Season 1970 pt4

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Season 1970 pt4

Postby FOURTH ESTATE » Sat May 09, 2020 6:28 pm

As was the custom of the time the First Semi Final & Second Semi Final were played on separate weekends. Having just fallen into fourth place not much was expected of the Tigers in their First Semi Final clash with North Adelaide. Drizzling rain for the greater part of the game made conditions less than ideal but the match turned out to be an absorbing contest. During the week Glenelg Captain Ken Eustice had been ruled out with bruised ribs and this was seen as a major loss for the Tigers and was considered to have severely weakened their chances in the coming final.

The match began in front 29,022 spectators and the Roosters got off to a good start with full forward Neil Sachse kicking 3 goals for the Red & Whites, Glenelg gained confidence with Peter Marker taking a courageous mark across centre and got themselves back into the game. At quarter time North Adelaide led by 10 pts and continued to hold the initiative in the second term. Glenelg’s persistence put North’s defence to the test but once again inaccuracy was plaguing the Tigers.
Harry Kernahan was outstanding throughout in the air with his ruck work and marking and along with John Sandland were becoming a real problem for the Roosters. North Coach Mike Patterson moved Barrie Robran into the centre where he began to set North moving but was then switched back to Centre Half Forward.
By half time the Roosters lead had been reduced to 7pts. Glenelg found a bit more accuracy in the third term to outscore the opposition 4.2 – 3.4 to only trail by 3pts at the last change. Roosters John Phillips handled the switching between centre and half-forward with confidence that he was able finish in front of goals with a late goal in the third quarter. Glenelg started to gain the ascendancy during third quarter where they gained control across the centre thru the influence of Laurie Rosewarne on his wing. Up to this point North Adelaide held sway across centre with David Burns on his wing & Barry Bamford roving well, were able to exploit a strong performance in front of goal by Neil Sachse who finished the game with 6.3

Glenelg got the match winning break early in the last with a four goal burst. Glenelg’s ruck superiority became more apparent as the game progressed led by Glenelg’s oldest player Harry Kernahan. He was ably supported by Wayne Phillis, Graham Cornes, & Ian Hockridge a combination that North could not match. Fred Phillis finished the game with 5 goals to take his tally to 98 for the season. Glenelg eventually ran out winners by 16pts and moved onto the Preliminary Final in two weeks’ time against the loser of the Second Semi Final between Sturt & Port Adelaide. To make matters worse for the Roosters both Neil Sachse & David Cearns were both reported in the last quarter by umpire Max O’Connell for unduly rough play

Following the Roosters loss to the Tigers it was also the last game for North Adelaide Legend Don Lindner after 305 games and 286 goals in a career that started back in 1954. Don tied for the Magarey Medal in 1967 but lost on countback to Trevor Obst. In 1998 the league awarded retrospective medals to all players who lost on a countback.

Glenelg 2.5 5.11 9.13 14.16 (100)
North 4.3 7.6 10.10 12.12 (84)

Goals – Glenelg: D. Phillis 5, Sandland, W. Phillis 2, Osborn, Button, Cornes , Pattinson, Crabb, 1.0
Goals – North : Sachse 6, Anderson, Phillips 2, Francou, Lindner 1

Best – Glenelg: Voight, Kernahan, Marker, Sandland, Colbey, Hunt, W. Phillis, Rosewarne & Hockridge .
Best – North: Sachse, Phillips, Paull, Jaworskyj, Webb & Hammond.

Sturt were not without their own problems heading into the Second Semi Final. While managing win 17 games consecutive in the minor before losing the last three and the Minor Premiership, the form of the Double Blues had been patchy at best. While showing brilliance at times when it mattered the Sturt machine of 1965-69 was showing signs of age.

To compound matters Sturt rover Michael Nunan was ruled out of the match due to injury.
In front of 40,125 the Double Blues for the first time in several weeks got off to a good start by kicking 6.4 to the Magpies 3.2 in the first term. Sturt captain Bob Shearman having one of his best games for year was exerting tremendous influence out of the centre. Port Adelaide made the first tactical move by putting Russell Ebert into the centre and Peter Woite to centre half-forward in the second term. Although Port made little headway in this term to only reduce the quarter time margin to 19pts but the move cut Bob Shearman out of the game.
The moves Port Adelaide made in the second quarter were more telling in the third quarter. Peter Woite took control at Centre Half – Forward and with Bruce Light providing plenty of drive from his wing, the Magpies started to look like winners. Sturt made some positional changes of their own with Tony Burgan going to Centre Half-Forward and Peter Yeo to the Half Forward – Flank. The move immediately lifted Sturt and they re-gained control of the game but the Magpies had edged closer to the Blues to by kicking 5.3 – 4.3 to only trial by 13pts at the last change 11.10 – 9.9. With the Double Blues gaining control Port coach Foster Williams reversed the switch of Peter Woite & Russell Ebert which proved to be premature as both players were in control of their positions. Early in the last quarter Russell Ebert was moved to Full Forward with Port Adelaide looking for an effective spearhead up forward. Port Adelaide put up a tremendous effort and pressure on the Double Blues in the Second Half until a 4 goal burst half way during the last quarter put the game out of the Magpies reach. Sturt were clearly more superior in their ruck department with Dean Ottens in ruck & Paul Bagshaw taking on the role of the injured Mick Nunan went a long way to securing victory for the Double Blues and direct passage into their 6th consecutive Grand Final. The Magpies were left to lament what might have been but now needed to refocus and be ready for a Glenelg side that had the week off and were full of confidence after their First Semi Final win over the Roosters

Sturt 6.4 7.7 11.10 17.12 (114)
Port 3.2 4.6 9.9 11.13 (79)

Goals – Sturt: Greenslade 5, Endersbee, Ottens 3, Burgan 2, Wild, Shearman, Rigney, Miels 1
Goals – Port: Milde, Light, Woite, Sorrell 2, J. Cahill, Ebert, Thiele 1

Best – Sturt: Ottens, Adcock, Bagshaw, Schoff, Rigney, Miels, Short.
Best – Port: D. Cahill, Milde, Obst, Light, Nyland, Ebert.

The 1970 Preliminary Final between Port Adelaide & Glenelg was the meeting of two very different and contrasting clubs.
Port Adelaide the most professional team in the SANFL had been a powerhouse of the league since 1945.
The Magpies had played in 18 Grand Finals for 10 wins and 8 losses. During that time they also amassed at total of 361 wins – 115 losses – 2 Draws from their 478 minor round games from 1945 – 1970 for a winning percentage of 75.52%. They had also played in 50 finals matches before the 1970 season winning 30 of them and held a 4-2 record over the Tigers in finals with their most recent meeting being the 1967 First Semi Final which they won quite easily by 41pts.
The Tigers on the other hand had been revitalised under Neil Kerley. While never having much success and usually finishing in the bottom half of the premiership table. The Bays over the years had produced many fine outstanding footballers but could not put it together for sustained periods as a side. Having finished in the bottom two spots since 1945 on 10 occasions and only 7 finals appearances for 7-8 record was not much to get excited about. More so was their dismal minor round record of 199 wins for a winning percentage of 41.63%. 1945 - 1970

Everything pointed to a Port Adelaide victory and a 5th meeting with the Double Blues in a Grand Final in 6 years. With the majority of the media scribes writing off the Tigers chances not much hope was given to the Tigers causing an upset.

Before a crowd of 38,296, Glenelg with Captain Ken Eustice back at the helm thou starting in the bench proved from the first bounce that they were not in the Preliminary Final to just make up numbers. With an relentless attack on the ball the Tigers charged to an early lead but once again bad kicking in front of goal was proving to be the Tigers undoing and allowed Port Adelaide to gain some composure and only trail the Tigers by 6pts at the first change 3.9 – 3.3. Glenelg’s speed was beginning to worry Port Adelaide just as Sturt’s had the previous week but their inaccuracy was still causing them headaches as they could have put the game out of reach of the Magpies but with a half time score line of 6.15 – 5.5 a lead of 16 pts was never enough against a finals proven Magpie Machine.
Glenelg’s Darrell Moss was in complete control at Centre Half Back and with Peter Marker on top at centre Port coach Fos Williams switched Peter Woite & Russell Ebert and along with swapping his half forward flanks and it gained immediate success. Trevor Sorrell broke loose across the half forward line and Glenelg Coach Neil Kerley moved Ken Smith across in a counter move. Port continued attacking deep into the quarter but Peter Marker & Rex Voigt got them under way again. Port managed to close the gap to 13pts at three quarter time 9.19 – 8.12.
Port Adelaide continued to apply the pressure in the last quarter and slowly reduced the margin, that by the 10 minute mark they hit the lead by 1pt. With the Magpies now in the lead must pundits would have expected the Tigers to crumble as in previous years. The strength of the Glenelg rucks with Harry Kernahan, Graham Cornes and Wayne Phillis was too strong for the Port rucks. Ted Osborn’s & Ray Button’s marking across half forward was putting Port’s defence under heavy pressure. With scores tied in the las quarter Terry Crabb’s goal at the 13 minute mark gave the Tigers a valuable break. Port Adelaide continued to attack and Port full forward Eric Freeman broke lose in the last quarter with a potential match winning burst to end up with 7.2 for the game. While at the other end Glenelg’s Fred Phillis brought up his 100th goal to take him to 103 for the season. The Port Adelaide forwards did not function well and relied too heavily upon Eric Freeman, John Cahill & Trevor Sorrell to score their goals. The Tigers on the other hand were well supported by their forwards and rovers. After being challenged by the Magpies the Tigers were able to steady and run out winners by 18pts to win their way into their second successive Grand Final against the Double Blues.

For Port Adelaide they were in the unaccustomed position of finishing third and losing both finals. They became the third Minor Premier in 8 years to miss the Grand Final with the others being West Torrens in 1963 & North Adelaide in 1967. It was only for the third time since winning the last of their 6 in a row in 1959 that the Magpies would not contest a Grand Final after finishing 6th the previous season.

Missing the Grand Final was not what the Magpies would have expected going into the finals after finishing minor premier especially in their centenary season. The Tigers were now well primed and battle hardened to take on the Double Blues and try and gain some revenge for their dismal performance in the corresponding game the previous season.

Glenelg: 3.9 6.15 9.19 14.20 (104)
Port: 3.3 5.5 8.12 12.14 (86)

Goals – Glenelg: D. Phillis 5, Voigt 3, Pattinson 2, Sandland, Osborn, Marker, Crabb 1
Goals – Port: Freeman 7, J. Cahill, Sorrell 2, Woite 1

Best – Glenelg: Marker, Voigt, W. Phillis, Moss, Colbey, Osborn, Cornes, Crabb.
Best – Port: Light, Freeman, Ebert, McGie, Nyland, Thiele, Errey, Salmon.

Since 1965 only three sides had contested the Grand Final Port Adelaide, Sturt & Glenelg.
Sturt having regained form in the Second Semi were now aiming for their 5th premiership in a row from 6 Grand Finals and were not about to let the Glenelg derail their plans. Glenelg on the other hand were now contesting only their 4th Grand Final since joining the league in 1921 and seeking their first premiership since 1934. Their two previous Grand Finals had seen them been blown out 47pts in 1950 against Norwood and by 65pts the previous year by the Double Blues.

Sturt had entered their 6th consecutive Grand Final and 4th in a row via direct entry from the Second Semi Final, Glenelg on the other hand became the first team to reach the Grand Final from 4th since Norwood in 1961. It was the second consecutive Grand Final meeting between the Master (Jack Oatey) and the Student (Neil Kerley). Both coaches were amongst the best in the country at the time and no doubt would have thrived at the VFL level.

As Grand Final day arrived some doubt still existed over Glenelg Captain Ken Eustice if he would take his place in side even thou he had been selected. Ken had missed the First Semi Final against North Adelaide and only came off the bench last in the last quarter against Magpies the previous week in the Preliminary Final. For Sturt Peter Friedrichs had recovered from his bad knock from the Second Semi Final and Michael Nunan who had also failed a fitness test on the morning of the same game were declared fit for the Grand Final.

Grand Final day turned out to be a miserable day with heavy rain, and it did not take long for Adelaide Oval to become very much a muddy slop heap. In front of 48,575 people who braved the appalling conditions, Sturt were led out onto the ground first by Captain Bob Shearman then Glenelg, led by Ken Eustice. The two captains met for the toss with Ken Eustice winning the toss and electing to kick to the Southern River Torrens end aided by a slight breeze.

Umpire Murray Ducker began proceedings with Sturt ruckman Dean Ottens & Glenelg’s Harry Kernahan squaring off against each other at the centre ball up. For the first few minutes of the game it became apparent that the ball was going to spend most of the day on the ground. Tackling from both sides was very physical but the Tigers tackling seem to put Sturt more off their game as they adapted quicker to the conditions. Glenelg scored the first goal of the game when Glenelg rover Rex Voigt found Fred Phillis standing unattended at the top of the goal score at the four minute mark. Glenelg continued their fierce attack on the ball. Sturt on the other hand were struggling to get the ball past centre but eventually did to score their first goal. Not to be outdone the Tigers kept the pressure on the Double Blues and by the end of the first quarter led by 14 pts 3.6 – 1.4.

Glenelg in the first quarter looked as thou it might spin the clock back 36 years to its first and only premiership with the way they attacked the ball and with a little more accuracy in front of goals which had plagued the Tigers all thru the finals they could have had a match winning lead in the atrocious wet & muddy conditions. The Tigers had a direct path to goal with John Sandland at Centre Half Forward while the Tigers were also receiving plenty of drive from Laurie Rosewarne, Peter Marker & Ray Button across centre and on the ball. The Double Blues were kept in touch by Lloyd Rigney’s tenacity on the ball and Paul Bagshaw’s cool skill.

Sturt began the second quarter with more direct play and lifted their intensity on their attack on the ball. The half back line for the Double Blues began to create some drive with Rick Schoff cutting off Glenelg’s main route for goal John Sandland out of the game. Schoff’ s strength surprising pace and quick kicking out of danger in the conditions prevented John Sandland from having any other influence on the rest of the game. With Sturt gaining control across centre the Glenelg defence was under intense pressure. As was the case in 1969 Grand Final Malcolm Greenslade (9 goals) was becoming a handful at Full Forward and broke free for 3 quick goals to give the Double Blues the lead just after the 11 minute mark of the second term. Glenelg managed to regain the lead just before half time by 2 pts 4.8 - 4.6 but there were some worrying concerns for Glenelg coach Neil Kerley with injuries to Rex Voigt, Peter Marker and Ken Eustice. With Sturt gaining the ascendancy across the centre and with Rick Schoff cutting John Sandland out of the game the situation for the Double Blues was looking better. Jack Oatey made the switch at half time of Tony Burgan to Centre Half Forward. Sturt established their superiority from the first bounce of the third quarter. With the Double Blues starting to win the rucking duels along with Paul Bagshaw’s creative handball from the centre of the ground was decisive. Sturt blanketed the Bays in the third term and only allowed them to score 1.2 while they added 4.4 to take a strangle hold on the game. The Half Back Line of Clive Brooks, Rick Schoff & Terry Short had completely taken over which helped turn the game into the Double Blues favour.

Sturt put its seal on the premiership in the third term when rover Peter Endersbee, Paul Bagshaw and Bob Shearman with his rugged and directing kicks wide to the flank proved unbeatable. The wingers in Brenton Miels & Bruce Raymond also got on top and Bruce’s two one handed picks while running thru the muddy centre were amazing.

A scoreless 15 minutes during the third quarter had taken its toll on the Tigers and they found themselves down by three goals at three quarter time 8.10 – 5.10 and all but out of the game.

Glenelg coach Neil Kerley changed the side around for the last quarter. Captain Ken Eustice who had had a quite game by his standards on the half forward line was moved to centre for the last quarter. The game took on a completely different look as the Tigers burst out of the blocks in the last quarter where John Sandland & Fred Phillis both goaled within the first two minutes to reduce the lead to 6 pts. The reply was quick when Malcolm Greenslade took a great mark and kicked his sixth goal for the game. Glenlg then went into a short kicking game which worked to Sturts advantage

Cometh the Moment, Cometh the Man, and no man bigger in the Sturt team was “Diamond Jim Tilbrook”.
Until this point of the game “Diamond Jim” had been well held by 1969 All Australian half back Brian Colbey and had been of little or no influence on the game. But in a brilliant 5 minute burst broke three to kick 3 goals which included a magnificent 60-yard kick which lifted Sturt in its final surge to the Premiership and the game was all over. The Tigers could not bridge the gap and the Double blues ran out winners by 21pts.

Sturt coach Jack Oatey after the game paid tribute to the Tigers by describing the Grand final as it’s toughest of the five Premierships. There is no doubt that if a Jack Oatey Medal was awarded after the game Paul Bagshaw would have easily won it. His dominance on the day all over the ground was sensational. One could have well dubbed him as the “Man with the Golden Boot” for his artistry in the conditions. Showing unaccustomed vigour, he more than any individual had the widest influence in this spirited and rugged clash

Sturt 1.4 4.6 8.10 12.13 (85)
Glenelg 3.6 4.8 5.10 9.10 (64)

Goals – Sturt: Greenslade 6, Tilbrook 3, Burgan, Shearman, Wild 1
Goals – Glenelg: Phillis 4, Pattinson 2, Button, Sandland, Cornes 1

Best – Sturt: Bagshaw, Rigney, Endersbee, Greenslade, Schoff, Shearman
Best – Glenelg: Colbey, Marker, Cornes, Button, Sandland, D. Phillis
2017, 2019 & 2020 PREMIERS
RICHMOND, RICHMOND, RICHMOND.


Let that be a lesson to you Sturt. You don't beat Glenelg 3 times in a row in Grand Finals and get away with it.
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