1934 ... A Remarkable Season

[Adelaide Hawk]

I was just doing some research into the 1930s and it struck me that 1934 was possibly the most remarkable season in SANFL history.

Yes, 1934 was the year of Glenelg's first premiership, George "Blue" Johnston won the Magarey Medal, and Ken Farmer topped the 100 goals for the fifth year in a row, but there was more to 1934 than I had previously realised.

Eventual Premier Glenelg started the season with only 1 draw from their first 5 games and languished in last spot after round 7 in a minor round comprising only 17 rounds. They did not slip into the top 4 until round 12. It lost to Port Adelaide by 131 points in round 3.

After their 131 point victory, Port Adelaide had only 1 draw in the next 5 rounds and did not make it into the top 4 until round 13.

After round 7, both Glenelg and Port Adelaide were sitting in the bottom 2 spots, Port Adelaide still bottom after round 8. Both teams slipped into the top 2 spots in the very last minor round, relegating West Torrens to 3rd, after they had been in top spot from rounds 1-7 and 9-16 (North Adelaide were top in round 8 ). West Torrens then lost the 1st semi to finish 4th.

In the 2nd semi final, Port Adelaide hammered Glenelg by 65 points to be red hot favourite when they met again in the Grand Final. Remarkably, Glenelg turned it around to win the flag by 9 points.

The Bays' fall from grace would be even faster and more dramatic than their rise. In 1935, with more or less the same playing personnel at their disposal, they slumped to last place with just a solitary win from 17 games for the season. The remainder of the 1930s were scarcely better as only in 1936, when they finished 7th, did they avoid the wooden spoon.

The Magpies, by contrast, were on the verge of great things, as they would contest every remaining grand final of the 1930s, for wins in 1936, 1937 and 1939. Such players as Bob Quinn, Vic Johnson, Alan 'Bull' Reval, Albie Hollingsworth and Jack Dermody would have to rank with any in the club's illustrious history.

[Dirko]

You may like this AH;

http://www.snoutslouts.org/wiki/index.php/Grand_Final_1934

Allan Reval coached the Bays in 1949, and was the one to instigate the "Richmond" jumper.

[Magpiespower]

Umpire Thomas cheated!

[FOURTH ESTATE]

Interesting quirk in 1934-35 for the Bays. The only team they didn't defeat in 1934 was West Torrens. The only team they defeated in 1935 for their 1 and only win was West Torrens.

[LBT]

Yet another history making day.. unfortunately 1 eyed and dillusional people like Michelangelo Rucci suggest Port threw this game for monetary gain . Such a brave claim to make claim to make now that all the players including 5 goal Port hero, dual medallist and Australian war hero Bob Quinn are passed. I for one have no doubt about the legitimacy of this games result.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Yet another history making day.. unfortunately 1 eyed and dillusional people like Michelangelo Rucci suggest Port threw this game for monetary gain . Such a brave claim to make claim to make now that all the players including 5 goal Port hero, dual medallist and Australian war hero Bob Quinn are passed. I for one have no doubt about the legitimacy of this games result.

Michelangelo Rucci used to be a Port Adelaide historian so he may know something others don't, but I've never heard that one before. Unless he has evidence that occured, it's best he say nothing ... but that's never stopped him before. Seems rumour and innuendo has always been sufficient proof in his mind.

I guess we can stand by for similar type articles this week about Gold Coast?

[Magpiespower]

Port played dead?

That's a new one.

The players - and the club - were livid over the umpiring that day.

Bob Quinn was filthy until the day he died.

Have heard rumours about someone getting paid off.

But it wasn't a Port player...

[Adelaide Hawk]

I guess the Chicago White Sox scandal of 1919 was still fresh in peoples' mind, and the concept of such a huge turnaround from the 2nd Semi to the Grand Final was something people couldn't comprehend in those days.

[Magpiespower]

I guess the Chicago White Sox scandal of 1919 was still fresh in peoples' mind, and the concept of such a huge turnaround from the 2nd Semi to the Grand Final was something people couldn't comprehend in those days.

Cost the club a fortune to pay off the Eagles in '94...

[alamodog]

When I was an apprentice at BTM in the late 60's, I had the pleasure of working with Ken Obst who played in that grand final. He told me that the umpire had his home completely refurnished in the weeks after the game........could it be true.

[dedja]

Bays beating Port in a GF??? ... the match had to be fixed

[mal]

MEL BROCK

Mel Brock [GL] played in that first GL Premiership team
I met Mel later in life in the late 1990s
Mel was a keen punter, I would often chat with the great man at the Morphettville racecourse
Our conversations were always about the nags, I wish I had of asked him about his career a bit more
A wonderful wonderful man, always had a smile, had a slick hairdo even when he was about 80 years old


Brock won the Magarey Medal in 1940
In an article in the Snouts Louts about this win, Mel said
"" never entertained the thought of winning a Magarey Medal, not in my wildest dreams.""

BROCK
166 games
60 goals
GL b/f 1935+ 1940
1940 Magarey Medal
2002 inducted into the Glenelg hall of fame

Mel passed away in 2000
Im absloutely certain he would have been stoked to have been inducted in the Glenelg Hall Of Fame
I only knew the great man for a short time, that was enough for him to have made a lasting impression on me

[cargo_art]

The umpire never umpired again after that game, having moved to WA with a new block of land...draw you own conclusions.

[Robe Dog]

You believe you were robbed ? Check out the 1996 Preliminary video , Norwood v Port, worst umpiring many supporters have ever seen. Port were gifted five goals from free kicks & Borlase missed a goal so they gave him another chance to rectify that. Free kick count was 28 to 11, in Port' s favour.

[JK]

Yet another fascinating topic in the long history of our strong and reputable competition .. I would imagine back in those days (off the back of the Great Depression), any opportunity to make a buck would have been of interest.

Obviously I have no idea whether the talk of conspiracy is claptrap or legitimate, but I love hearing the tales of yesteryear regardless.

[cargo_art]

You believe you were robbed ? Check out the 1996 Preliminary video , Norwood v Port, worst umpiring many supporters have ever seen. Port were gifted five goals from free kicks & Borlase missed a goal so they gave him another chance to rectify that. Free kick count was 28 to 11, in Port' s favour.

The free kick to Hodges, where he kicked the winning goal, was as obvious push in the back as you will ever see.
Was flattened into the ground by a Norwood bonehead, and didn't have the ball.

[blueandwhite]

If I am correct South were bottom in 1934 but won the Premiership in 1935. Vic johnson was the coach...?

[Adelaide Hawk]

If I am correct South were bottom in 1934 but won the Premiership in 1935. Vic johnson was the coach...?

Correct.

Some big names in that side. Frank Tully, Jim & Jack Dawes, Laurie Cahill, Jack Cockburn, Diddy Munro, Max Murdy and George Mulcahy. Some of the greats of South Australian football, let alone the South Adelaide club.

[smithy]

If I am correct South were bottom in 1934 but won the Premiership in 1935. Vic johnson was the coach...?

Correct.

Some big names in that side. Frank Tully, Jim & Jack Dawes, Laurie Cahill, Jack Cockburn, Diddy Munro, Max Murdy and George Mulcahy. Some of the greats of South Australian football, let alone the South Adelaide club.

South have achieved that feat twice, bottom to premiers.
Any other club ?

[Adelaide Hawk]

If I am correct South were bottom in 1934 but won the Premiership in 1935. Vic johnson was the coach...?

Correct.

Some big names in that side. Frank Tully, Jim & Jack Dawes, Laurie Cahill, Jack Cockburn, Diddy Munro, Max Murdy and George Mulcahy. Some of the greats of South Australian football, let alone the South Adelaide club.

South have achieved that feat twice, bottom to premiers.
Any other club ?

Since 1907, the only other time it happened was split by World War II. West Torrens were bottom in 1941 and won the flag when the competition resumed in 1945.

Prior to 1907, it has happened three times:
Adelaide 1885 to 1886 (4 team competition)
Port Adelaide 1896 to 1897 (5 team competition)
North Adelaide 1899 to 1900 (6 team competition)