1960's SANFL

[robranisgod]

After reading some of the posts about the Lindner brothers I spoke to my dad about Don and Hank Lindner today, as my dad had met them while living in the Riverland in the 1960's.

Dad mentioned a couple of things he recalled - he remembered reading in "The News" a boast from Don when he coached North something along the lines of "We can always beat West, because Kerley is scared of Hank". The second thing was that apparently Hank got that nickname from when he was a youngster playing in the backyard, pretending he was Bob Hank whilst kicking the footy around.

I don't know of Don's boast but I do have papers from the time saying that Hank had a great record against Kerley. He was probably the only bloke playing who was stronger than Kerley. Kerley certainly caught up with him one day at Adelaide Oval though. A West player I know who was in the vicinity of the incident said that Hank's nose squashed like a tomato on impact. They were very tough days. Good thing that they didn't have trial by video, many of these tough players wouldn't have played too often.

Hank was quite a character. Legend has it that after the 1960 Grand Final, Norwood full forward Phil Stephens and Hank caught up and went on a 7 day celebration/wake.

Also when coach Jack McCarthy got a flat tyre in his mini he didn't have a jack. Hank was powerful enough to lift the car to enable the tyre to be changed. I wonder if that feat of strength had anything to do with the chronic back injury that curtailed Hank's career.

[mal]

1960s participants who Ive met at the races 2

GLEN PILL
1960-1973
West Torrens
252 games

Glen was a strong centre half back for WT
He started his career as a ruckman, but prob played his best footy as a key defender
he had kicked 89 golas at the end of 1972, b4 his last season
In 1971 he was WT captain for 1 season, taking over from John Birt
Might have been frustrated playing so many games without a Premiership
By the time he retired not many would have played more games then he did for WT[Maybe only Fred Bills and Lindsay Head ?]


Ive only said hullo to him a couple of times over the years on the racecourses
Glen can often be seen at the races, even in recent years
The one thing about Glen is he has kept his fitness, he still looks extremely athletic

[baggy8]

Great nostalgic thread which I've only just caught up with.

Just a little bit about the Ottens clan AH. Dean is the father of Luke, who played fleetingly at both Glenelg and Melbourne, while Brad is the son of Dean's younger brother Wayne, who played a couple of seasons at Sturt in the late 60s without cracking it for a league game (which he would've done at any other club).

Don Douglas came to Sturt from Hawthorn, kicked 6 goals on debut, had two good seasons kicking 47 goals in 1959 and 50 in 1960 and then disappeared.

And mal, Lindsay Head's 'beautiful' daughter was briefly married to former Torrens player and former commentator, David McKay.

[robranisgod]

Just a little bit about the Ottens clan AH. Dean is the father of Luke, who played fleetingly at both Glenelg and Melbourne, while Brad is the son of Dean's younger brother Wayne, who played a couple of seasons at Sturt in the late 60s without cracking it for a league game (which he would've done at any other club).

Are you sure of this. On the Geelong website, the Glenelg website and Wikipedia they all state that Brad is Dean's son and Luke is his brother. I know that these sites are not always reliable but I raise the query anyway.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Just a little bit about the Ottens clan AH. Dean is the father of Luke, who played fleetingly at both Glenelg and Melbourne, while Brad is the son of Dean's younger brother Wayne, who played a couple of seasons at Sturt in the late 60s without cracking it for a league game (which he would've done at any other club).

Are you sure of this. On the Geelong website, the Glenelg website and Wikipedia they all state that Brad is Dean's son and Luke is his brother. I know that these sites are not always reliable but I raise the query anyway.

Interesting. I checked the Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers, and it states in there that Brad and Luke Ottens are brothers, and sons of Dean. Like RIG, I stand to be corrected if that's not the case.

[redandblack]

After reading some of the posts about the Lindner brothers I spoke to my dad about Don and Hank Lindner today, as my dad had met them while living in the Riverland in the 1960's.

Dad mentioned a couple of things he recalled - he remembered reading in "The News" a boast from Don when he coached North something along the lines of "We can always beat West, because Kerley is scared of Hank". The second thing was that apparently Hank got that nickname from when he was a youngster playing in the backyard, pretending he was Bob Hank whilst kicking the footy around.

Interesting, GWW.

I think the only player I ever saw actually knock Kerley down was Wally May one day at Unley Oval.

My memories of Hank Lindner is of a very strong player who used to rest in the back pocket and take many saving marks on the last line of defence.


Don Lindner, of course, was a wonderful player who everyone enjoyed watching.

[baggy8]

[/quote]
Are you sure of this. On the Geelong website, the Glenelg website and Wikipedia they all state that Brad is Dean's son and Luke is his brother. I know that these sites are not always reliable but I raise the query anyway.[/quote]

Well I can't substantiate it, but it's what I've always believed and I'd be very surprised if those entries were correct. Dean and Luke look alike with the same sort of faces that appear as if they were chiselled out of a quarry, giving them an almost Neanderthal appearance. Brad has much softer features, is much smaller-framed (believe it or not) and looks nothing like either of them.

But, hell, who am I to contradict the internet?

[baggy8]

Another remarkable thing about those four North-Norwood matches with no margin greater than a goal in 1960, is that were played on four different grounds.

[McAlmanac]

I was always of the belief that Brad was son of Dean and brother of Luke.

[baggy8]

In the face of overwhelming evidence, I'll retract my assertion about the Ottens "brothers", but Brad must have inherited a lot more from his mother than Luke did.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Wayne is a couple of inches taller than Dean isn't he? I remember when they both came down for pre-season training in 1966, and most of the focus was on Wayne at the time because he was taller.

[CK]

Brad and Luke Ottens are brothers, with the same father - Dean.

[robranisgod]

UMPIRES
1 umpire per game !
The bad news is that 1 ump could not always see behind the play MALicious incidents
The good news is the 1 ump was a good umpire
Umpires prob protected the ball players back then more than currently
These days ball players seem to be penalised in particular with the unfairish holding the ball interpretations

...

You have reminded me of an important incident that occurred in the 1960 second semi final with respect to well known umpire, Lawrie Sweeney. Legend has it that Sweeney's style shall we say suited Port Adelaide and he had umpired some of Port's previous close triumphs. North had led the second semi final by about 5 goals but Port were storming home and had got to within 4 points when umpire Sweeney went down with stomach cramps and had to be stretchered off the ground. North steadied and a late goal from Alwyn "Pop" Faggotter gave North a 10 point win. The umpire who replaced Sweeney, umpire Whitford then umpired the Port Norwod game, which Norwood won by about 5 goals in wet conditions, and went on to umpire the Grand Final.

[McAlmanac]

UMPIRES
1 umpire per game !
The bad news is that 1 ump could not always see behind the play MALicious incidents
The good news is the 1 ump was a good umpire
Umpires prob protected the ball players back then more than currently
These days ball players seem to be penalised in particular with the unfairish holding the ball interpretations

...

You have reminded me of an important incident that occurred in the 1960 second semi final with respect to well known umpire, Lawrie Sweeney. Legend has it that Sweeney's style shall we say suited Port Adelaide and he had umpired some of Port's previous close triumphs. North had led the second semi final by about 5 goals but Port were storming home and had got to within 4 points when umpire Sweeney went down with stomach cramps and had to be stretchered off the ground. North steadied and a late goal from Alwayn "Pop" Faggotter gave North a 10 point win. The umpire who replaced Sweeney, umpire Whitford then umpired the Port Norwod game, which Norwood won by about 5 goals in wet conditions, and went on to umpire the Grand Final.

Does that mean to say that Lawrie let some of the more "vigorous" incidents go?

[robranisgod]

UMPIRES
1 umpire per game !
The bad news is that 1 ump could not always see behind the play MALicious incidents
The good news is the 1 ump was a good umpire
Umpires prob protected the ball players back then more than currently
These days ball players seem to be penalised in particular with the unfairish holding the ball interpretations

...

You have reminded me of an important incident that occurred in the 1960 second semi final with respect to well known umpire, Lawrie Sweeney. Legend has it that Sweeney's style shall we say suited Port Adelaide and he had umpired some of Port's previous close triumphs. North had led the second semi final by about 5 goals but Port were storming home and had got to within 4 points when umpire Sweeney went down with stomach cramps and had to be stretchered off the ground. North steadied and a late goal from Alwayn "Pop" Faggotter gave North a 10 point win. The umpire who replaced Sweeney, umpire Whitford then umpired the Port Norwod game, which Norwood won by about 5 goals in wet conditions, and went on to umpire the Grand Final.

Does that mean to say that Lawrie let some of the more "vigorous" incidents go?

Doug Thomas always maintained that Lawrie wore a black singlet under his all white uniform. North supporters thought that his stomach cramps came at just the right time in the 1960 second semi final

[robranisgod]

There are also a couple of good stories regarding the 1960 preliminary final. In 1959 both Norwood and North had disastrous starts to the season and for much of the year looked like they would fight out the wooden spoon. When Port had a big win early on in the year against Norwood a Port official joked that Norwood were going to recruit a Chinaman called Win Wun Soon. According to Legend at three quarter time of the 1960 preliminary final, which was played in very trying conditions, Alan Killigrew told his players that whenever they felt tired in the last quarter just repeat to themselves win one soon, win one soon. Whether it is true or not Norwood rattled on a number of goals to win by about 8 goals to three.

The other story from that game is that once again according to legend Haydn Bunton and a few other players had some celebratory drinks and then in the middle of the night went down to the black diamond corner and painted the black diamond red and blue.

Adelaide Hawk and Mal may be able to enhance or correct these stories, but that is how I remember them.

[McAlmanac]

The other story from that game is that once again according to legend Haydn Bunton and a few other players had some celebratory drinks and then in the middle of the night went down to the black diamond corner and painted the black diamond rad and blue.

I remember whenever Port lost my mum would say "lights out at Black Diamond Corner".

[blueandwhite]

1964 finals series.

During the 3rd quarter of the second semi between South and Port, the umipre Ken Cunningham bounced the ball after a scrimmage. Unfortunately for KG the ball bounced back over his head, and Neil Kerley in leaping for the hit out collected KGs head with his knee. KG was knocked out cold, and replaced by the emergency umpire. South lost the game but defeated Sturt in the prelim the following week, KG missed the prelim ,still recovering from concussion.

South went on to play Port in the Grand Final. As was customary in those days the players had to line up for the umpire to check their spriggs prior to the commencement of the game. KG had recovered and was officiating. He went along the linup of South players, running his hand across the soles of their boots ,checking for exposed nails.When he got to the end of the line Souths Captain /coach was waiting for him. KG checked his boots,shook Kerleys hand, wished him the best of luck was wandering away when Kerley hit him with this pearler..

"Make sure you give us a decent go, or you wont see quarter time this week..."

Apparently true!!

[Leaping Lindner]

There are also a couple of good stories regarding the 1960 preliminary final. In 1959 both Norwood and North had disastrous starts to the season and for much of the year looked like they would fight out the wooden spoon. When Port had a big win early on in the year against Norwood a Port official joked that Norwood were going to recruit a Chinaman called Win Wun Soon. According to Legend at three quarter time of the 1960 preliminary final, which was played in very trying conditions, Alan Killigrew told his players that whenever they felt tired in the last quarter just repeat to themselves win one soon, win one soon. Whether it is true or not Norwood rattled on a number of goals to win by about 8 goals to three.

The other story from that game is that once again according to legend Haydn Bunton and a few other players had some celebratory drinks and then in the middle of the night went down to the black diamond corner and painted the black diamond rad and blue.

Adelaide Hawk and Mal may be able to enhance or correct these stories, but that is how I remember them.

I've heard both these stories. I think I read the first one in the Budget once and apparently it was on a radio interview and it was a chinese player from Darwin called Win Wun Soon.
With the Black Diamond Corner story I heard they were caught soon after by the local constabulary and made to paint the black diamond back to black and white...before sunrise!!

[mal]

1960 PRELIMINARY FINAL
NW 8-11
PA 3-14
It would have been a rousing victory for the legs, and perhaps a relief to many SANFL footy suPORTers
It ended a PA attempt to win 7 consequtive Premierships

Haydn Bunton and John Vickers where 2 players who were involved in the painting expedition
They went to the corner of St Vincent street and Commercial Road corner to what is known as the Black Diamond corner
THE BD corner is a traditional balck and white painted corner
Vickers and Bunton cheekily painted it red and blue
It is no surprise to learn that John Vickers profession was a painter !