Adelaide Oval

[daysofourlives]

Just annoys me that people don't rate their achievments or any premierships post 1990.

Im sure after the two WW clubs were weakened by deaths and or injuries making the comp not as prestigous or that Norwood only beat a couple other clubs to win their 1st dozen flags pre 1900. To me any premiership won post 1990 is still the equivalent of any won in the 60's, 70's and 80's and to devalue the achievments of the Gowans is not on. It doesnt matter that in some opinions they were not as good as Motley, simple fact is they were good enough to be in the best 21 of the team that won 9 flags just the same as Motley

One way it could be looked at is that they were good enough to win their jack oatey medals as semi proffesional footballers competiting for those honours against some full time footballers.

I agree, comparing players ability is pointless and could go on for ever, they won 9 premierships that comparable to almost any individual record. I'm sure when Norwood win the flag this year it will still be special.

Btw I don't think they should have anything named after them at Adelaide oval

Maybe just Bar Nine or Triple 9 and honour the 3 of them together or the "best bar nine bar"

[csbowes]

A few thoughts...

The Gowans were great players, I would have welcomed them to Sturt and honestly, I think we would have 1-2 extra flags if they had played for us...

Modern day footballers should be recognised by future generations who can look back with less bias on their careers.

What eras are better etc is personal opinion not fact. For me, I'd swap the 2002 flag for the 1998 one, but that's because I rate a flag against Port as the pinnacle.

Beating Central was good, but they aren't Port.

In the end the commission screwed up by naming too many things thus encouraging a - what about this guy - mentality. Should have kept it tight...

[daysofourlives]

A few thoughts...

The Gowans were great players, I would have welcomed them to Sturt and honestly, I think we would have 1-2 extra flags if they had played for us...

Modern day footballers should be recognised by future generations who can look back with less bias on their careers.

What eras are better etc is personal opinion not fact. For me, I'd swap the 2002 flag for the 1998 one, but that's because I rate a flag against Port as the pinnacle.

Beating Central was good, but they aren't Port.

In the end the commission screwed up by naming too many things thus encouraging a - what about this guy - mentality. Should have kept it tight...

Thats all changed now, beating Port is a bit ho hum but also impossible, beating the Dogs is the pinnacle!!

[Panther Pack]

Some interesting points but I think we can all agree the competition peaked around 1964!!!!

[cracka]

A few thoughts...

The Gowans were great players, I would have welcomed them to Sturt and honestly, I think we would have 1-2 extra flags if they had played for us...

Modern day footballers should be recognised by future generations who can look back with less bias on their careers.

What eras are better etc is personal opinion not fact. For me, I'd swap the 2002 flag for the 1998 one, but that's because I rate a flag against Port as the pinnacle.

Beating Central was good, but they aren't Port.

In the end the commission screwed up by naming too many things thus encouraging a - what about this guy - mentality. Should have kept it tight...

Thats all changed now, beating Port is a bit ho hum but also impossible, beating the Dogs is the pinnacle!!

I would say beating Norwood is the pinnacle at the moment.

[leftlegger]

A few thoughts...

The Gowans were great players, I would have welcomed them to Sturt and honestly, I think we would have 1-2 extra flags if they had played for us...

Modern day footballers should be recognised by future generations who can look back with less bias on their careers.

What eras are better etc is personal opinion not fact. For me, I'd swap the 2002 flag for the 1998 one, but that's because I rate a flag against Port as the pinnacle.

Beating Central was good, but they aren't Port.

In the end the commission screwed up by naming too many things thus encouraging a - what about this guy - mentality. Should have kept it tight...

Sure Dogs fans wont agree with you. But I reckon you're spot on with that.
I would have loved to have seen Glenelg knock Port off in a GF during the 1973-1990 period.
Winning GFs against anyone is great but to knock Port off in those glory days woulda been the ducks nuts.

Definitely agree that they named to much stuff.

[StrayDog]

Sure Dogs fans wont agree with you.

Don't be.

[johntheclaret]

No doubt Geoff Motley had more talent that the Gowans twins combined and then some, but I think their achievement, i.e. 9 premiership medals is at least in the same ballpark. It's a great achievement in any era.

I wouldn't have any issue if the Gowans had something named after them, any league at any time it is an amazing achievement.

Evem if it was a mural at the end of one bar showing their achievement, would be a good acknowledgement that the SANFL didnt die in 1991

Could have Schubert on there too just to get the whole effect

[johntheclaret]

I agree, comparing players ability is pointless and could go on for ever, they won 9 premierships that comparable to almost any individual record. I'm sure when Norwood win the flag this year it will still be special.

Btw I don't think they should have anything named after them at Adelaide oval

The Gowans didn't win 9 premiership medals. Central Districts did, and they were just part of that team. Do you think they would have won 9 premierships playing with South instead of Centrals (No offence South fans).

I think it is a matter of great individuals and I am not sure the Gowna twins were great individuals.

[johntheclaret]

I think Gee Dubya Dubya has got it right

If you want to compare footballers then and now, you have to look past the SANFL.

South Australians playing in the AFL would have been playing in the SANFL before 1990. Any player who isnt good enough to "step up" into the AFL from the SANFL cant be considerd a great, no matter which state he hails from.

Barrie Robran would be considered by many to be the one of, if not the, greatest South Australian footballers of all time. He competed at a time when most South Australians played in the SANFL, was a multiple Magarey Medalist, and at a time when North Adelaide didn't just win flags, they were champions of Australia.

No matter how good the Gowans might have been or Centrals for that matter, go back 3 years, put them in a full blooded Champs of Australia comp against Geelong, and I think we all know what the result would be.

[daysofourlives]

I think Gee Dubya Dubya has got it right

If you want to compare footballers then and now, you have to look past the SANFL.

South Australians playing in the AFL would have been playing in the SANFL before 1990. Any player who isnt good enough to "step up" into the AFL from the SANFL cant be considerd a great, no matter which state he hails from.

Barrie Robran would be considered by many to be the one of, if not the, greatest South Australian footballers of all time. He competed at a time when most South Australians played in the SANFL, was a multiple Magarey Medalist, and at a time when North Adelaide didn't just win flags, they were champions of Australia.

No matter how good the Gowans might have been or Centrals for that matter, go back 3 years, put them in a full blooded Champs of Australia comp against Geelong, and I think we all know what the result would be.

Norths premiership in 87 worth nothing then, there was quite a few gun South Aussies in the VFL by then, Kernahan, Bradley, Naley, Platten, Motley, McGuiness etc etc.
You're a nong JTC, think you've got you're hand on you're clar(in)et.
Robran was not good enough to "step up" as you put it, same with Ebert, Cornes so obviously they are not "greats" in your eyes

[Apachebulldog]

Robran was the best Australian Rules player i have seen he could play in any position and dominate however his carrer was ended bercause of a knee injury he was the greatest and best end of story.

[GWW]

Was it 86 or 87 that North beat Collingwood.

There's the difference between the 2 eras - current AFL sides would smash the current top SANFL sides.

[Wedgie]

Was it 86 or 87 that North beat Collingwood.

There's the difference between the 2 eras - current AFL sides would smash the current top SANFL sides.

86, we beat them at Waverly after beating Melbourne at Footy Pk.
We never got another invite as we scared them beating their own teams especially in Melbourne.
I think Norwood beat Geelong here in 85 too, the game when Jack and Craig Balme had a dance.

[beenreal]

Was it 86 or 87 that North beat Collingwood.

There's the difference between the 2 eras - current AFL sides would smash the current top SANFL sides.

86, we beat them at Waverly after beating Melbourne at Footy Pk.
We never got another invite as we scared them beating their own teams especially in Melbourne.
I think Norwood beat Geelong here in 85 too, the game when Jack and Craig Balme had a dance.

I remember as a Collingwood supporter at the time, I was barracking for Nth Adelaide. Good result

And Inside Football ran a pre-game feature on the Norwood/Geelong game, quoting Jacko say , "Craig will be he most embarrassed man in Australia with what I'm going to do to him"

[SABRE]

I think Gee Dubya Dubya has got it right

If you want to compare footballers then and now, you have to look past the SANFL.

South Australians playing in the AFL would have been playing in the SANFL before 1990. Any player who isnt good enough to "step up" into the AFL from the SANFL cant be considerd a great, no matter which state he hails from.

Barrie Robran would be considered by many to be the one of, if not the, greatest South Australian footballers of all time. He competed at a time when most South Australians played in the SANFL, was a multiple Magarey Medalist, and at a time when North Adelaide didn't just win flags, they were champions of Australia.

No matter how good the Gowans might have been or Centrals for that matter, go back 3 years, put them in a full blooded Champs of Australia comp against Geelong, and I think we all know what the result would be.

Norths premiership in 87 worth nothing then, there was quite a few gun South Aussies in the VFL by then, Kernahan, Bradley, Naley, Platten, Motley, McGuiness etc etc.
You're a nong JTC, think you've got you're hand on you're clar(in)et.
Robran was not good enough to "step up" as you put it, same with Ebert, Cornes so obviously they are not "greats" in your eyes

Oh oh, you're playing with fire 'DOOL'. I assume you're stirring mate.
(I thought the floodgates might open up while I wrote this.)

When they played here, names like Kernahan, Bradley, Naley, Platten & Motley may have been getting into
best players lists, but like most South Aussies, they didn't really become 'stars' until they knocked the Vic's
socks off after moving over. It's amazing how many 'useful/good' players here became superstars over the border.

A mate of mine was keen on North Melbourne and dragged me to a North Vs Collingwood game at Arden Street
when Ebert & Cornes were playing for Barassi. Even though they went over late in their careers and Barassi was
playing silly buggers by making them play out of their best positions, I remember they still gave very good
performances. I lost a lot of respect for Barassi. It seemed he was trying to break the South Aussies' big
reputations. In his own team!!! Typical Vic pettiness. Probably gave Blighty the sh!ts too.

As for "Robran not good enough to step up" ???

You really must be having us on. When it comes to stars, Barrie Robran was in a firmament all of his own.
The consumate footballer who could play EVERY position and win it in a canter.
This bloke didn't need to prove a thing. He certainly didn't need to go against the also rans that filled the VFL's
suburban teams. Barrie just waited until the Vics put the cream of their crop together for state games, then made
them ALL look stupid at once !!!

Ya know you've got 'a bit of talent' when someone like Alex Jesaulenko is forced to just stand and applaud you.
Jeez Robran woulda looked good in Red & Blue.

Luv,
Sabre

[GWW]

By around 93/94 - which was around 2 or 3 years after the Crows played their first game - the gap between a very ordinary Swans side, and WWT, was 20 goals.

Bit different to 5 or 6 years earlier, with for example North's games against a few VFL sides.

[GrandOldFlag]

If we say that only good SA players before 1990 should be included as greats then we are discounting what footballers have done for the SANFL since then. Gowans 9 premierships each is great and thats all there is to it!
If we say that there were only SA players berore 1990 are worthy we are no different than Victorians saying our players were only good if they tried themselves in the VFL. And we know how shitty that makes us.

Trying to name too many things at Adelaide oval is a nice thought but difficult in practice. To miss out Motley is one that has publicity but what about Bob Hammond? Gowans, given their service also deserve a mention.

Perhaps it would have been better having a Magarey stand that had pictures of all medalists. Goalkickers bars or Premiers bars just like Footy Park with pictures of all teams/players not just a select few. But alas, too late!