1978 The year it was

[mal]

Sticks Dolan made a good career move !
He didnt play for NW in the 78 G/F win
Transferred to PA in 1979
Played until at least 1982
He didnt play in 1983 when still in his mid twenties
He only played 3 games in 1981, perhaps he was badly injured ?
He played at least 38 games for PA
I dont recall too many other NW players playing for PA back in the 60s/70s/80s

[Adelaide Hawk]

I dont recall too many other NW players playing for PA back in the 60s/70s/80s

Bob Kingston, Trevor Grimwood are two I can think of.

[GWW]

That what I was thinking mal. I can barely think of many players at all, who have played for both Port and Norwood.

The one that readily comes to mind was Gary Smallridge in the early 90's, I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of many without stretching my brain or doing some research. If we look at Sturt and Norwood, in contrast, as has been discussed on this site often, there's a huge number to have played for both clubs.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Thanks AH.

It seems interesting he chose to go to Port, who would have been one of the top sides at the time. From memory, and i was only a kid in the late 70's/early 80's, Port probably didn't have the strength in ruck that they did in other areas though - Chris Natt was a reasonable ruckman - so it turns out that with those 2 premierships it was an excellent decision.

He struggled to make the Norwood team who had a plethora of quality ruckmen at the time: Neil Button, Wayne Phillis, Michael Gregg, Nick Walker, Grant Dalwood, Jim Michalanney and Ugo Colasante. Port Adelaide always struggled to find quality big men, so the move wouldn't have been a difficult decision to make.

[Adelaide Hawk]

That what I was thinking mal. I can barely think of many players at all, who have played for both Port and Norwood.

The most famous of course is Allen Robert Charles (Bob) McLean. Played 73 games for Norwood but scored a job in the Fire Brigade at Port Adelaide so the transfered to help him get to practice in time.

[godoubleblues]

FEBUARY 8
Melbourne give Gary Hardeman a clearance to play for ST
The amount paid for Hardemans clearance is believed to be over $30k


FEBUARY 7
CD cancelled a pre season trial vrs ML at the direction of the SANFL
The ban was made by the league following the VFLs announcement that it would not participate in the NFLS proposed 1978 series

SA announced thier new skipper Geoff Baynes
Previous skipper Graham Robbins left to coach Penola
Baynes won the 1977 B/F for SA

NW recruited David Armour the former Geelong and East Perth Player



GEOFF BAYNES
Genuine trier, not blessed with exquisite skills, but made the most of his ability
He used to play for WWT ?

GRAHAM ROBBINS
Almost the exact opposite to Baynes
Robbins was mercurial and had skills to burn, was a pleasure to see him in action
He used to play VFL b4 coming to SA ?

DAVID ARMOUR
Played mainly half back flank
Played well in defence for the legs, and made a good decision to come to the SANFL

Graham Robbins played 13 games and kicked 9 goals for Richmond from 69-71

[mal]

Other medallists in 1978

SECONDS: P BARNES [WT] Is this Peter, was he a rover at WT ?
THIRDS : B GRAHAM [CD] Is he a relation to Michael Graham ?
COLTS : C WRIGHT [PA] he also won the reserves medal in 1979, did he ever play League footy ?

BROWNLOW : MALcolm BLIGHT, thus having won a Magarey/Brownlow in his great career
SANDOVER MEDAL : P KELLY [EAST PERTH] he also won the next season as well

Earlier in 1978 there was talk around that Superboot Bernie Quinlan was approached to play at PA for a large amount of money
Whether he seriously considered playing at PA is questionable
Bernie in 1981 won the Brownlow Medal when playing for Fitzroy[ he tied with big Barry Round ]

[mal]

SEPTEMBER 14
Thursday night and the team was picked for GL who were to play PA
The massive shock was the ommission of Glenelg Champion Peter Marker
Marker who had played 227 games had made a comeback a few weeks earlier

SEPTEMBER 16
Kym Hodgeman had a big big week
He won the Magarey Medal earlier in the week
At training the joy would have turned to anguish
Hodgeman damaged his right knee at practice
He was to have surgery on his injured knee
Just what GL didnt need after a disMAL last half of the season in the minor round
PA would be starting a very short priced favourite to beat GL in the First semi final

PA V GL
I will put a extended focus on the lead up to this first Semi Final
NW/ST will get a lot of exposure being the Grand Finalists later in this thread

[nickname]

Sticks Dolan made a good career move !
He didnt play for NW in the 78 G/F win
Transferred to PA in 1979
Played until at least 1982
He didnt play in 1983 when still in his mid twenties
He only played 3 games in 1981, perhaps he was badly injured ?
He played at least 38 games for PA
I dont recall too many other NW players playing for PA back in the 60s/70s/80s

Is it true that he is also the winemaker behind the "sticks' wine range?

[mal]

RESERVES FIRST SEMI FINAL SA V NA
Here is the team lists for this game

SA
4 COCK.C
7 KARKLIS.B
10 MINNIS.S
21 CUTTING H
22 DOYLE R
25 BROOKSBY P
28 COX.P
34 PARKER.G
35 BRACEGIRDLE.G
36 SCHNEEBICHLER.J
37 FAIRCLOUGH.D
38 KEAM M
39 DEAN.S
40 COBB.I
43 FISHER.A
48 HOGAN.P
49 CLARKE.G
52 MEHAFFEY.P
53 MOYLE.C
56 HOPPENBROWERS.R
57 ROUGHANA.D
59 BRANNELLY.B
60 WESSELINGH.S

NA
1 DOSZNA.M
8 LOKAN.B
12 WILLSMORE.I
13 DILLON.K
15 HOWARD.A
18 SPORN P
19 ROACH.T
21 ELLIS.MALcolm
23 McCANN.P
24 PALMER.R
30 OLIVER.D
32 WALSH.P
34 LOFTS.G
36 DIORIO.R
37 CARROLL.B
41 NEVE.D
46 BUSBRIDGE.K
47 RUSSELL.D
48 ANDERSON.MALcolm
49 ELLIS A

13 Kym Dillon [NA] these days a media man
SA named a squad of 23, NA a squad of 20

PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN 1978
ADELAIDE OVAL
NA 12-10
SA 11-11

PROSPECT OVAL
SA 18-10
NA 17-14

COACHES OF THE TEAMS
Bohdan Jaworskyj [NA]
John Reid [SA]

NA beat ST by a whopping 98 points in the Elimination Final
Best players NA
Dozna in ruck
Neve 7 goals from full forward
Diorio and Palmer
Full back McCannn
Captain Howard
Best players for ST
Milte in defence
rovers Bob Oatey and Robert Coulis
wingman Weatherald

SA were beaten by 53 points by WA in the Qualifying Final
Best for WA
Mueret 6 goals
Ravlich + Beech
Best for SA
Schneebichler
Minnis
Cox

That was the in depth preview for the Reserves First Semi SA V NA
Only prob is I dunno who won this game !

[mal]

I will do a few player profiles in the lead up to the PA V GL final

NEVILLE WAYNE ''TWIGGY'' CALDWELL [GL]
8/1/50
JOB : SALES REP
CAR : CORTINA
FAV TV SHOW : MASH
BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER : NEIL KERLEY
BEST FOOTBALLER SEEN : KYM HODGEMAN
MOST DIFFICULT OPPONENT: BAGGYO8
BIGGEST THRILL: 73 GRAND FINAL WIN
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: LOSING 4 GRAND FINALS
AMBITION : TO WIN ANOTHER PREMIERSHIP, AND PLAY AS LONG AS I CAN

This final v PA was a milestone for Twiggy , playing his 200th league game
"' As a Kid I never imagined I would play 200 games ""
Twiggy was picked to play senior trials in 1969
Began his career in 1970 and finished at full back [where he is expected to play v PA ]
"" I would like to play against EVANS, Ive got vivid memories of MALcolm Greenslade kicking 6 goals against me in the 1970 Grand Final and I think it would help erase that memory if I could do well on EVANS in my 200th game and in a Final.""
Twig considers 1977 as his finest season due to his consistentcy
Caldwell 28 has had a virtually injury free career, apart form missing 10 games in his second season
"" B4 I started with the club I barracked for NW because my mothers brother Glen Davis played with them ""

CALDWELL
Just a really good player who I reckon played in several positions
Unfortunately when I think of Caldwell I think of an incident when he was knocked out in a game vrs PA
I was watching that game, If I recall correctly there was a pack and then the aftermath was seeing Twiggy unconcious on the ground [was it this final ]
When i saw the incident on TV later, you could not see how Caldwell was hit
This incident caused an uproar at that time, highlighting the Dangers of playing a contact sport

[robranisgod]

RESERVES FIRST SEMI FINAL SA V NA
Here is the team lists for this game

SA
4 COCK.C
7 KARKLIS.B
10 MINNIS.S
21 CUTTING H
22 DOYLE R
25 BROOKSBY P
28 COX.P
34 PARKER.G
35 BRACEGIRDLE.G
36 SCHNEEBICHLER.J
37 FAIRCLOUGH.D
38 KEAM M
39 DEAN.S
40 COBB.I
43 FISHER.A
48 HOGAN.P
49 CLARKE.G
52 MEHAFFEY.P
53 MOYLE.C
56 HOPPENBROWERS.R
57 ROUGHANA.D
59 BRANNELLY.B
60 WESSELINGH.S

NA
1 DOSZNA.M
8 LOKAN.B
12 WILLSMORE.I
13 DILLON.K
15 HOWARD.A
18 SPORN P
19 ROACH.T
21 ELLIS.MALcolm
23 McCANN.P
24 PALMER.R
30 OLIVER.D
32 WALSH.P
34 LOFTS.G
36 DIORIO.R
37 CARROLL.B
41 NEVE.D
46 BUSBRIDGE.K
47 RUSSELL.D
48 ANDERSON.MALcolm
49 ELLIS A

13 Kym Dillon [NA] these days a media man
SA named a squad of 23, NA a squad of 20

PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN 1978
ADELAIDE OVAL
NA 12-10
SA 11-11

PROSPECT OVAL
SA 18-10
NA 17-14

COACHES OF THE TEAMS
Bohdan Jaworskyj [NA]
John Reid [SA]

NA beat ST by a whopping 98 points in the Elimination Final
Best players NA
Dozna in ruck
Neve 7 goals from full forward
Diorio and Palmer
Full back McCannn
Captain Howard
Best players for ST
Milte in defence
rovers Bob Oatey and Robert Coulis
wingman Weatherald

SA were beaten by 53 points by WA in the Qualifying Final
Best for WA
Mueret 6 goals
Ravlich + Beech
Best for SA
Schneebichler
Minnis
Cox

That was the in depth preview for the Reserves First Semi SA V NA
Only prob is I dunno who won this game !

North won this game with Billy Lokan starring. It always astonished me that it took so long for Lokan to establish himself as a league footballer at North. he only played 51 league games at North in five seasons before being recruited to play for Fitzroy where he was their regular centreman for a number of years.

[robranisgod]

Sticks Dolan made a good career move !
He didnt play for NW in the 78 G/F win
Transferred to PA in 1979
Played until at least 1982
He didnt play in 1983 when still in his mid twenties
He only played 3 games in 1981, perhaps he was badly injured ?
He played at least 38 games for PA
I dont recall too many other NW players playing for PA back in the 60s/70s/80s

The reason that Dolan only played 3 games in 1981 is that Port had recruited Russell Johnston and with Chris Natt still around there wasn't any room for Dolan in the team. After his stint at Port he played with a MutuAL friend of MAL's and mine for either Virginia or Two Wells, I don't remember which. Our MutuAL friend had previously been a fringe player at Port Adelaide as well.

[baggy8]

SECONDS: P BARNES [WT] Is this Peter, was he a rover at WT ?
THIRDS : B GRAHAM [CD] Is he a relation to Michael Graham ?
COLTS : C WRIGHT [PA] he also won the reserves medal in 1979, did he ever play League footy ?

Peter Barnes became more famous as the Power's chief medical officer between 1997 and 2009.
Brenton Graham, brother of Phil (I think) and cousin of Michael
Chris Wright despite the two medals never played a league game - later became an optician

[nickname]

Chris Wright despite the two medals never played a league game - later became an optician

Are you serious? An optician called C.Wright?

[mal]

ANTHONY BRIAN HANNAN [PA]

OCCUPATION : TEACHER
FAV FOOD : STEAK
FAV SINGER : BOB DYLAN
FAV ACTOR : JOHN WAYNE
FAV TV SHOW : MASH [as was Caldwells]
DISLIKES : FICKLE supPORTers
BIGGEST CAREER INFLUENCE: JACK CAHILL
BEST FOOTBALLER EVER SEEN : RUSSELL EBERT
BIGGEST THRILL IN FOOTY : PLAYING IN 77 GRAND FINAL WIN
AWARDS : BEST FIRST YEAR PLAYER AT PA 1977
AMBITION IN FOOTY: I DONT REALLY KNOW

Preview
Hannan is a player without a position
"" Ive been used as a fill in player since I made the league team.""
"" I played back pocket in last years g/f.""
"" And then this year I was playing on the half back line when Ivan Eckermann broke his ankle.""
"" Then I played on the wing, the back pocket, the half forward flank or wherever there was a hole to be filled.""
"" Im not complaining, but it would be nice to have 1 position you knew you were going to play each week.""
Hannan won the hearts of PA fans in the finals last year for defending brilliantly from the back pocket, doing so with only a few games of experience.
Hannan was a reserve v WT in the 78 Elimination final
Hannan was unsure about playing in the semi v GL
"" It depends on Woite and Light and if they come up.""
Hannan joined PA from Kimba in 1974
Attended Teachers College
Began as an under 19s player at PA
Played most of his junior footy as a wingman/centreman

TONY HANNAN
He was a good player
played 18 games in 78
career total 28 by seasons end
my records show he didnt play in 1982/1983
He played in at least 1 PA premiership [1977]
So perhaps he had short career that finished soon after 1978

[robranisgod]

ANTHONY BRIAN HANNAN [PA]

OCCUPATION : TEACHER
FAV FOOD : STEAK
FAV SINGER : BOB DYLAN
FAV ACTOR : JOHN WAYNE
FAV TV SHOW : MASH [as was Caldwells]
DISLIKES : FICKLE supPORTers
BIGGEST CAREER INFLUENCE: JACK CAHILL
BEST FOOTBALLER EVER SEEN : RUSSELL EBERT
BIGGEST THRILL IN FOOTY : PLAYING IN 77 GRAND FINAL WIN
AWARDS : BEST FIRST YEAR PLAYER AT PA 1977
AMBITION IN FOOTY: I DONT REALLY KNOW

Preview
Hannan is a player without a position
"" Ive been used as a fill in player since I made the league team.""
"" I played back pocket in last years g/f.""
"" And then this year I was playing on the half back line when Ivan Eckermann broke his ankle.""
"" Then I played on the wing, the back pocket, the half forward flank or wherever there was a hole to be filled.""
"" Im not complaining, but it would be nice to have 1 position you knew you were going to play each week.""
Hannan won the hearts of PA fans in the finals last year for defending brilliantly from the back pocket, doing so with only a few games of experience.
Hannan was a reserve v WT in the 78 Elimination final
Hannan was unsure about playing in the semi v GL
"" It depends on Woite and Light and if they come up.""
Hannan joined PA from Kimba in 1974
Attended Teachers College
Began as an under 19s player at PA
Played most of his junior footy as a wingman/centreman

TONY HANNAN
He was a good player
played 18 games in 78
career total 28 by seasons end
my records show he didnt play in 1982/1983
He played in at least 1 PA premiership [1977]
So perhaps he had short career that finished soon after 1978

He played in at least one more Port premiership. They brought him back from the Eyre Peninsula to play in another finals series. A very good player who didn't play much league football.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Hannan played in 3 flags, 77, 79, 80.

[mal]

Another advert in September 1978

JOHN MURPHY
When you want someone to talk with about
TYRES, BATTERIES AND ALIGNMENT
Courtesy car to city and fringe

36 UNLEY ROAD 272 6473
Opposite Waverley Hotel

QUESTION
This is the Sturt Footballer ?

[Adelaide Hawk]

Another advert in September 1978

JOHN MURPHY
When you want someone to talk with about
TYRES, BATTERIES AND ALIGNMENT
Courtesy car to city and fringe

36 UNLEY ROAD 272 6473
Opposite Waverley Hotel

QUESTION
This is the Sturt Footballer ?

Yes it is.