SA Footy

Malcolm Blight has selected a Hall of Fame side for this state on page 80 of today's Sunday Mail.

FF R Quinn, K Farmer, D Jarman
HF L Head, S Kernahan, R Hank
C N Buckley, R Ebert, C Bradley
HB G Motley, B Robran, M Bickley
FB G Wanganeen, W Scott, N Kerley

RUCK
P Carey
M Ricciuto
J Platten

INTERCHANGE T McKenzie, D Moriarty, M Long, B Smith, G Cornes

EMERGENCIES J Daly, J Reedman, L Fitzgerald

COACH J Cahill

To me, the side essentially looks ok - the major criticism would be the inclusion of players who played elsewhere before playing in the SANFL. In particular Long and Buckley, both from NT, played perhaps 1 or 2 seasons each before moving to the AFL. Poor selections in this side. To a lesser extent, Fitzgerald (as Emergency) who previously played with Collingwood, but he obviously had a great SANFL career with Sturt winning 3 Magarey Medals.

The other howler is Bickley. Named on a back flank. I'd struggle to pick him in a 3rd such side. His South Adelaide team mate Nigel Smart would be more worthy, as would Ben Hart. I would probably have Ken Eustice in that spot.

The other thing I'd mention is that Blight himself would be in the side, perhaps in the forward line at the expense of Hank or Head. But it is fair enough for him not to select himself.

GWW wrote:The other howler is Bickley. Named on a back flank. I'd struggle to pick him in a 3rd such side. His South Adelaide team mate Nigel Smart would be more worthy, as would Ben Hart. I would probably have Ken Eustice in that spot.

Pretty sure Blight's selection criteria was that they had to be members of the AFL HOF...

Ok fair point, wasn't completely aware of that.

Would restrict his selection options then given that.

GWW wrote:Ok fair point, wasn't completely aware of that.

Would restrict his selection options then given that.

Shouldn't be too long before Ben Hart gets admitted.

Wangas to half-back, Hart to the back-pocket, Bicks to the bench (or as an emergency.)

Sorted!

How could Buckley be in the HOF if he is still involved in the AFL as a coach?

I thought they could only be inducted after their involvement ended?

GWW wrote:How could Buckley be in the HOF if he is still involved in the AFL as a coach?

I thought they could only be inducted after their involvement ended?

Buckley should be next in line to be upgraded to legend status.

test wrote:Buckley should be next in line to be upgraded to legend status.

You don't get a vote for yourself.

Magpiespower wrote:

GWW wrote:The other howler is Bickley. Named on a back flank. I'd struggle to pick him in a 3rd such side. His South Adelaide team mate Nigel Smart would be more worthy, as would Ben Hart. I would probably have Ken Eustice in that spot.

Pretty sure Blight's selection criteria was that they had to be members of the AFL HOF...

Bickley is a suprise inclusion - in both the team and more surprisngly in the HOF!

I'd personally have John Reedman in the starting 18. Also Moriarty on a half back flank ahead of Bickley anyday of the week.

LL, what sort of player was Reedman, and what era did he play in?

GWW wrote:LL, what sort of player was Reedman, and what era did he play in?

Played 1887 -1909

Hotham (1887)
North Adelaide* (1888)
South Adelaide (1889-1898)
North Adelaide (1899-1907) (1909)
West Adelaide (non playing coach 1908. Coached them from bottom to top)

From what I've read on him he seems to be a onballer type (midfield I suppose these days). He also had a great football brain as South won 5 premierships with him as Captain and North won two. This was in a time when captains were more or less the coach of the club. He became West's first coach (non playing) in 1908 and not only took them from bottom to top but also the Australian champions. Hotham also won two premierships with him as Captain in 1885 and 1886 in the Suburban Association before joining the league in 1887.

Different eras are hard to compare, but this guy's record is outstanding. Speaking of different eras I'd be tempted to name Quinn as first rover and Platten as second. Now doubt Platten was an out and out star but Quinn seems to have been something else. The guy got wounded during WW2 and still came back to Captain the state and win a second Magarey. That's extraordinary.

Interestingly if you applied State of Origin rules to this side Buckley, Long and Fitzgerald wouldn't qualify!

Yes having those 3 blokes in there is very strange. I suspect he may have put them in there maybe so he could make up the numbers.

He would have been better off just selecting a side, and not limiting it to players who have been officially recognised in the HOF.

I've heard some people say that the best Port player they ever saw was Quinn, so he was obviously something else if he was rated higher than Ebert.

Thought there were a few strange selections, but Long and Buckley getting in meant it lost credibility. Loved Blighty as a coach, love a lot of his left field comments but these articles are pretty average. He's getting close to joining Rucci in the "last resort reading" category.

SJABC wrote:

test wrote:Buckley should be next in line to be upgraded to legend status.

X2

Robran at Centre Half Back is ludicrous. You don't put a Rolls Royce at the back of the showroom. He never once played there in his career. On the other hand Ebert did play quite a deal at Centre Half Back. The logical swap is Ebert to Centre Half back, Robran to the middle.

The ommision of Jim Deane puzzles me a bit...2 magareys and 4 times runner up speaks for itself I think.Also I think Blight himself would be one of the first picked!

Jack "Dinny" Reedman was a ruckman, captain/coach of South in the 1890s when we managed to win 6 flags and were twice runner up.