Centrals vs Norwwod 16/4/83

[therisingblues]

1984 was a "masterpiece" in programming for the SANFL. For some reason Norwood played Central twice in the minor round, both games at Elizabeth Oval. Two losses by 43 and 95 points. Even though Norwood were a very good side in those days, they couldn't handle the Ponderosa at all.

I have made a point about this before, but in the 1980s, there were seasons where the draw was nearly identical to the previous season - rounds in which the same teams played each other in the same rounds.

What's also interesting about the 1984 draw was this:

Glenelg played Norwood and Port three times every year in the 1980s, except 1980 and 1984.
North played Woodville three times every year in the 80s, except 1981 and 1984.
Norwood played Port three times every year between 1979 and 1995, except 1984.
1982 and 1984 were the only years in the 80s where Torrens played Port three times.
1981 and 1984 were the only years in the 80s where Woodville played Glenelg three times.
1980 and 1984 were the only years in the 80s where Woodville played Port three times.
1982 and 1984 were the only years in the 80s where South played Glenelg three times.

I am pretty certain the reason for all that was the SANFL used to do their programming based purely on crowd figures of the previous season. The Sturt/Norwood/Port/Glenelg combination games averaged in excess of 10,000 year in year out, so the SANFL would programme them to play each other 3 times each year.
The 1980 and 1984 phenomenae I cannot explain. I am surprised that Sturt isn't grouped with Port/Norwood/Glenelg on your list Spelly, but I am operating purely on memory here and on that authority I thought we played the others 3 times every year of the 80's.

[SimonH]

I realise this is very late, but in case the poster is still interested, the Norwood team was:
F: Neville Roberts 9, Neil Hein 5, Greg Thomas 2
HF: Phil Gallagher 11, Tom Warhurst 44, Keith Thomas 7
C: Duncan Fosdike 25, Garry McIntosh 14, Andrew Aish 43
HB: Paul Adler 16, Jim Thiel 33, Danny Jenkins 3
B: Wayne Schmaal 42, Bruce Winter 22, Des O'Dwyer 20
Ruck: Neil Button 30, Michael Aish 8, Greg Turbill 17
Int: Rick Neagle 48, Malcolm Noble 6
Coach: Neil Balme

That is a freakin' unbelievably good side. Can't really recall Malcolm Noble at all (my fault, no doubt), and I'll concede that Wayne Schmaal was a journeyman (and of course the very talented and lamented Jim Thiel was famous for his occasional brain-snaps). Rick Neagle was the Shane Ellen (Crows' 5 goal hero in the 1997 AFL GF) of the Norwood Football Club-- his 6 goals in the 1982 GF was by a fair margin the high-point of his career.

But apart from that, it's just quality everywhere. Nowhere for the opposition to hide. Said before, will be said again-- even though they snaffled 2 in 1982 and 1984, it was a travesty of underfulfilled talent that the Norwood side of the 1980s didn't establish a dynasty.

[am Bays]

But apart from that, it's just quality everywhere. Nowhere for the opposition to hide. Said before, will be said again-- even though they snaffled 2 in 1982 and 1984, it was a travesty of underfulfilled talent that the Norwood side of the 1980s didn't establish a dynasty.

Mate the same could be said of Glenelg, we left a few flags behind in the 80s too....

[Ecky]

I am pretty certain the reason for all that was the SANFL used to do their programming based purely on crowd figures of the previous season. The Sturt/Norwood/Port/Glenelg combination games averaged in excess of 10,000 year in year out, so the SANFL would programme them to play each other 3 times each year.
The 1980 and 1984 phenomenae I cannot explain. I am surprised that Sturt isn't grouped with Port/Norwood/Glenelg on your list Spelly, but I am operating purely on memory here and on that authority I thought we played the others 3 times every year of the 80's.

I presume it would have something to do with the fact that the results of 1979 and 1983 didn't follow the "usual" pattern of that era - Glenelg and Sturt missed the finals in 1979 (with South, Centrals and Woodville making it), and Port and Glenelg missed the finals in 1983.