1997 GF: Port vs Norwood

[Jimmy]

IIRC, legs got up in a close one....thoughts on this game?

[Adelaide Hawk]

Apart from the joy of giving Port a thumping, my most vivid memory was the head clash between Todd Davey and Simon Tregenza. It was one of those Grand Finals you hope your club have. Party mode at 3/4 time and show time in the final quarter. Norwood were the better team all year but Port had upset them in the 2nd Semi, and I think this inspired Norwood to a 100% effort in the big one.

I also think Peter Rohde is an extremely under-rated coach and it was a pity his AFL career ended with an unsuccessful stint with the Bulldogs. Rohde extracted from the Norwood squad what Neil Craig was unable to do.

[Interceptor]

I think that's a bit harsh on Craig AH. He got the job in the first year of the Crows and Norwood had lost a stack of players to to the AFL and retirement. Managed a Grand Final appearance in 1993 and finals there after. Peter Rohde certainly did very well when he took over.

We had a very strong team in 97 and it would have been devasting not to win the flag.
It was almost game over though in the Prelim when Centrals came storming home.

At half time of the GF Norwood were 21 pts up and Port were still in touch.
I think Rohan Smith had a shot at goal early in the 3rd qtr, but missed and it was all Norwood after that.
The final margin was 70+ pts if I recall correctly.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I think that's a bit harsh on Craig AH. He got the job in the first year of the Crows and Norwood had lost a stack of players to to the AFL and retirement. Managed a Grand Final appearance in 1993 and finals there after. Peter Rohde certainly did very well when he took over.

I don't believe it's harsh at all. Sure, in 1996-97 (Rohde's first 2 seasons leading up to the flag), we picked up Jim West, Jon Cunningham, Simon Eastaugh, Damian Obst and Ian Dowsborough. We also saw a lot more of Andrew Jarman who played very little under Neil Craig. All these players were great contributors to Norwood's 1997 success.

However, here is a list of players who Neil Craig had at his disposal (1991 to 1995) but weren't around when Rohde took over: Scott Burns, Matthew Primus, Chris Prime, Matthew Kelly, David Pittman, Martin Pike, Stephen Patterson, David Payne, Jonathan Ross, Brett James, Michael Aish, Keith Thomas, Tom Warhurst. Craig also had the (off/on) services from Rodney Maynard and Matthew Robran, as well as more service from Roger James. I think you may agree that there is a fair sprinkling of talent in that group. I honestly feel Craig never got the best out of his list.

[Macca19]

Norwood deserved it that year. Port had a poor season and it was a minor miracle that we made the Grand Final given the players we lost to the AFL. The 2nd semi was a great match.

In my opinion we had lost the match before the game had started. Our player selections killed us. We played only one ruckman, Chalmers, who went down injured 10 minutes into the first quarter. Game over from that moment. We had to watch Tredrea get dominated in the ruck for the rest of the day which also took away from our forward line.

Best part of that day for me was the ressies and watching Eugene Warrior win the game off his own boot in the last quarter.

[Interceptor]

I think that's a bit harsh on Craig AH. He got the job in the first year of the Crows and Norwood had lost a stack of players to to the AFL and retirement. Managed a Grand Final appearance in 1993 and finals there after. Peter Rohde certainly did very well when he took over.

I don't believe it's harsh at all. Sure, in 1996-97 (Rohde's first 2 seasons leading up to the flag), we picked up Jim West, Jon Cunningham, Simon Eastaugh, Damian Obst and Ian Dowsborough. We also saw a lot more of Andrew Jarman who played very little under Neil Craig. All these players were great contributors to Norwood's 1997 success.

However, here is a list of players who Neil Craig had at his disposal (1991 to 1995) but weren't around when Rohde took over: Scott Burns, Matthew Primus, Chris Prime, Matthew Kelly, David Pittman, Martin Pike, Stephen Patterson, David Payne, Jonathan Ross, Brett James, Michael Aish, Keith Thomas, Tom Warhurst. Craig also had the (off/on) services from Rodney Maynard and Matthew Robran, as well as more service from Roger James. I think you may agree that there is a fair sprinkling of talent in that group. I honestly feel Craig never got the best out of his list.

Craig did have some pretty handy players around, but some of the players you've listed went down with serious injury early on (Kelly, Warhurst) or went to the AFL during his reign. I can also remember one season where Jonathan Ross played some blinders against South, got picked for the Crows the following week while Norwood suffered his loss and lost to Port.

Sometimes it's not the top 10 players you have, but the next 10 that really round out the team.
Craig was really learning his craft at this stage, it would have been a challenging time for anyone I reckon.

[mal]

The selection of Aaron Keating[after playing in a crows flag the week before]
was the matchwinning selection, he was the one that fell on Brett Chalmers
and injured him.

[Magpiespower]

Best part of that day for me was the ressies and watching Eugene Warrior win the game off his own boot in the last quarter.

Thought that's what this thread was about?

But anyway, we played our grand final two weeks too soon.

[Mr66]

The selection of Aaron Keating[after playing in a crows flag the week before]
was the matchwinning selection, he was the one that fell on Brett Chalmers
and injured him.

Would Aaron Keating have to be the worst footballer EVER to have a
premiership fall into (I can't bring myself to say the word 'win') his lap?

[GWW]

The selection of Aaron Keating[after playing in a crows flag the week before]
was the matchwinning selection, he was the one that fell on Brett Chalmers
and injured him.

Would Aaron Keating have to be the worst footballer EVER to have a
premiership fall into (I can't bring myself to say the word 'win') his lap?

I think thats plural not singular (2 not "a")....and in the space of a week too!!!!!

[Mr66]

The selection of Aaron Keating[after playing in a crows flag the week before]
was the matchwinning selection, he was the one that fell on Brett Chalmers
and injured him.

Would Aaron Keating have to be the worst footballer EVER to have a
premiership fall into (I can't bring myself to say the word 'win') his lap?

I think thats plural not singular (2 not "a")....and in the space of a week too!!!!!

That makes it worse!!!!

[XXXXRooster]

Stephen Rowes feet ACTUALLY LEAVING THE GROUND to take that mark in the last 1/4 is my best memory of that game, Todd Daveys attack at the ball was hard stuff too, no wonder the poor bugger was injured all the time.

[Jimmy]

IIRC, legs got up in a close one....thoughts on this game?

ahhh you idiot james, your thinking of the 99 flag when port got up in a close one....der!!!!!!!

[RustyCage]

The ressies was a briliant game, Ive never got so excited by someone kicking a point!!