SA Footy

Posted: **Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:08 pm**

The former Port Adelaide boss passed away today. Someone who was willing to put in everything for his club and will be remembered as a strong player in changing football in this state forever.

RIP Bruce.

Posted: **Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:09 pm**

Crikey, that's a bit of a shock!

One can never doubt that the man helped change footy in this state.

I never like to hear of anyone being sick or passing away, death sucks!

RIP.

Posted: **Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:42 pm**

I knew Bruce well. Sad to hear of his passing. However Bruce will be remembered for a lot of things and not all Football and not all good.

Posted: **Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:17 pm**

Wedgie wrote:One can never doubt that the man helped change footy in this state.

Very diplomatic opinion of him.

Posted: **Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:22 pm**

Barto wrote:
Wedgie wrote:One can never doubt that the man helped change footy in this state.

Very diplomatic opinion of him.

Cheers, I think.

I didn't say he helped changed it for the good of footy in this state, just that he helped change it.
But having said in hindsight I resent the way the WAFL sold out as that in the context of what's happened since had a much bigger influence IMHO.

If the WAFL had held out with the SANFL we would have had North, Sturt, Port, Norwood etc beating the Essendons, Collingwoods, etc but I don't want to get started on that as it didn't happen and won't happen unfortunately. :evil:

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:46 am**

why and how old was he?

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:57 am**

Was 54, died overseas working (heart attack) was a project engineer for Theiss.

My dealings with him go back to his business BAM opposite Torrens Island, then when he was working on the Olympic Dam upgrade. etc etc.

Wonder if he took all the money he owed many SA companies with him.

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:29 am**

RIP Bruce Webber. My condolances to his family and the Port Adelaide Footy Club. Thankyou for changing footy in this state. GO THE CROWS !!!!! GO THE CROWS !!!!!

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:05 am**

Coorong wrote:My dealings with him go back to his business BAM opposite Torrens Island, then when he was working on the Olympic Dam upgrade. etc etc.

My old man knew him from his BAM days as well - he was always up at Moomba.

But it didn't matter if it was Bruce Weber, Max Basheer or Humphrey B. Bear, joining an expanded VFL was inevitable.

Don't think the WAFL had much of a choice as seven of the eight clubs were broke and the league was on it's knees.

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:26 am**

Good to see Rucci's article today holding him up as some "martyr" to the cause of getting SA in the National comp. I know it was eventually going to happen but it should have been on terms that suited the SANFL and it's stakeholders - the clubs, not via the under handed , back stabbing way that Webber and his cohorts went about it.

By the time the SANFL had to react they hastily went in with the AFL holding all the cards. The SANFL got screwed re licence fees, concessions re ex-pat players returning. History has showed it worked but the cost has been great at times - the impact today on the local comp for one.

Sad about his death but I would think the majority of Football people from that era as well as the historians and commentators will see him as the villian. Interesting not to many others took the fall with him from Port in that era as a result of that failed attempt but at least Webber took it on the chin and got on with life with some dignity. I would guess that his so called allies back then would be breathing a sigh of relief at his passing?

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:53 am**

From The Advertiser 14/4/06

Footy 'visionary' dies
By MICHELANGELO RUCCI
14apr06
BRUCE Weber, one of South Australia's most controversial off-field football figures, has died at the age of 54.

The former Port Adelaide club president suffered a heart attack in Jakarta, where he was working as an engineer, early yesterday.

There will be starkly contrasting memories of Weber, who split SA football in 1990 when he tried to have Port leave the SANFL to join the AFL. The fallout was the formation of the Adelaide Crows as SA's first AFL club.

Port's AFL and SANFL clubs yesterday paid glowing tributes of Weber, who was to return to SA in the winter for a construction project in Whyalla. The Power will honour the man who was club president from 1986-1992 during Sunday's AFL clash with Fremantle at AAMI Stadium by having its players wear black armbands.

The Port Magpies will wear black armbands next weekend when they resume play in the SANFL.

At the SANFL, which fought a bitter battle in the Supreme Court to stop Weber's national plan, there was no comment on his death yesterday.

Adelaide chairman Bill Sanders said it was difficult to comment because of the deep wounds Weber had left on SA football in 1990.

Port Adelaide president Greg Boulton yesterday noted he had "always placed his football club and its people above anything else."

Port legend John Cahill remembered him as "a very strong leader who was prepared to take risks".

Weber is survived by wife Keke, daughters, Jodie, Rachel and Stacy, and stepson Juahir.

A funeral will be held in Adelaide next week.

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:19 am**

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:39 am**

drebin wrote:Good to see Rucci's article today holding him up as some "martyr" to the cause of getting SA in the National comp. I know it was eventually going to happen but it should have been on terms that suited the SANFL and it's stakeholders...

The SANFL was never going to hold all the cards. If this is what they beleived would happen, we would still be waiting to get a team in. Bruce forced their hand to get a move on and get things happening. The Crows concessions werent as bad as people make out. In fact they were quiet good.

I think football in this state is the better.

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:40 am**

sad to see BW pass away .... he will be remembed for changing SA footy forever.. whether if he did it the right way or wrong way people will always remember who Bruce was

interesting to read that Leigh W and co havent passed on their condonlances as yet .. get over it leigh

is kerry packer still viewed a villan for how he changed cricket NO

so lets bruce some credit for how he wanted port in the AFL ......

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:42 am**

Macca19 wrote:
I think football in this state is the better.

The State was the better too, when he moved to the Gold Coast!

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:55 am**

Drebin.............LMAO at your last comment

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:27 pm**

Well known in footy circles but don't forget he also invented the kettle barbeque-what a visionary!

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:53 pm**

I'm amazed that Port fans think the SANFL should make some kind of acknowledgement on his passing. He did nothing for the SANFL, what he did he did solely for the PAFC with no regard to the rest of the comp or it's clubs.

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:24 pm**

He did not want to sit back and watch the SANFL contemplate for another 4 years whether it would be a good idea or not. Of course he wanted what was best for Port Adelaide. Thats all that mattered to him. He wanted to ensure his clubs survival.

Im not expecting everyone to give their condolences and talk about what a great man he was. 90% of the state would hate him. What I did expect was the SANFL heads to at least recognise his death, even if it was just a token 'condolences to his family'. To simply ignore it is pathetic.

Posted: **Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:43 pm**

Macca19 wrote:He wanted to ensure his clubs survival.

So Port Adelaide was going to die unless it could join the AFL exclusively.

Yep. Keep 'em coming.

SA Footy

RIP Bruce Weber

RIP Bruce Weber