1978 The year it was

[Magpiespower]

For me personally, this is the most enjoyable thread on the site ever .. Great job Mal, hope you can do this for other seasons when this one is done

Just wish we'd hurry up and get to '79...

To open a slightly different question here - would history say that Haydn Bunton Jnr underachieved as a coach? For all of the years in the system, no SANFL flags and apart from 1979, didn't really take South to the next level.

Certainly tasted success in the WAFL.

Five premierships as coach at Swans (1961, 1962, 1963) and Subiaco (1986, 1988, Runners-Up 1985, 1987, 1991).

Also took Norwood to the '57 grand final.

Reakon anyone who can take South to the finals three times in eight seasons, including a grand final, must have something going for them.

Won't hold the two wooden-spoons at Sturt against him...

[CK]

I should have worded it better, by saying underachieved as a coach in SANFL. Certainly, his WAFL record is sound.

[Magpiespower]

I should have worded it better, by saying underachieved as a coach in SANFL. Certainly, his WAFL record is sound.

Nah, nothing wrong with the wording, mate - just thought I'd put his coaching record in its full context...

[nickname]

Bob Hammond, in my opinion, was the first coach (in S.A. at least) to introduce the idea of the switch play. i.e. moving the ball across the face of the goals and taking it out of defence 'the other way', a ploy Norwood used to great effect.
And I don't know how true it is but my memory of Woodville under John McInnes is that they very often kicked a high percentage of goals from their scoring shots, i.e. their goalkicking accuracy was very high. I don't know whether he emphasised it at training but they seemed to me to do it regularly.

[baggy8]

No doubt they're the Big 4 of SANFL coaches and very hard to say that one was better than another as they were all different. Having said that I'll have a go and even though he revolutionised Port and footy in general, I'll put Fos Williams at #4. I say that because he was the best playing-coach with 6 flags in 8 seasons between '51 and '58, but then found his last 3 premierships much harder to come by. Like Dick Reynolds at Essendon, he led by example, and like Reynolds, had nowhere near as much success in the more difficult role of a non-playing coach.

I have the greatest admiration for John Cahill both as a player and a coach - he's the best of both that I've seen at Port. To win 10 GFs out of 10 from 1977 on requires a special (not lucky) person; he put Port back on the straight and narrow after they had shown signs of falling back to what they were before Williams arrived in 1950 - a very good side, but one that was more likely to lose the close ones than win them.

Even though Neil Kerley won just the four flags, he proved himself a great by winning them at three different clubs and as both a playing and non-playing coach. And there's more to a great coach than winning premierships as more than anyone else, Kerley was responsible for transforming the Glenelg Football Club from the ragbag that it was into the power of the next quarter of a century. Who knows how great a club West could've become in the early 60s if some boofheads at Richmond hadn't had such undue influence?

More later ...

[robranisgod]

And there's more to a great coach than winning premierships as more than anyone else, Kerley was responsible for transforming the Glenelg Football Club from the ragbag that it was into the power of the next quarter of a century. Who knows how great a club West could've become in the early 60s if some boofheads at Richmond hadn't had such undue influence?

More later ...

I'm not so sure about Kerley at the Bay. There is no doubt he turned the club around, but with the list he had he should have won many more than the one flag from the 10 years that he had them. With his charisma he got many big money supporters to the club, everything was functioning well other than its ability to win the vital games.

He certainly didn't coach well in the 1975 Grand Final when he shifted Wayne Phillis off of Ross Dillon during the epic last quarter and put him into the ruck and left Peter Carey at Centre Half Forward. Phillis was well on top of Dillon, Dillon came into the game and kicked a vital goal as soon as Phillis was shifted off him, and the rest is history.

[robranisgod]

Kerley was responsible for transforming the Glenelg Football Club from the ragbag that it was into the power of the next quarter of a century.

Even though Kerley did transform them, they were still only the fifth most successful side in the league in the quarter century from when Kerley took them over. They only won three premierships, compared with Port 7, Sturt 6, North and Norwood 4 each.

Therefore I would hardly have considered them "the power of the next quarter of a century"

[JK]

He certainly didn't coach well in the 1975 Grand Final when he shifted Wayne Phillis off of Ross Dillon during the epic last quarter and put him into the ruck and left Peter Carey at Centre Half Forward. Phillis was well on top of Dillon, Dillon came into the game and kicked a vital goal as soon as Phillis was shifted off him, and the rest is history.

And set up the final goal for Mick Olsen and there's the 2 goal winning margin (I know a game is won or lost over 4 quarters, but Dillon had certainly been belted out of the game until late in the final quarter)

[mal]

Coaches records at the end of 1978

OATEY
NW 1945-1958
WA 1957-1960
ST 1962-1978
699 GAMES
472 WINS 223 LOSSES 4 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 28
FLAGS 10
% WINS 67.5

HAMMOND
NW 1974-1978
130 GAMES
86 WINS 44 LOSSES 0 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 5
FLAGS 1
% WINS 66.1

CAHILL
PA 1974-1978
125 GAMES
89 WINS 34 LOSSES 2 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 5
FLAGS 1
% WINS 72.0

NICHOLS
GL 1977-1978
55 GAMES
33 WINS 22 LOSSES 0 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 2
FLAGS 0
% WINS 80.0

KERLEY
WA 1961-1962
SA 1964-1966
GL 1967-1976
WT 1977-1978
388 GAMES
247 WINS 141 LOSSES 0 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 13
FLAGS 3
% WINS 63.7

MCINNES
WV 1975-1978
83 GAMES
25 WINS 58 LOSSES 0 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 0
FLAGS 0
% WINS 30.1

BUNTON
NW 1957-1958
NW 1965-1967
SA 1975-1978
182 GAMES
82 WINS 97 LOSSES 3 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 4
% WINS 48.7

HICKS
CD 1978
22 GAMES
8 WINS 14 LOSSES 0 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 0
% WINS 36.4

WILLIAMS
PA1950-1958
PA 1962 -1973
SA 1960
WA 1974-1978
GAMES 578
380 WINS 195 LOSSES 3 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 22
FLAGS 9
% WINS 66.0

ROBRAN
NA 1978
GAMES 22
5 WINS 17 LOSSES 0 DRAWS
SEASONS IN FINALS 0
FLAGS 0
% WINS 22.7

[robranisgod]

He certainly didn't coach well in the 1975 Grand Final when he shifted Wayne Phillis off of Ross Dillon during the epic last quarter and put him into the ruck and left Peter Carey at Centre Half Forward. Phillis was well on top of Dillon, Dillon came into the game and kicked a vital goal as soon as Phillis was shifted off him, and the rest is history.

And set up the final goal for Mick Olsen and there's the 2 goal winning margin (I know a game is won or lost over 4 quarters, but Dillon had certainly been belted out of the game until late in the final quarter)

It seemed a strange move at the time and 35 years later it still leaves me dumbfounded.

[am Bays]

He certainly didn't coach well in the 1975 Grand Final when he shifted Wayne Phillis off of Ross Dillon during the epic last quarter and put him into the ruck and left Peter Carey at Centre Half Forward. Phillis was well on top of Dillon, Dillon came into the game and kicked a vital goal as soon as Phillis was shifted off him, and the rest is history.

And set up the final goal for Mick Olsen and there's the 2 goal winning margin (I know a game is won or lost over 4 quarters, but Dillon had certainly been belted out of the game until late in the final quarter)

It seemed a strange move at the time and 35 years later it still leaves me dumbfounded.

In The Tigers of Old DVD Kerley laments that move. Says, 'I pulled the wrong rein that day". Move should've been Carey into the ruck (from CHF) and Tregenza to CHF. Then Phillis says if I kicked straight it wouldn't have been an issue (Kerley having to make that move). Cornes puts the blame on the players not performing that day too. Says Kerley's pre-match speech was one his best ever.

Best team won on the day.

CP not surprised you Norwood fans are enjoying this thread....

[robranisgod]

He certainly didn't coach well in the 1975 Grand Final when he shifted Wayne Phillis off of Ross Dillon during the epic last quarter and put him into the ruck and left Peter Carey at Centre Half Forward. Phillis was well on top of Dillon, Dillon came into the game and kicked a vital goal as soon as Phillis was shifted off him, and the rest is history.

And set up the final goal for Mick Olsen and there's the 2 goal winning margin (I know a game is won or lost over 4 quarters, but Dillon had certainly been belted out of the game until late in the final quarter)

It seemed a strange move at the time and 35 years later it still leaves me dumbfounded.

In The Tigers of Old DVD Kerley laments that move. Says, 'I pulled the wrong rein that day". Move should've been Carey into the ruck (from CHF) and Tregenza to CHF. Then Phillis says if I kicked straight it wouldn't have been an issue (Kerley having to make that move). Cornes puts the blame on the players not performing that day too. Says Kerley's pre-match speech was one his best ever.

Best team won on the day.

CP not surprised you Norwood fans are enjoying this thread....

Tregenza didn't play in that match. the Bay ruckmen were Tardif and Colin Anderson. In the last quarter Kerley took Tardif off the ground to be replaced by Croser and put Colin Anderson to centre Half Back and Wayne Phillis into ruck.

At least Kerley was man enough to admit he made a mistake.

Younger posters might not realise what a great Centre Half forward Peter Carey was as a young man. He was in the best three on the ground and kicked 6 goals in the 1973 Grand Final as a 19 year old. He kicked 3 goals in the 1975 Grand Final and he started brilliantly in the 1977 Grand Final, Peter Woite, no slouch himself, couldn't get near him in the first quarter of that game. He is remembered as a great ruckman, but only a great footballer can play Centre Half Forward - and he certainly was a great footballer.

[JK]

CP not surprised you Norwood fans are enjoying this thread....

Hopefully we get through the remainder of the decade and even the 80's mate .. I'd be just as interested in reading about 85 and 86.

[JK]

Tregenza didn't play in that match. the Bay ruckmen were Tardif and Colin Anderson. In the last quarter Kerley took Tardif off the ground to be replaced by Croser and put Colin Anderson to centre Half Back and Wayne Phillis into ruck.

At least Kerley was man enough to admit he made a mistake.

Younger posters might not realise what a great Centre Half forward Peter Carey was as a young man. He was in the best three on the ground and kicked 6 goals in the 1973 Grand Final as a 19 year old. He kicked 3 goals in the 1975 Grand Final and he started brilliantly in the 1977 Grand Final, Peter Woite, no slouch himself, couldn't get near him in the first quarter of that game. He is remembered as a great ruckman, but only a great footballer can play Centre Half Forward - and he certainly was a great footballer.

Having only watched the game on Video, I don't know much about a lot players of that era (have learnt a fair bit about my own mob, but very little about many of the opposition) - Tardif was pretty ordinary that day, so probably unfair to judge him on that performance, what was he like in general?

Carey certainly looked like he could play, and having read from posters on here how good he was a youngster, he would have to go down as one of the all-time greats I'd imagine.

(Sorry to get off track Mal)

[am Bays]

Tregenza didn't play in that match. the Bay ruckmen were Tardif and Colin Anderson. In the last quarter Kerley took Tardif off the ground to be replaced by Croser and put Colin Anderson to centre Half Back and Wayne Phillis into ruck.

Yeah was umming and ahhing when making this post as I wasn't sure if Tregenza played in this match. Took a punt though knowing that if I was wrong someone much more informed such as yourself or A Hawk would soon put me right!!!

[nickname]

Having only watched the game on Video, I don't know much about a lot players of that era (have learnt a fair bit about my own mob, but very little about many of the opposition) - Tardif was pretty ordinary that day, so probably unfair to judge him on that performance, what was he like in general?

Carey certainly looked like he could play, and having read from posters on here how good he was a youngster, he would have to go down as one of the all-time greats I'd imagine.

(Sorry to get off track Mal)

I don't rate Tardif very highly at all as a footballer. My memory is that he wasn't as hard/physical as someone his size could have been.
Carey was outstanding. Dexter Kennedy was our ruckman for most of the time against Carey and, very good player though he was, he could never handle Carey at all. He always touched us up. Great footy brain. Always a dangerous attribute when linked with a big body.

[JK]

Having only watched the game on Video, I don't know much about a lot players of that era (have learnt a fair bit about my own mob, but very little about many of the opposition) - Tardif was pretty ordinary that day, so probably unfair to judge him on that performance, what was he like in general?

Carey certainly looked like he could play, and having read from posters on here how good he was a youngster, he would have to go down as one of the all-time greats I'd imagine.

(Sorry to get off track Mal)

I don't rate Tardif very highly at all as a footballer. My memory is that he wasn't as hard/physical as someone his size could have been.
Carey was outstanding. Dexter Kennedy was our ruckman for most of the time against Carey and, very good player though he was, he could never handle Carey at all. He always touched us up. Great footy brain. Always a dangerous attribute when linked with a big body.

Such a good post NN .. I said to someone the other day that it's my opinion that players blessed with a physical advantage AND a brain, were the most dangerous footballers.

Bewildered me as a kid seeing a burly, aged, Carey marking ball after ball we'd bomb into our forward half ... He just read the play so well and had such good hands - Don't think I appreciated him as I should have when I was young.

[McAlmanac]

And I don't know how true it is but my memory of Woodville under John McInnes is that they very often kicked a high percentage of goals from their scoring shots, i.e. their goalkicking accuracy was very high. I don't know whether he emphasised it at training but they seemed to me to do it regularly.

Skills were big at training. "Screw your kicks, please" (if you can imagine his erudite voice).

[McAlmanac]

In that photo is that Pettingill that Whelan is climbing on top of?

Yes it is, and Ian Stasinowsky behind.

And Ken is wearing Blue Star boots. Gold.

[Adelaide Hawk]

In that photo is that Pettingill that Whelan is climbing on top of?

Yes it is, and Ian Stasinowsky behind.

And Ken is wearing Blue Star boots. Gold.

Blue star boots. I remember (around 1972-3) my mum bringing home a pair of blue star boots she found in a bargin bin for $2. I laughed but thought maybe I could wear them for training. Turned out to be the best pair of footy boots I ever wore and I used them in all my matches.

Can you imagine buying a pair of boots for $2 these days?