The best SANFL team of all

[CK]

This is a flow-on from Mal's thread about the 1978 season, and some of the coaches listed in it, and the debate shifted gradually to great players and great teams. I have looked back for a thread on this but couldn't see one in the last couple of years.

What team in which year do posters view as the best they have SEEN, and anecdotally, which team in which year do posters view as the best they have HEARD of (particularly for younger posters who may not have seen some of the great teams of the early eras)?

I touched on West Adelaide in 1983 briefly in Mal's thread. That team stands out to me as one of the best I saw. They were superb that season and weren't seriously challenged for long periods that year. Looking back on the lineup that day, as below, the talent among it was brilliant:

F: Peter Meuret, Roger Luders, Leon Grosser
HF: Mike Smith, Bruce Lindner, Geoff Morris (vc)
C: Robin McKinnon, Richard Hamilton, Randall Bennett
HB: Larry Watson, Mark Dreher, Greg Summerton
B: John Kantilaftas, Tony Burgess, Peter Winter
Ruck: Craig Williams, Ian Borchard (c), Bernie Conlen
Res: Dirk De Jong, Grantley Fielke

Could also make a case for some of the Port teams of the 1990's that I saw, as well as the Centrals teams of the 2000's.

Anecdotally, some of the Sturt teams of the 1960's had some sublime talent, and certainly some of Port's teams of that era were sensational.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I've always thought the West Adelaide 1983 and Glenelg 1973 teams were the best I've seen. Ironically, both were coached by Neil Kerley. The Sturt 1966 and Port Adelaide 1980 teams were pretty strong as well.

[Big Phil]

I always thought the Central District team of 1996 was one of the best I have seen despite them losing the GF to Port, along with a few of the 2000's sides, 2004 in particular.

CENTRALS 1996 GF LINE-UP:

F: J. Wynd M. Conway P. Vardy
HF: J. Cotton A. Balkwill C. Potter
C: J. Saywell R. Macgowan S. Stevens
HB: S. Schwerdt B. Haraida D. Green
B: S. Lee D. Hicks M. Wakelin
R: R. Schaefer R. Girdham T. Cook
Int: B. Daniel P. Green S. Luhrs

_________________________________________


CENTRAL'S 2004 PREMIERSHIP SIDE:

FF - Richard Cochrane, Luke Cowan, Marco Bello
HF - Chris Gowans, Daniel Schell, Daniel Healy
C - Simon Arnott, James Gowans, Nathan Steinberner
HB - Paul Thomas, Yves Sibenaler, Stuart Cochrane
FB - Brad Currie, Jeremy Aufderheide, Tyson Hay
Ruck - Paul Scoullar, Heath Hopwood, Matthew Slade
Interchange - Jason MacKenzie, Shannon Hurn, Elijah Ware

[GWW]

I personally wouldn't consider any side after 1990 for this thread.

Best side I've seen is probably Glenelg in 1985/86, although Port's side in 1980 was very good too.

[Big Phil]

I personally wouldn't consider any side after 1990 for this thread.

Best side I've seen is probably Glenelg in 1985/86, although Port's side in 1980 was very good too.

Why's that?

What about those that only started supporting the SANFL post 1990?

P.S - Not having a go here mate, genuine question.

[GWW]

Its my personal opinion, I don't expect others to share my view, and I respect others who see things differently.

After the Crows were formed, it ripped the heart out of the SANFL.

Like I said, just my opinion.

[Big Phil]

Its my personal opinion, I don't expect others to share my view, and I respect others who see things differently.

After the Crows were formed, it ripped the heart out of the SANFL.

Like I said, just my opinion.

Fair enough mate, fully understand and I thought that might have been your reason, totally understand as well BTW...

[nickname]

I've always thought the West Adelaide 1983 and Glenelg 1973 teams were the best I've seen. Ironically, both were coached by Neil Kerley. The Sturt 1966 and Port Adelaide 1980 teams were pretty strong as well.

Kerley is on the record as saying the 83 West side is the best side he coached. It's certainly the best side I've supported.
And yes, the Sturt sides of the late 60s were a class above.

[JK]

Ive always said that 1983 Westies side was the most devastating Ive seen, was nothing for them to kick 10 goals in a quarter .. The touch-up they gave us in the 83 2nd Semi was the biggest shellacking I'd seen us cop in my short Norwood following career, and was just amazing considering we were a reasonable team that won flags the season before and after.

[McAlmanac]

Glenelg 85-86, Westies 83 and Port 79-81. All would have comfortably competed in the VFL.

Anecdotally, late 60's Sturt is always the most eulogised.

[Magpiespower]

Reakon this is one of those threads that has to split into different eras.

Something like...

1877-1906
1907-1944
1945-1990
1991-

Like just about everyone else, I loved Westies '83 side.

So exciting to watch.

Post-1990, I reakon the best of Port's premiership sides were '92 and '95...

[nickname]

Ive always said that 1983 Westies side was the most devastating Ive seen, was nothing for them to kick 10 goals in a quarter .. The touch-up they gave us in the 83 2nd Semi was the biggest shellacking I'd seen us cop in my short Norwood following career, and was just amazing considering we were a reasonable team that won flags the season before and after.

I remember being worried in the build up to that game about the fact that Norwood were a finals-hardened team and that we were so inexperienced in finals. The club had played in one final in the previous 5 years to that point. But finals experience, which is often mentioned as a big factor, played no role at all.

[nickname]

This is a flow-on from Mal's thread about the 1978 season, and some of the coaches listed in it, and the debate shifted gradually to great players and great teams. I have looked back for a thread on this but couldn't see one in the last couple of years.

What team in which year do posters view as the best they have SEEN, and anecdotally, which team in which year do posters view as the best they have HEARD of (particularly for younger posters who may not have seen some of the great teams of the early eras)?

I touched on West Adelaide in 1983 briefly in Mal's thread. That team stands out to me as one of the best I saw. They were superb that season and weren't seriously challenged for long periods that year. Looking back on the lineup that day, as below, the talent among it was brilliant:

F: Peter Meuret, Roger Luders, Leon Grosser
HF: Mike Smith, Bruce Lindner, Geoff Morris (vc)
C: Robin McKinnon, Richard Hamilton, Randall Bennett
HB: Larry Watson, Mark Dreher, Greg Summerton
B: John Kantilaftas, Tony Burgess, Peter Winter
Ruck: Craig Williams, Ian Borchard (c), Bernie Conlen
Res: Dirk De Jong, Grantley Fielke

CK, Williams actually started in the forward pocket and Meuret started on the reserves bench, with de Jong leading the ruck.

[Wedgie]

Glenelg 85-86, Westies 83 and Port 79-81. All would have comfortably competed in the VFL.

Anecdotally, late 60's Sturt is always the most eulogised.

Norths 86/87 team would have competed in the VFL better than Glenelg and this was reflected by the wins over Melbourne and Collingwood in the Fosters Cup.And Norh did win 87 by more than the wins in 85 and 86.
Just for the record I rate Norths 71/72 team higher than both.

Agree with the talk about Wests 83 sides, Sturt were a bloody good side that year and would have won most flags but West were a class above them.

I'd probably have Sturt from he 60s top with consideration to Ports 50s side up there too.

How about Norwood in the 1880s and South in the 1890s?

Also agree with not including anything after 1990 as SANFL teams lowered in quality and stopped being competitive with the best teams in the nation then.

PS Love topics like this and the 1978 thread.

[Pseudo]

F: Peter Meuret, Roger Luders, Leon Grosser
HF: Mike Smith, Bruce Lindner, Geoff Morris (vc)
C: Robin McKinnon, Richard Hamilton, Randall Bennett
HB: Larry Watson, Mark Dreher, Greg Summerton
B: John Kantilaftas, Tony Burgess, Peter Winter
Ruck: Craig Williams, Ian Borchard (c), Bernie Conlen
Res: Dirk De Jong, Grantley Fielke

Bend the (1983 era) rules and squeeze Mark Mickan onto an extended bench. Perfection!

[robranisgod]

I thought that the Glenelg 1985 side was the strongest side that I have ever seen. 18 out of the 20 players were either state players or played VFL/AFL. The only two of the 20 who didn't reach that elite level were Wayne Stringer, who could have on his Bay form and Robin Kidney.

My concern with the Westies side of 1983 is that it had 7 Victorian "rejects". I spoke to one of those players who was adamant that his middle of the road VFL side would have beaten Westies. Most top sides are built on a brilliant mid field and strong defence. That Westies side was different in that it had clearly the most potent forward line I have ever seen. My other concern with the Westies side, was its lack of depth. They had an incredible injury free run in 1983, only losing Mark Mickan (a potentially huge loss). As soon as they copped a few injuries in 1984 they were no longer even competitive.

My mob in 1971 and 1972 was a very, very strong side. They should have been Champions of Australia in 1971 and were in 1972. Sure they had some luck in 1972, but they were a lot closer to the VFL premiers than any other SANFL side. North in 1971 and 1972 had much greater depth than most other SANFL premiers of the time. For example in 1972 Neil Sachse, Mike Patterson, Kym Lehmann, David Burns, Arch Wilkey and Terry Collins all missed the Grand Final due to injury and North still won by 56 points.

[JK]

Ive always said that 1983 Westies side was the most devastating Ive seen, was nothing for them to kick 10 goals in a quarter .. The touch-up they gave us in the 83 2nd Semi was the biggest shellacking I'd seen us cop in my short Norwood following career, and was just amazing considering we were a reasonable team that won flags the season before and after.

I remember being worried in the build up to that game about the fact that Norwood were a finals-hardened team and that we were so inexperienced in finals. The club had played in one final in the previous 5 years to that point. But finals experience, which is often mentioned as a big factor, played no role at all.

Being young and green at the time, I just expected that we would always be a better than %50 chance in finals games (probably my old man getting into my head) .. IIRC we kicked 5 goals in the first quarter, but I could tell it was a struggle and was worried we might lose if Westies got running and got running they did.

From a hazy memory your lot blew us off the park and were even toying with us at the end .. Did a similar thing early in 84 at the Parade too and it was always a great mystery to me how a team with so much pace and firepower fell away so dramatically in less than 12 months.

The likes of Luders, Lindner, Smith, Meuret, Grosser, Morris, Borchard, Williams et al made for the most explosive side I've ever seen in our comp.

[nickname]

I thought that the Glenelg 1985 side was the strongest side that I have ever seen. 18 out of the 20 players were either state players or played VFL/AFL. The only two of the 20 who didn't reach that elite level were Wayne Stringer, who could have on his Bay form and Robin Kidney.

My concern with the Westies side of 1983 is that it had 7 Victorian "rejects". I spoke to one of those players who was adamant that his middle of the road VFL side would have beaten Westies. Most top sides are built on a brilliant mid field and strong defence. That Westies side was different in that it had clearly the most potent forward line I have ever seen. My other concern with the Westies side, was its lack of depth. They had an incredible injury free run in 1983, only losing Mark Mickan (a potentially huge loss). As soon as they copped a few injuries in 1984 they were no longer even competitive.

My mob in 1971 and 1972 was a very, very strong side. They should have been Champions of Australia in 1971 and were in 1972. Sure they had some luck in 1972, but they were a lot closer to the VFL premiers than any other SANFL side. North in 1971 and 1972 had much greater depth than most other SANFL premiers of the time. For example in 1972 Neil Sachse, Mike Patterson, Kym Lehmann, David Burns, Arch Wilkey and Terry Collins all missed the Grand Final due to injury and North still won by 56 points.

I don't see that it matters where the players came from, we're judging how they played. And the suggestion that because they were Victorian "rejects" means the side wouldn't have been competitive against a VFL side doesn't allow for the possibility that perhaps these players improved markedly because they were given an opportunity of regular senior football. (One of these "rejects" went on to become an All Australian). It's also a hypothetical scenario, we're trying to judge them on actual performances.
And I don't know what depth has to do with it. We're assessing the team out on the field, not the quality of the Reserves side. That, along with how the side performed in subsequent seasons (when it was different anyway), is irrelevant.

[Magpiespower]

...it was always a great mystery to me how a team with so much pace and firepower fell away so dramatically in less than 12 months.

Did they have quite a few injuries in '84?

IIRC, Linder, who with many of his teammates was sensational in '83, only played about four games that year.

Bernie Conlen disappeared pretty quick after being runner-up in the '83 Magarey...

[robranisgod]

...it was always a great mystery to me how a team with so much pace and firepower fell away so dramatically in less than 12 months.

Did they have quite a few injuries in '84?

IIRC, Linder, who with many of his teammates was sensational in '83, only played about four games that year.

Bernie Conlen disappeared pretty quick after being runner-up in the '83 Magarey...

I know this will upset nickname, but I maintain that they had a freak year with lack of injuries in 1983.

On the other hand, I know for a fact that Barrie Robran thinks that the 1983 Westies side is the best that he has ever seen.