West Torrens' greatest players.

Incidentally, I've heard Fred isn't very well at the moment, does anyone know how he's going?

[baggy8]

You've just taken the words off my keyboard AH. I think Freddie would squeeze into my best 5 Torrens players after Hank, Head and Shearman and either before or after Roberts.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Lindsay played at WWT in the first year of the club in 1992 [was he the inaugural captain ?]

Peter Schwarz was the Eagles' inaugural captain in 1991. Lindsay rarely played for the W-WT Eagles, maybe 5-6 games, and didn't play at all in 1993.

[JK]

Incidentally, I've heard Fred isn't very well at the moment, does anyone know how he's going?

Had Golden Staff infection which was concerning for a while, after Hip Surgery I think .. I saw him just before Christmas and he was back on his feet, albeit slowly, but knowing Freddy he'll be coming good soon.

[spell_check]

Bruce Lindsay played the first six matches for the Crows, then another four for the Eagles in that year. In 1992 after playing Rounds 2 and 3 for Eagles, persistent hamstring problems forced his retirement.

[mal]

MARCH 25
Was the last round of trial matches
WWT had 2 players reported Dirk Inglis and Milan Faletic

Brenton Miels dislocated his right shoulder in a trial game


MARCH 28
Greg Bennett was cleared by Claremont to WWT

A surprised CD announced the signing of Swan Districts player Mick Obrein
Obrein came to Adelaide to further his cricketing career



INGLIS
Ruckman and or key position player and a good player

FALETIC
Does anyone remember his NICKNAME ....?
Milan ended up playing 300 games for WWT + PA , an underrated footballer
Milan went to a good high school, and was a long haired lout !!!!!

MIELS
Didnt play in 1978, I assume his career ended with that shoulder injury ?
If so, another pre season player loss to ST
Very classy wingman
Played with RI whilst on National service [did MALcolm Greensalde do the same thing ?]

BENNETT
Played for GL , had not known he was originally from Perth, b4 coming back to play for WT in the SANFL
Bennett first came to SA to play with GL in 1973, great decision playing in a Premiership team
Remember him with his long hair and a moustache
He was a brilliant rover
He must have liked SA, he came over twice to play here

OBRIEN
Played 17 games, thats all I know about him

[dedja]

SPOOF!

Waiting for someone to explain that one ...

[Adelaide Hawk]

MARCH 25
FALETIC
Does anyone remember his NICKNAME ....?
Milan ended up playing 300 games for WWT + PA , an underrated footballer
Milan went to a good high school, and was a long haired lout !!!!!

MIELS
Didnt play in 1978, I assume his career ended with that shoulder injury ?
Very classy wingman
Played with RI whilst on National service [did MALcolm Greensalde do the same thing ?]

I think Faletic's nickname was Spoof ... don't ask me why. I remember after they beat us in the 1980GF, I walked into the Wakefield Hotel for lunch on the Monday and Faletic was there celebrating, so we had a beer and a chat about the game.

Yes, Miels and Greenslade played for Richmond whilst on national service, as did Michael Nunan.

[mal]

Spoofer played for my beloved Saints as well
His debut game in 1981 he kicked 5 goals
Spoofer played 2 seasons for SK

[Magpiespower]

Faletic was a pretty handy pickup for Port.

- 78 games (after 151 with Torrens)
- Best & Fairest 1979
- Premiership player 1979, 1980

IIRC, retired just before the '84 season after the club slashed player wages by 50% because we were - you won't believe this - BROKE!

Bucky Cunningham was another who pulled the pin...

[baggy8]

MIELS
Didnt play in 1978, I assume his career ended with that shoulder injury ?
Very classy wingman
Played with RI whilst on National service [did MALcolm Greensalde do the same thing ?]

That's right Mal; Miels didn't play in '78 but did manage over 200 games despite missing the whole of 1969 while on National Service. Later became a successful real estate agent, but unfortunately he was a workaholic resulting in him having a fatal heart attack at the wheel of his car aged just 49.

[robranisgod]

MIELS
Didnt play in 1978, I assume his career ended with that shoulder injury ?
Very classy wingman
Played with RI whilst on National service [did MALcolm Greensalde do the same thing ?]

That's right Mal; Miels didn't play in '78 but did manage over 200 games despite missing the whole of 1969 while on National Service. Later became a successful real estate agent, but unfortunately he was a workaholic resulting in him having a fatal heart attack at the wheel of his car aged just 49.

And played in 6 of Sturt's 7 premierships between 1966 and 1976 missing only the 1969 premiership whilst with Richmond. He wasn't far away from making Richmond's premiership side that year either. He played in the Champions match between Richmond and Sturt the week after the Grand Final

[mal]

MARCH 28
WDV took legal action against the SANFL to stop the permit tribunal from hearing Colin Macvicars appeal for a clearance


MARCH 30
Mike Poulter to coach Athelstone
175 games for NW


Bohdan Jaworski appointed as the reserves coach
Rodney Robran appointed as the under 19s coach

Faletic + Inglis cleared of striking charges [from that trial game]

Peter Nicks [CD] was transferred to Melbourne for employment reasons
CD were considering flying the 191 game veteran back each week




POULTER
the fuzz, what a hairdo
also remember him with oil all over his arms running onto the grounds
Poulter won the b/f in 1970 for NW
Was a good player

JAWORSKI
very very good defender who played AFL football
was his nickname Bugsy ?

RODNEY ROBRAN
yes injuries buggered him up in 1978, but took on a coaching job

NICKS
Half back flank was his best spot for CD
He was a fine defender, remember him standing Roger Woodcock a few times
Played 7 games in 1978, so he did come back to play

[Adelaide Hawk]

JAWORSKI
very very good defender who played AFL football
was his nickname Bugsy ?

Bohdan JAWORSKYJ.

Never played AFL, but played three years for Hawthorn in the VFL from 1973-75. Tough as nails and suited the Hawthorn style of play admirably, and had a very successful time. Is currently either the President or Chairman or North Adelaide, I'm sure a Roosters fan will clear that one up for me.

Haven't got the story spot on here, but he was best mates with Barrie Robran, but they fell out when Bugs signed to play in the VFL.

[Adelaide Hawk]

POULTER

Mike Poulter was a genuine athlete who would have been perfect in today's football. A well balanced player who could take spectacular marks with a minimum of fuss.

He was recruited from Darwin as a full forward but played most of his football as a key defender or ruck-rover, winning the 1970 B&F from CHB. At one time owned a sports store on the Parade with Warren Packer, they called it P&P Sports.

Very popular with the ladies was Michael

[Adelaide Hawk]

MARCH 28
WDV took legal action against the SANFL to stop the permit tribunal from hearing Colin Macvicars appeal for a clearance

Colin MacVicar initially showed interest in Norwood and played in a couple of trial matches, but I guess Glenelg made a better offer.

[baggy8]

JAWORSKI
very very good defender who played VFL football

He was a very good player, but I still treasure the memory of "Diamond Jim" Tilbrook kicking 10 goals on him at Unley in 1970.

[mal]

MARCH 31 ROOKIES + NEW RECRUITS GAME 1 on 1/4/1978

ST named 5 rookies for the first game v NA
Daryl Smith
Geoff Wiseman
Robert Weatherald
Peter Milte
Gary Mutton
And also Gary Hardeman

GL
Bob Tardiff[back after a 2 year break]
Kym Davison
Peter Whiting

SA
Peter Stringer

PA
Ian Bradmore

NW
David Armour

WT
Dennis Payne
Ricky Searle
Greg Bennett

WDV
Brian Ramsey
Barry Goodingham

CD
David Sheldon

WA
?

Season starts on April Fools Day 1978 !
Over the next few days I will list the players that represented each club for the season
I will list the players in team alphabetical order, starting with CD


No surprise to see ST name 5 rookies + Hardeman for games 1
ST had no luck with a few players becoming unavailable through injuries and retirements leading into round 1

[mal]

JAWORSKI
very very good defender who played VFL football

He was a very good player, but I still treasure the memory of "Diamond Jim" Tilbrook kicking 10 goals on him at Unley in 1970.

Diamond Jim
A bundle of muscle
Could kick a massive torpedo punt
He really stood out and was an outstanding footballer
Jim was part of that Sturt machine in the 60s

[mal]

CD a list of players that played game/games in 1978
Comments on all players are from what I remember, I aplogise in advance if any comments are inaccurate

P BEYTHEIN...I stood him once
S BOEHM..wore glasses
R COCHRANE famous name at the club, good wingman
W COCHRANE...Billy played CHB from memory
D HARRINGTON...came from Interstate I think, bit of a hard nut ?
K HEINRICH
P GRAHAM
W HUGHES
P JONAS absolute star
G JONES...big fella played full forward, only played the 1 game in 1978
G KREIG
M KOCH
D MOBBS...captain, blonde haired and was a very good player
M GEORGE....BIG name full forward from the west
W NALDER...Big Bill used to play for NW, handy ruckman
P NICKS...good defender
M NORSWORTHY...a very good rover
L RUCIAK
D SAYWELL...Sally Saywell, wiry forward, played HF + FP mostly, prolific left footed goalkicker, a star
L SKINNER...Lyle was a good player
R VAN DOMMELLE
K LIENERT
M STEVENS
P VIVIAN...Milky is a bit of a legend and played a lot of games[Reckon he played 300+]
W WILSON..left footed goalsneak, never looked fit or like a footballer, but skills were great, another cult figure at CD
J WYLEY
G MUTZE
J SWINSTEAD, wonderful sMALl defender
L STONE
D SHELDON
G RAE
P MACSIMOVIC
Y SIBENALER can someone confirm if he is related to Yves Sibenaler ?????????
S RILEY

Coach : Daryl Hicks
Captain : Dean Mobbs


CD had some very fine players at the start of the 70s
They seem to play some very attractive football in this decade, maybe lacked toughness, unlike the teams some 20 years later

My top 5 players from this list
1 JONAS
2 MOBBS
3 SAYWELL
4 NORSWORTHY
5 VIVIAN