1978 The year it was

[mal]

Other notable Norwood High School attendees
Michael Gregg
Neil Craig
Dedja
Roger Woodcock


PS
Rick Davies was recently spotted at the Oakbank races
He was walking around with a pronounced limp, prob due to a knee problem
Was it a knee prob in Jumbos playing days that forced him to stop being a star ruckman, and then become a star full forward ?

[GWW]

Rick Davies is also seen at the Port Lincoln races pretty much every year as well.

[dedja]

How is Jumbo? ... must be at least 240kgs these days.

His efforts in '76 must go down as one of the all time great GF performances just quietly ...

[dedja]

add Brenton Klaebe to the NHS list ...

[mal]

The last word

ST
The ST 20 was announced to the players at a team meeting at Unley Oval at 7-00 Friday night
It will not be published until just b4 the game
ST had a light supper after the meeting

NW
The NW players met at coach Bob Hammonds Vale Park home at 7-30 Friday night
For the 2nd successive week the team meeting was conducted as an open forum
NW had a light supper after the meeting
The NW 20 will not be nominated until team sheets are exchanged just b4 the game
Hammond said
"" We are aware of the challenge and physically and mentally we are prepared to meet it.""

UMPIRES
A panel of 3 Umpires has been nominated for the game
The Umpires are :
Peter Mead
Des Foster
Bob Scholefield

MAL
I was as nervous as anything when NW played GL
NW had not won a flag since 1950, GL were expected to beat NW, the thought of losing was causing me considerable consternation
This GF I was a lot more relaxed
There was no expectation
ST were the red hot favorite to win, I was more or less hoping that the Legs could cause an upset
I nightclubbed the night b4 and teetotalled the night
On the Saturday , I got to this match in my Torana
I was there in time to see NW beat WA in the seconds GF
ST won the toss, and kicked with a strong breeze, worth about 2-4 goals
The Umpire held the ball aloft, bounced it
The 1978 Grand Final had started ....

For the match review, I have left it to a fellow Redleg to describe the events of this 1978 classic encounter

[Adelaide Hawk]

Norwood players kicked special red and blue centenary footballs into the crowd prior to the match. I didn't get one!!

Paul Bagshaw won toss, kicked to Southern end favoured by a slight breeze
1st Quarter
1 min Fieneman snaps at goal for a behind. Norwood leads by 1 point.
5 min Winter handpasses to Barton for the first goal of the match. Sturt 1-1, Norwood 0-1.
9 min Graham a running goal from 40 metres. Sturt 2-1, Norwood 0-2
12 min Burgan runs into open goal and misses from less than 10 metres. Sturt 2-2, Norwood 0-3
14 mins Heinrich's handpass finds Davies who goals from 35 metres. Sturt 3-2, Norwood 0-4
19 mins Sturt peppering the goals for 5 behinds in a row before Bagshaw goals after a handball from Barton. Sturt 4-7, Norwood 0-4
27 mins Graham handballs to Heinrich who goals from 20 metres. Sturt 5-9, Norwood 0-4
31 mins Gallagher marks and kicks a much needed goal for the Redlegs as the siren sounds. Sturt 5-9, Norwood 1-5.

Summary Slow start by Norwood, Sturt dominant in general field play but unable to make the most of their opportunities.

2nd Quarter
2 mins Woodcock kicks a trademark left foot goal across his body on the run. Sturt 5-9, Norwood 2-5
6 mins Woodcock kicks another running goal after a handpass from Wynne. Sturt 5-11, Norwood 3-5
8 mins Nunan passes to Adamson for his 1st goal. Norwood back in the game. Sturt 5-11, Norwood 4-5
12 mins Winter takes a screamer, kicks to Davies who passes to Burgan for a steadying goal. Sturt 6-12, Norwood 4-6
17 mins A fire breaks out in front of the Sturt cheer squad behind the goals at the lakes end.
19 mins Adamson controls a bouncing ball and pops one through from 40 metres. Sturt 6-13, Norwood 5-8
21 mins Barton to Graham who snaps his 2nd goal for the Blues. Sturt 7-13, Norwood 5-8
22 mins Great mark to Winter on the goal line, he goals to give Sturt a 23 point lead. Sturt 8-13, Norwood 5-8
28 mins Both sides add 2 behinds as the half time siren sounds. Sturt 8-15, Norwood 5-10

Summary Norwood fought their way back into the game, controlling the first 10 minutes, but late goals to Sturt saw them comfortable leaders at the big break.

3rd Quarter
4 mins Nunan passes to Taylor who takes a strong mark under pressure and goals from 45 metres out. Sturt 8-15, Norwood 6-10
11 mins Brilliant play by Bagshaw, evades Stasinowsky and kicks to Davies who marks and goals. Sturt 9-17, Norwood 6-10
12 mins Turbill handpasses to Adamson who goals on the run from 20 metres. Sturt 9-17, Norwood 7-10
16 mins Wynne attemps to bump Sims on the run, misses and runs into the Sturt coaching box. Sturt 9-18, Norwood 7-10
20 mins Players becoming more tired, but intensity is building. Kerley spills a mark, sharked by Winter who slams it through. Sturt 10-19, Norwood 7-10
24 mins Woodcock passes to Adler who goals from 45 metres. Sturt 10-20, Norwood 8-10
27 mins Combination of handballs, the ball ends up with Heinrich who goals from 40 metres. Sturt 11-21, Norwood 8-10
28 mins Turbill handballs to Adamson who kicks his 4th goal on the run. Sturt 11-21, Norwood 9-10
31 mins Ruck throw in, taken by Davies who handballs to Barton for a goal. Siren sounds for 3/4 time. Sturt 12-21, Norwood 9-10.

Summary 10 scoring shots to 4, but Sturt only stretched their lead by 6 points, a result of some more poor kicking for goal.

Three Quarter time break
Paul Bagshaw worried about his younger players and warned them about complacency.
Jack Oatey concerned about tired legs of players and shifts Bruce Winter to FF, Bagshaw out to CHF to get him more involved.
Bob Hammond addresses the Norwood players telling then to get their heads up, and if there was anyone who didn't feel they could win the game could walk off and sit on the bench. He told the players they were fitter and could run over the top of Sturt, but they needed early goals.
Roger Woodcock told me it was the most inspirational coach's address he has ever heard.

Final Quarter
1 min Adler knocks the ball on to Gallagher who goals from 20 metres out. Sturt 12-21, Norwood 10-10
2 mins Craig receives a pass from Turbill and belts it through from 35 metres on the run. Sturt 12-21, Norwood 11-11
3 mins Heinrich runs away from goal then doubles back to kick a great solo goal for the Blues. Sturt 13-21, Norwood 11-11
4 mins Adamson kicks his 5th goal with a 50 metre torpedo. Sturt 13-21, Norwood 12-11
9 mins Bagshaw takes a spectacular mark on the outer wing. Sturt 13-21, Norwood 12-13
12 mins Adler paddles the ball to Turbill who runs into the open goal. Norwood back in it. Sturt 13-23, Norwood 13-13
14 mins Norwood full of running, After a ruck contest, Phillis belts the ball back to Turbill who goals on the run. Sturt looking tired. Sturt 13-23, Norwood 14-14
15 mins Jenkins takes a big mark at half back, kicks long to a Woodcock mark, handball over to a running Taylor. He kicks long to a marking constest.
Wynne takes the spoils and snaps a right foot goal. Norwood leads!! Norwood 15-14, Sturt 13-23
19 mins Gallagher kicks long and hits the post. Norwood 15-15, Sturt 13-23
22 mins Winter marks but misses to the left from 30 metres out. Norwood 15-15, Sturt 13-24.
23 mins Downes kicks towards goal, Winter gathers and handballs to Burgan who puts the Blues ahead by 3 points. Sturt 14-24, Norwood 15-15
25 mins Stasinowsky receives and accidental kick in the head after a Bagshaw soccer kick, out flat on his back.
26 mins Turbill heads toward goal, brilliantly tackled by Howard, holding the ball.
27 mins Sims snaps a behind but stretches Sturt's lead to 4 points. Sturt 14-25, Norwood 15-15
29 mins Boundary throw in, Gallagher snaps at goal, intercepted by Casey who kicks the ball back to Gallager who competes with Wynne for the mark.
Umpire Foster pays a mark to Gallagher who goals from the left forward pocket on a tight angle. He then run back to centre heaving his guts up.
Redlegs lead by 2 points. Norwood 16-15, Sturt 14-25
31 mins Downes a running mark on the HF flank, plays on, kicks the ball to a contest. Bagshaw takes the ball and heads towards goal.
His kick is marked by Taylor right on the line between the goal and point post. Norwood still leading by 2 points.
32 mins A bounce down 30 metres from Sturt's goal. Mutton takes the ball and snaps towards goal but Jenkins smothers the kick.
The ball spills loose to Davies who fires on goal, it misses to the left and the Blues trail by 1 point. Norwood 16-15, Sturt 14-26
33 mins Kerley kicks out but Davies marks over the top of Button. He passes across to Burgan who can't mark the ball as the siren sounds to end a classic!!!
Norwood wins the 1978 premiership by 1solitary point, Norwood 16-15, Sturt 14-26.

Ian Stasinowsky leaves the arena thinking Norwood had been beaten by 3 behinds. He is told Norwood won and is driven home by Stephen Kerley.
Very emotional moment for David Armour who found his father had travelled from Geelong to see him play. Armour lost his mother to cancer a few months earlier.
A hushed Norwood room listened as Jack Oatey and Paul Bagshaw paid unstinting praise to Norwood for their victory.
Jack Oatey tells Sturt players behind closed doors that he would coach them for a further three years.

Adelaide Hawk gets home at some ungodly hour trying to believe what he'd seen earlier that day actually happened.

[JK]

So really Fieneman won the game in the first minute?

[Adelaide Hawk]

So really Fieneman won the game in the first minute?

Yes, I recall saying to my mates at the time it could be the match winning point. Funny the things you say, not really believing them at the time

[JK]

LOL .. I would empty my bank account I reckon to go back to that day and game.

[Adelaide Hawk]

NORWOOD 16-15 (111), d. STURT 14-26 (110)
Best Players
N: Taylor Craig Adamson Nicholson Button Gallagher Jenkins
S: Winter Burgan Davies Heinrich Casey Graham
Scorers
N: Adamson 5-1, Gallagher 3-1, Woodcock 2-2, Turbill 2-1, Taylor 1-1, Wynne 1-1, Craig 1-0, Adler 1-0, Rosser 0-3, Fienemann 0-2, Michalanney 0-1, Armour 0-1, rushed 0-1.
S: Heinrich 3-3, Graham 2-6, Winter 2-4, Davies 2-3, Burgan 2-1, Barton 2-0, Bagshaw 1-0, Downes 0-3, Sims 0-1, Klomp 0-1, Leonard 0-1, rushed 0-3.

Attendance - 50,876

Reports: Ted Langridge (Sturt Team Manager) by umpire Peter Mead for striking Chris Fienemann in the third quarter.

[JK]

Reports: Ted Langridge (Sturt Team Manager) by umpire Peter Mead for striking Chris Fienemann in the third quarter.

Sturt thugs

Seriously, after the elbow to Sanders (I think?) and the Coaches Box incident, it's hard to believe this was the only report.

[robranisgod]

Reports: Ted Langridge (Sturt Team Manager) by umpire Peter Mead for striking Chris Fienemann in the third quarter.

Sturt thugs

Seriously, after the elbow to Sanders (I think?) and the Coaches Box incident, it's hard to believe this was the only report.

Yes how times change. I had watched the game probably 6 times over the years and thought nothing of the elbow to Sanders head. Yet when I saw it the other day I thought that the culpirt would have got 6 to 8 weeks now.

[dedja]

Righto, after 42 pages, that year's done ...

Although we could probably eek out a few more pages on the brewery unveiling ... I have left it to others to describe the events of this 1978 classic

[mal]

Missing in Action 1978 Grand Final
This is a list of players that might well have played in the 1978 Grand Final

STURT
DERRINGTON Injured,would prob have made a difference
HARDEMAN injured, a massive blow to ST
OATEY played 1 game, the champ was prob too leg weary
NELSON injured pre season and retired, would he have made a difference ?
GREENSLADE cleared to Edwardstown, was he good enough at his age ?
PETTINGILL retired mid season , another experienced player lost to ST
NUNAN cleared to Norwood
WILD retired just b4 season started, 28 years old, a significant loss perhaps ?
MIELS injured his shoulder a week b4 the season started, star wingman, a loss
WHELAN gone to Edwardstown mid season, if fit was a big loss ?
GILES cleared to WT mid season, more depth lost


NORWOOD
SEEKAMP injured pre season, retired mid season, at the time a major loss for the legs
POULTER leaves the club just b4 the season to coach Athelstone, might have been a loss of sorts
CLARKE at the 3/4 way mark he retires after a knee injury, a loss


11 players for ST that on January 1st 1978 were mostly expected to play a part in Sturts campaign
At least half those players were definately good enough to play in the GF
Hardeman and Nunan were massive losses

3 players missed by NW
Seekamp would have been in the best 20, Clarke prob a show as well

When we also add that by Round 1 NW only had 1 recruit in the line up David Armour
During the season they obtained
PHILLIS
ADAMSON
NUNAN
CLARK
the first 3 were excellent and experienced footballers
WYNNE also made his comeback very late in the season

ST gained Graham Reed during the season , quite a good pick up

What does all this mean ?
It meant ST loss a dearth of good experienced players,
NW gained significantly
Could any of these ins and outs made a difference Grand Final day ?
YES

The 1 massive question was
Would Gary Hardeman have been the difference if he played ?
He would prob had stood Brain Adamson
Given that Adamson kicked 5 goals , surely Hardeman's absence was costly

Ifs and buts
Had ST kicked straight on 30/9/78 then this post pales into insignificance

[dedja]

Let's see how many more pages this generates ...

[JK]

I dont want to sound like a smartass or anything, but after Brucey Winter kicks a point for the Blues, Staz is well over the line on the kick-in lol

[JK]

Let's see how many more pages this generates ...

OK, so I just watched that 15 minutes again for the first time in years .. Still was nervous watching it, and still feels like a fairytale that wasnt real (I was too young to be there).

Also showed how deep each teams players dug because most of them looked well spent, and at the end with Sturt peppering, it didn't matter who won, luck was going to be decisive.

Will there ever be a more dramatic finale? I thought 99' was fairly dramatic (and those older than me will of course point to 73'), but 78' was incredible (and I think people would say that regardless of who they follow)

[dedja]

Can't change it now but what a bullshit decision to give Gallagher the last goal of the match ...

[JK]

Can't change it now but what a bullshit decision to give Gallagher the last goal of the match ...

I gotta say, I havent seen that decision for years and I completely understand where Blues fans are coming from now .. Disgraceful decision!!

Give Gags his dues he duly went back and cooly slotted it, but wow, I always thought it was 50/50 as to whether it was a free, and it was clearly not.

[dedja]

I always thought Danny Jenkins won the game with that smother at the death.

Good to see the great man Stan Wickham as the interchange steward as well.