Great State players

[am Bays]

In the spirit of the state game this week I thought I'd start a thread on who are the great players in a state guernsey.

Some players you couldn't work out why they got a game but they always produced in the State Colours.

For me towards the end of his career Peter Carey would get a game when there may have been better Ruckman in the comp but he always played well in State colours.

I couldn't leave out my idol, and Steven Kernahan never let the state down when he pulled on the guernsey.

FWIW Halls goal in the 92 SOO game is probably my favourite all time State game memory. I was in the members stand that night after being a trainer for the first game. The members at Footy Park has risen as one as it left his boot as it never looked like missing.

2nd Favourite memory is Martin Leslie giving Dermott Bereton a couple for his trouble in the 88 game. Mcintosh was sensational too in State colours

Rick Davies was another who produced when it mattered in state games too.

Look forward to other peoples opinions...

[Rushby Hinds]

Colin McDonald...




But seriously, great post.

Cornesy himself was the supercoaches of supercoaches when it came to the state stuff.

Maybe great publicity if they gave him another gig next time the SANFL has a run?

[Adelaide Hawk]

I always remember McIntosh's first state game. It was against the Vics at Footy Park in 1983. We hadn't beaten them since 1965 so it was our first win in 18 years. Macca started on the bench. When he came on, Cunningham was loping down the wing with the ball and didn't see Macca come onto the ground. All you saw was a flash of red, Cunningham hit the turf like a sack of spuds, and Macca ran off with the ball. The crowd went mad, it was sensational. Kernahan's 10 goals in the mid 80s what a great effort as well. Ray Huppatz in the 1970s was a consistenly high performer at state level. I think the players who didn't play in finals all that often used to fire up for state games.

[Blue Boy]

In the spirit of the state game this week I thought I'd start a thread on who are the great players in a state guernsey.

Some players you couldn't work out why they got a game but they always produced in the State Colours.

For me towards the end of his career Peter Carey would get a game when there may have been better Ruckman in the comp but he always played well in State colours.

I couldn't leave out my idol, and Steven Kernahan never let the state down when he pulled on the guernsey.

FWIW Halls goal in the 92 SOO game is probably my favourite all time State game memory. I was in the members stand that night after being a trainer for the first game. The members at Footy Park has risen as one as it left his boot as it never looked like missing.

2nd Favourite memory is Martin Leslie giving Dermott Bereton a couple for his trouble in the 88 game. Mcintosh was sensational too in State colours

Rick Davies was another who produced when it mattered in state games too.

Look forward to other peoples opinions...

Tassie - spot on with all of the above.

Still rate Halls goal as the best I have ever seen live.

Seriously though Tassie please change your Avatar the children are still scared !!!

[MightyEagles]

Bill Wedding.

[portentous]

John Platten.

[Adelaide Hawk]

What about "The Hun", Rick Schoff? Twice All-Australian and a brilliant performer at state level. Couldn't kick, but made up for it in many other ways.

[Magpiespower]

John Abley - three time All-Australian.

[Adelaide Hawk]

John Abley - three time All-Australian.

Fantastic achievement but it's hard talking about players we never saw play. Those who did see him say he was very good. It's amazing he couldn't score a game in the VFL before coming to SA, that was one that got away. Maybe he was a late bloomer

This is an edit to my previous comment:
I just checked the Pash Papers. Pash writes (August 1, 1961):

"Cunning? That's veteran fullback John Abley, who never really had a football youth. In the matter of temperament, he was as old as the hills when he started, it seems, and has always relied on craft rather than vigor on technique rather than violence. Elegant, too, but his elegance is another form of psychological warefare, turning the knide as it were.

On June 6 1961 he wrote:

He (Abley) has the habit of worry that makes for perfect concentration, sure-footedness (never a reckless throw for the ball), and the safest, most relaxed mark in the business"

[Magpiespower]

Fantastic achievement but it's hard talking about players we never saw play. Those who did see him say he was very good. It's amazing he couldn't score a game in the VFL before coming to SA, that was one that got away. Maybe he was a late bloomer

Maybloomer?

Here's Bob McLean's version of events...

"John originally came from Victoria. He was not lured to Port because of football ability. The plain fact is that his family decided to move to South Australia.

Knowing this, a Hawthorn official wrote to me informing me he was a promising player and worth signing, so naturally I arranged for him to be met upon his arrival on the Overland Express from Melbourne."

What Big Bob doesn't mention is how the Abley family planned on living in Glenelg but were persuaded by Port's then Chairman A.J. Swain to settle in the Port, thus avoiding a clearance wrangle or battle for his services.

To be fair, Abley's brother Kevin played for the Bays.

[Wedgie]

Darren Jarmans effort in 94 or 95 I think it was at the MCG when we won?
I had a pearler of a day that day as North won at the Bay also.

Grenville's 4 or 5 against Victoria!

Also every game of Maccas.