This from the Budget made for the 1960 match between North Adelaide and Melbourne (Melbourne was Captained by Ron Barassi) just after the GF win against Norwood (again) and for those unaware Port had won the 6 premierships before this.
Old Days Gone
When football fans reminisce in years to come, the 1960 football season will undoubtedly be referred to equally as "North's premiership", and "the year when Port's run ended."
North players, officials and supporters understandably will be less concerned about Port's run ending than their own success.
But last week's battle-royale grand final between North and Norwood was more than the end of Port's run of success.
It opened a new vista for 1961, in which for a change Port will not open for the season as favourite.
North and Norwood convincingly disposed of Port, and when they finished only five points apart, neither team's supporters could happily claim there was never any doubt.
Next year, North should field practically the same team again. Norwood will possibly be without rover Haydn Bunton. Port coulb be in the process of rebuilding. Glenelg already have a new coach, Torrens, West, Sturt and South could also be in new hands.
The season has been notable for more than just the edge North and Norwood established over Port.
For the first time, there is now the accepted fact that football nowadays is a fierce, hard-tackling game, which may make for untidy-looking football but is quite definately the only way the game can be played today.
The leisurely kick and mark, loose-checking, slow-tackling era is over. Victoria learned that years ago.
The days when footballers delighted watchers with beautifully-executed stab passes because they had time to settle for their kick are gone. Only very good teams against poor ones will have the time to produce that sort of elegant art.
For six years, Port had a line on the quick, hard game. West were only a fraction behind them. Now the field is rapidly bunching up and 1961 could produce an even closer competition still.
Note: In 1961 West ended up beating Norwood in the GF with Kerley and Eustice running amok.
The rest of the ladder went like this: 3rd Port, 4th Torrens, 5th North, 6th South, 7th Glenelg and 8th Sturt.