Has there ever been a season like 1988?

[Rik E Boy]

Even though it was 20 years ago and the wrong team won, I have plenty of good memories from the 1988 season. Either that or misguided recollections as like most, I'm no spellcheck.

My memory of the year is that any one of six clubs could have won the premiership that year. Port and Glenelg, much to my dismay played off in the Grand Final after the Redlegs had coughed up yet another Prelim Final to the Yabs. Other clubs who did well that year where Centrals (under Kerley?), Sturt under Merv Keane and North defending their 1987 Premiership.

With six very competitive clubs in the ten team league this made for a lot of good matches. Woodville had slipped away a little after it's back to back finals appearances but were still capabable of an upset as North found out in Round 22 when they missed the five. The reward for getting Sturt into the top five for Merv Keane was a DCM that set the Blues back to the dark ages for most of the 1990's.

I remember Derek Kicket and a few others as well bagging seven goals as the Dogs belted the hapless Eagles. I remember going to the second semi final against Port and not getting a goal in the first three quarters. As a Legs fan you know you're going bad when Port fans are cheering a Redlegs goal! I think we got two for the day.

My Italian mate used to barrack for the Bays and we'd decide which game was the one that we would go to for that round. I remember that South were the absolute bunny team so if the Redlegs played South and Glenelg were playing Centrals, then it was off to the Bay we went. We saw a lot of good footy that year and drank lots of beer....hmmm, maybe my memory isn't as good as I'd like to think!

regards,

REB

[therisingblues]

Ahh, my first year of getting drunk at the footy.

[Rik E Boy]

Ahh, my first year of getting drunk at the footy.

Good preparation for the next eight seasons....

regards,

REB

[StrayDog]

My memory of the year is that any one of six clubs could have won the premiership that year. Port and Glenelg, much to my dismay played off in the Grand Final after the Redlegs had coughed up yet another Prelim Final to the Yabs. Other clubs who did well that year where Centrals (under Kerley?), Sturt under Merv Keane and North defending their 1987 Premiership.

First of three seasons for Kerley at Centrals.

Though the top 6 in 1985 (for one) was tighter - going by final minor round tables - 1988 was still a pretty close race. Although North missed out on the finals by 1.5 games, only only another 3 games split 5th (Sturt) and 1st (Port) by that stage, with the top six spread over 5.7% **

On form going into the finals, then the finals themselves, I remember 1988 as being another year of the 'dogs promising so much and delivering nothing. The wheels started to come off late in the season, including a pretty insipid loss to Woodville, then later an equally colourless "straight sets" exit (again) from the finals, despite finishing the minors stuff all behind top spot.

I remember Derek Kicket and a few others as well bagging seven goals as the Dogs belted the hapless Eagles.

Yeah, the others with 7 goals were "Chopper" Handley, Rudi Mandemaker (no surprise) and Gavin Chaplin in a game of three 10 goal quarters by the team. **

The final score was 35:23 (233) to 4.11 (35) at Elizabeth, still a club record score and margin. I dare say a few other 'dogs fans would have that scoreline etched in memory as well (as well as just missing out on a 200 point win )

South got a few goals closer out here a couple of months later when the 'dogs only managed 35:18 **
(I remember telling Dennis Browne - with 5AA at the time I think - that it beat the previous highest CD score v South by only a couple of goals.)



** With help from Robert Laidlaw's "Central District Football Club 40 Year Almanac"

[Interceptor]

Was that the year of the infamous all-in brawl at the Parade between the Legs and Centals?

Apart from that game (if it was that season) I can the remember the unfortunate finals series Norwood had.
Yes the Qualifying Final was a win, but Macca did his knee and a Centrals player head-butted Craig Kelly's elbow, putting him out for the rest of the season.

Losing these two made the 2nd Semi a tough task and it turned out to be one of Norwood's worst performances of all time.
We then ran into the Bays on roll in the Prelim and it was game over for the season.

The Bays then went on to lose yet another GF to Port.

[JK]

As much as it pains to say, Port were clearly the dominant team that year in my view ... They had the measure of Norwood by plenty - as evidenced by the 2nd semi that year when they won IIRC 10.17 to 2.5 in perfect conditions for footy.

Twas the year they finally got the mix right in their back 6, and had a couple of handy youngsters by the names of Obst, Hynes, Hodges, Brown and co.

It all started for them in an early round (maybe 4) against Norwood at the Parade after the tragic death of Anthony Williams in the week leading up ... Norwood were coasting and leading by around 5 goals at halftime (bearing in mind we'd had Port's measure for about 4 years), but the Port spirit came through and they gutsed out a fantastic win, and from there, there was no turning back.

I reckon Norwood had the measure of most others, although we always struggled against Glenelg who ultimately knocked us off in yet another prelim.

That Port group was pretty special for it's quality and resolve imho.

[am Bays]

My hazy recollection from 1988 is that we did well to make the GF - the loss of the 85-86 stars the Duthy's Symonds, Kernahans, McGuinness', Henwoods' Murphys' etc was starting to take toll, (not sure we were the 2nd best team that year - the other teams in the 5 had claims IMO) and in the end we did well to finish to within 3 goals of Port in the GF.

[Rik E Boy]

My memory of the year is that any one of six clubs could have won the premiership that year. Port and Glenelg, much to my dismay played off in the Grand Final after the Redlegs had coughed up yet another Prelim Final to the Yabs. Other clubs who did well that year where Centrals (under Kerley?), Sturt under Merv Keane and North defending their 1987 Premiership.

First of three seasons for Kerley at Centrals.

Though the top 6 in 1985 (for one) was tighter - going by final minor round tables - 1988 was still a pretty close race. Although North missed out on the finals by 1.5 games, only only another 3 games split 5th (Sturt) and 1st (Port) by that stage, with the top six spread over 5.7% **

On form going into the finals, then the finals themselves, I remember 1988 as being another year of the 'dogs promising so much and delivering nothing. The wheels started to come off late in the season, including a pretty insipid loss to Woodville, then later an equally colourless "straight sets" exit (again) from the finals, despite finishing the minors stuff all behind top spot.

I remember Derek Kicket and a few others as well bagging seven goals as the Dogs belted the hapless Eagles.

Yeah, the others with 7 goals were "Chopper" Handley, Rudi Mandemaker (no surprise) and Gavin Chaplin in a game of three 10 goal quarters by the team. **

The final score was 35:23 (233) to 4.11 (35) at Elizabeth, still a club record score and margin. I dare say a few other 'dogs fans would have that scoreline etched in memory as well (as well as just missing out on a 200 point win )

South got a few goals closer out here a couple of months later when the 'dogs only managed 35:18 **
(I remember telling Dennis Browne - with 5AA at the time I think - that it beat the previous highest CD score v South by only a couple of goals.)



** With help from Robert Laidlaw's "Central District Football Club 40 Year Almanac"

Top post Straydog. I got my Cat from around your way.

regards,

REB

[Hondo]

Was that the year of the infamous all-in brawl at the Parade between the Legs and Centals?

Yes, my mate and I from high school were at that match and it happened right in front of us. Kerls got the boys to deliberately go down Norwood's end in the warm up.

We also went to the qualifying final when Norwood beat Centrals. I hated Norwood with a passion at the time and desperately wanted the Cinderalla story but not to be. Glenelg knocked the Doggies out the next week in straight sets.

As for my team it was a season of waiting for the switch to get flicked but it never happened.

I also went with my dad to one of the great days of SANFL footy - Sturt's 1 point over Port win in the double header. Followed by Central easily beating North. In fact, dad and I watched them beat us out at Elizabeth in what I think was round 1.

I was also at the Centrals 35 goal win over Torrens. Great memories, great thread REB!

[Rik E Boy]

Was that the year of the infamous all-in brawl at the Parade between the Legs and Centals?

Yes, my mate and I from high school were at that match and it happened right in front of us. Kerls got the boys to deliberately go down Norwood's end in the warm up.

We also went to the qualifying final when Norwood beat Centrals. I hated Norwood with a passion at the time and desperately wanted the Cinderalla story but not to be. Glenelg knocked the Doggies out the next week in straight sets.

I was at both of those games. If you saw a long haired Bogan drunk as a skunk with a big mouth that was probably me LOL. Hmm, might need to narrow down the description a bit..I always used to wear a Red and Blue 'Roughy' to the game. No wonder you hated the Redlegs. Alas, I don't think anyone hates us these days except the odd Port supporter (that would make all of them I guess ha ha).

regards,

REB

[JK]

I was at both of those games aswell ... Fight aside the game at the Parade was a pretty good contest.

I remember as a lad growing up that Norwood had quite a few pissheads following them, I probably looked up to you as a young un Reberta lol

[therisingblues]

I tried to get to that Sturt vs Port game at Footy Park early, but being the first of a double header meant it started around lunch time. Even though I allowed myself 30 minutes leeway the crush of traffic going down West Lakes Boulevard was so bad that the bus we were on was going much slower than the people walking on the footpath. Eventually the bus opened the doors and about half the people got out and walked the last kilometer or so. The game had already started before we could get in, and I reckon it is one of the magical things about footy, being outside a packed ground when the teams run out or they kick a goal (as the song goes) and hearing the mighty roar. You get that quickening of the heart and your legs carry you along a bit faster. By the time we got inside Sturt were up by two goals to nil and apart from thinking it was great that we were in front, I also felt a surge of pride that the huge roar that I'd heard outside the ground was made by the Sturt crowd. It was just like a final.

[am Bays]

I reckon it is one of the magical things about footy, being outside a packed ground when the teams run out or they kick a goal (as the song goes) and hearing the mighty roar. You get that quickening of the heart and your legs carry you along a bit faster.

Not wanting to change topics as this is a great thread, the roar of the crowd at the Bay this year v Sturt was one of the magical things of the day. With young kids in the 2nd quarter I took them out into Glenelg School to play on the kids equipment to keep them amused. Every 5 mins I heard this huge roar, "You beauty" thinks I, "Another goal to the Bays" (or in due defference to REB's thread the yabs ) A roar which I had grown accustomed too over the last few yeas as Glenelg kicking a goal. However I walk back in to the ground during time on and much to my chagrin it had been Sturt kicking those goals.

The size of the crowd meant what was noramlly the roar you heard for the home team was now the roar for the visitors.

A magic day that really took those who were there back to the days when the SANFL ruled this town as it did in 1988...

[GWW]

88, great season apart from a certain Sturt game

That final against Norwood and the grand final made up for it though

[Macca19]

88 was the first year I started going every week as a 6 year old and still remember quite a lot of the season. We did get the mix right between older heads and youngsters developing into consistent players.

That sturt v port double header would be one of my earliest football memories.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I'll be honest. I've been scratching my head trying to come up with something I liked about the 1988 SANFL season, and I've drawn a zilch.

[JK]

I'll be honest. I've been scratching my head trying to come up with something I liked about the 1988 SANFL season, and I've drawn a zilch.

Brenton Maynards grab in that infamous Centrals match at the Parade?

[McAlmanac]

I'll be honest. I've been scratching my head trying to come up with something I liked about the 1988 SANFL season, and I've drawn a zilch.

Woodville's only senior cup.

[spell_check]

I'll be honest. I've been scratching my head trying to come up with something I liked about the 1988 SANFL season, and I've drawn a zilch.

Norwood did win the 19s flag:

Norwood 0.1 3.9 7.14 19.17 (131)
Glenelg 6.4 10.6 10.7 10.9 (69)

and the 17s flag:

Norwood 5.3 11.6 12.10 13.11 (89)
Port 0.0 1.0 3.1 6.1 (37)

[JK]

Strewth Fair turnaround in that 19's game