Jack Oatey Medallists

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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby mal » Wed Apr 29, 2020 1:54 am

MICK CLINGLY
Mick Clingly was an exceptional all rounder for the Woodville district cricket team
I tried out at the club, only one thing stopped me from making it as an A grade district cricketer , ability
Mick was still playing in the 70s, making him in his mid 40s at the time
I never met the great man, but did watch him from a distance
He was a right hand batsman and left hand spin bowler
I do recall that he was a real personality at the club , Mick played in Woodvilles first premiership team

Mick Clingly also has a claim to fame
David Hookes debuted for West Torrens against Woodvile
D Hookes Bowled M Clingly for 0
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby robranisgod » Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:38 pm

I know this is a footy blog but I would like to add to the great Mal's post on cricket.

According to Hookes himself, he came out to bat as a 14 or 15 year old in his first district game. He took guard and asked for the sight screen to be moved as he was, of course, left handed. Mick Clingly said something along the lines of "Stop fussing about and let's get on with the game. What would your old man think of you wanting the sight screen changed". Mick then went wide of the crease, bowled a round arm delivery that Hookes lost completely in the background and was bowled.

Mal mentioned that Mick that a left arm spinner batted right handed. I have a strange mind but I have always pondered as to why did so many left arm orthodox spinners bat right handed. I immediately think of Derek Underwood, Bishen Bedi, Phil Edmonds, John Inverarity, Ray Bright and Murray Bennett. More recently Ashley Giles and Stephen O'Keefe too both bowl left handed and bat right handed. I have never understood why. Norman Gifford is about the only left arm orthodox spinner of any note that I can think of who batted left handed. Even before the Second World War, the great Hedley Verity, the man who dismissed Bradman the most times in test cricket, bowled left arm orthodox yet batted right handed.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby robranisgod » Wed Apr 29, 2020 10:28 pm

Now back to Peter Argent's phantom Jack Oatey Medal winners.

For 1954 he suggests Lloyd Zucker. Lloyd led the Port rucks for all 6 premierships from 1954 through to 1959 inclusive. He had been Port's leading goal scorer in his first year after playing for Exeter in their 1948 A1 Amateur League Premiership side. He was always handy around goals and this was no more evident than in the 1954 Grand Final where he not only controlled the rucks but also scored 4 goals whilst resting. Port came from 33 points down at quarter time and 25 points down at half time to win the Grand Final by 3 points. This game was marred by a number of huge melees including some involving the crowd as the West Adelaide players made their way to the change rooms at half time. This game gave rise to the players race being introduced. After his best on the ground effort in the 1954 Grand Final, Zucker was chosen to represent the state in 1955 and 1956. He was named on the Interchange bench in the 1870-2000 Port Adelaide Greatest Team.

In 1955 Port Adelaide thrashed Norwood by 63 points in the Grand Final and Peter has suggested Port Captain Coach, Fos WIlliams as best man on the ground. We all know of Fos' achievements as a coach, both with Port and also the state team, but Fos was a champion rover in his own right. When those great journalists, Mike Coward and Geoff Kingston compiled their greatest 40 players of the first century of South Australian football, they ranked Fos at number 36. He played in seven premierships, one with West Adelaide and six with Port Adelaide as well as coaching Port to 9 premierships, 3 as non playing coach. He played a staggering 34 state games. And all this after not starting his league career until he was 24 years of age due to his Second World War Service with the Royal Australian Navy. Prior to the war he had only played footy at Quorn.
It is also little know today, but whilst Fos was working at the GPO and coaching for Port he also attended Adelaide University part time where he attained a Bachelor of Economics, Of course he was raising a family at that time as well. Where did he find the time?

Peter Argent has chosen Ted Whelan as best on the ground in both 1956 and 1957. Ted Whelan like Lloyd Zucker and Fos Williams was named in Port's Greatest Team 1870-2000. He played as a ruckman and a defender and was named in the back pocket in that team. He played in all Port's 7 premierships in the 1950s as well as playing 20 interstate games and also captaining South Australia once. The Port first ruck combination of Zucker, Whelan and Fos Williams ranked alongside the Port first ruck of the 1930s of Kellaway, Reval, Quinn as Port's greatest ever first rucks. Given the amount of games played in the SANFL by players in the 1970s, 80s and into the 90s it is astonishing to think that Ted Whelan was the first ever Port player to play 200 games for the club. He finished with 248 games. Port won the 1956 Grand Final against West by 16 point after trailing by 3 points at half time and in 1957 they trailed Norwood at every change before triumphing by 11 points.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby robranisgod » Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:15 pm

And so to Peter's next couple of "winners".

It is hard to talk about Neville "Chicken" Hayes and Geof Motley individually without referring to the other. They were students together at that wonderful maker of men, Woodville High School (I am sure that you would agree with that statement, Mal), before coming through Port's junior ranks and playing in a Grand Final in their debut year, 1953. Unfortunately for the pair they suffered a loss, something that became a very rare experience for them in Grand Finals. They were named as the two half bank flankers in Port's greatest team 1870-2000.

"Chicken" Hayes was a dasher, but with what I would politely describe as having a bit of mongrel in him. Jeff Pash described him as a “player of all-round gifts who backs his judgement (to a hair-raising extent in this particular case) and plays his man at a distance." He did like a bit of a skirmish though, as legend has it that in his 217 games, 15 of his opponents were reported for striking him but "Chicken" was never reported. He represented the state with distinction on 21 occasions and he played in eight Port premierships. He missed an opportunity for a ninth flag when after being 20th man in the 1965 Second Semi Final he wasn't chosen for the Grand Final. He retired having also won two Port Best and Fairest awards. During his career, "Chicken" worked for a Sports Store and was probably the first player in the SANFL to wear low cut boots. People used to comment that he wore "soccer" boots. After footy, he went back to Teachers College and at 38 years of age he became a master at Prince Alfred College.

The 1958 Grand Final is famous for West Adelaide, who had won all three previous encounters against Port in the minor round, missing two opportunities to win the game in the last 90 seconds. Firstly "Melbourne" Jack Richardson, hit the post and then Ken McGregor, who was a magnificent kick, marked 45 yards out but on an angle. Rather than shoot for goal, he passed off to captain Colin Brown, who was injured and failed to make the distance from about 40 yards out and Port survived by two points. The game was Fos Williams last game, and Port had to do it the hard way, having come via the first semi final and preliminary final whereas West, who led by 10 points at three quarter time, had come straight from the Second Semi Final and should have been the fresher.

Port, too had to do it the hard way in 1959. West beat them in the first game of the season and then Port won every other game in the Minor Round, But in the Second Semi Final West beat Port comfortably by 25 points. Geof Motley in his first year as Captain-Coach led by example and Port led by 6 goals at half time. West came back but Port were never headed and went on to win by 10 points to win their sixth flag in a row.

Geof Motley was different to his friend Chicken Hayes in that he would never have been involved in anything untoward on the field. I once again quote Jeff Pash who described Motley thus : "He is fearless and resolute, but the resolution is jolly and good-humoured - no kicking in ruck. The shape of his flying play for the ball and of his recovery is brave and pleasing; he flies with abandon and bounces up smiling from some impossible rolls and spills.
Others certainly have more elegant techniques, and they, too, are admired in their place; but Motley is unique."
And John Devaney on Australianfootball.com writes about Motley : "Part of this uniqueness was a near universal popularity; it was difficult for even the most one-eyed of opposition supporters to dislike Motley, and when he won his aforementioned Magarey Medal in 1964, it was greeted with widespread and unadulterated acclaim."
That is my lasting memory of Motley. At the time I couldn't believe it when my father and his friends, men who all would have barracked for the Russians against Port Adelaide were overjoyed with Motley having won the Medal. He was that type of player.
As well as winning the Magarey Medal, Motley won four Port Best and Fairests, captained them to 4 flags, represented the state on 28 occasions and was high in South Australia's best players in that famous game on the MCG when SA beat Victoria by 7 points in 1963.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby Magellan » Fri May 01, 2020 10:59 am

Great write-ups, RiG. Please keep 'em coming.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby mal » Fri May 01, 2020 4:16 pm

IVAN HOLLIDAY[1946 Nomination]
Here is a remarkable quote about Ivan Holliday by his team mate of the times Norwood rover Doug Drage
* Ivan could have been another Barrie Robran but for a crippling knee injury*

That is a quite an endorsement and a testament to how much greater Ivan Holliday could have been
Ivan only played 38 games and has left an impression

Ivan Holliday must have been a potential champ,
The question of where and how Ivan Holliday ended up at Norwood I want to ask
Ivan was a Norwood High School student , yet played for North Adelaides junior colts
There were 4 main schools of the times , Adelaide, Unley, Norwood, Woodville , maybe Ivan resided in a North area ?
In any case he did end up at Norwood after the war , when he might or should have been tied to North ?

In the 1946 Norwood Grand Final win over Port
Ivan Hollidays coach was the threads Jack Oatey
Jack Oatey is mentioned as being in Norwoods best players in the GF

Heres the scores of Norwoods 2 wins over Port Adelaide in 1946

2ND SEMI FINAL
NW...4-4...7-11...10-12...14-19 [103]
PA....1-2....6-4......7-14....10-17 [77]

GRAND FINAL
NW...4-5...6-9....9-10....13-14 [92]
PA....0-4 ...2-7....4-10.....9-10 [64]

The reason Ive posted the scorelines, is the similarity of scores in both finals
This especially of Norwood who scored similar goals per quarter in both games
4-7-10-14
4-6-9-13
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby robranisgod » Fri May 01, 2020 8:47 pm

All "winners" during Port's 6 in a row were absolute stars and remain household names 60 odd years on from their Grand Final triumphs, but it is fair to say the next two of Peter's winners are now virtually unknown.

Barry Potts had won the 1957 Tomkins Medal as Best and Fairest in the Senior Colts (Under 19s) competition. He had made quite an impact when introduced into league football and played in winning games in 13 out of his first 14 league games. He then was one of the first of a number of injuries copped by North which cruelled their chances. They did finish minor premiers but lost their last 2 minor round games and two finals to bow out after promising so much. 1959 was the opposite with North winning their first game before losing their next 12 and it was only a late rally that saw them finish seventh and avoid what would have been their first wooden spoon since 1912. There was great upheaval and many players left, including Barry who went back to his local club, Broadview.

North under new coach, Jack McCarthy, the ex-Port Reserves coach surprised most by being up near the top echelon of teams all year, but come late July it was obvious that there was a missing link, a lack of a second rover, so an S.O.S. went out to Barry Potts to resume his league career, which he did in Round 17, the second last game of the minor round. He played in the Second Semi Final, where North with his fellow rover and ex Port player, Billy Thomas, starring beat Minor Premier, Port by 10 points and Norwood then defeated Port thus having a repeat match up of the two teams who had played eight years before. Such was Barry's anonymity that he wasn't mentioned in any newspaper match preview, but what a mistake that was. In a very tight game, North came from 8 points down with about 10 minutes to play to win by 5 points with Barry scoring 7 goals out of North's 14 goals. No other North player scored more than one goal. He was unanimously chosen as best on the ground ahead of North's last line of defence players, captain, Don Gilbourne and first year full back, Bob Hammond, the only two North players in the last 115 years to play in 3 premierships for the club. Barry suffered a badly corked thigh before half time but injections in the leg enabled him to carry on and he scored North's final goal.

Barry continued at North for another 3 seasons and ended up playing 66 games but other than one bag of 5 goals in the first game of 1962 he never scored more than 3 goals in a game again. His 7 goals in the 1960 Grand Final must have been the source of much chagrin to his Uncle "Tiger" Potts who was a wonderful servant of the Norwood Football Club and was in his 25th year as Norwood Head Trainer in 1960. "Tiger" served Norwood in various capacities for 47 years, both as a player and a trainer.

West Adelaide had been a force for most of the 1950s but suffered an inordinate amount of bad luck to just fail to win a flag. In 1960 they had finished fourth which was just a little below what had become their normal standard of recent times and so they parted company with coach, Jack Oatey and they appointed Neil Kerley as playing coach. West were very competitive in the Minor Round in 1961 finishing the minor round one game behind Port, the Minor Premier. Port had beaten West in two of their three Minor Round meetings and given their superiority in Finals were warm favourites to win the Second Semi Final, but West in a very inaccurate game triumphed by 17 points, 11 goals 24 behinds to Port 9 goals 19 behinds. Port were again very inaccurate in the Preliminary Final scoring 11 goals 23 behinds in losing to Norwood 13 goals 13 behinds. Thus for the second year running Port were bundled out in "straight sets" after being Minor Premier in both years and Norwood had come from the First Semi Final to have a crack at the Second Semi Final Winner.

The 1961 Grand Final was the hottest on record at 95 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 degrees Celsius, West were dealt two blows when All Australians, Don Roach and Stan Costello had to withdraw from the side at the last minute and then more disaster struck early in the second quarter when South Australian Centre Half Back Jeff Bray had to leave the ground injured. Norwood were ahead at this stage but this is when Trevor Reu came into his own. He was a fine rangy half back flanker, he represented South Australia in that position, but moved to Centre Half Back he dominated and stopped Norwood's direct route to goal. West scored three late goals in the second quarter and from there were never headed. West led by 3 goals at three quarter time and went on to win by 6 goals. As the final siren rang a huge dust storm enveloped the ground to add to the uncomfortableness of the day. The absurdly hot conditions had meant that the crowd at the game was only 40,409 more than 10,000 less than the previous year's crowd.

Trevor Reu was recruited by West from Angaston where he had played in their 1955 premiership side after winning both the Angaston and Association Reserves Best and Fairest that year. Trevor debuted at West in May, 1959 and played until 1963 when he quit West Adelaide to become a Lutheran pastor. As well as his game in the 1961 where Peter Argent chose him as West's best player he was also West's best player in the traditional Anzac Day clash against Port in 1963 where West triumphed by one point. I remember being at that game as a small boy and puzzling as to how the commentators of the day managed to pronounce Trevor's surname as "Roy" as he featured so prominently. Any poster with a knowledge of German might be able to resolve how to correctly pronounce Trevor Reu and satisfy me at last after 57 years as to the correct pronunciation. Whatever the way his name is pronounced he was a fine, if now much forgotten player.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby mal » Fri May 01, 2020 9:58 pm

1960 GRAND FINAL

NW...4-2...7-5...10-12...13-12[90]
NA ...5-5...8-6...11-10...14-11[95]

2018 GRAND FINAL

NW...3-7...7-11...12-14...15-15[105]
NA ...5-0...9-4.....14-7.....19-10[124]

The last 2 times NA have beaten NW in Grand Finals
NA won the 1960 grand final by 5 points
NA led the 2018 Grand Final by 5 points at 1/4 + 1/2 + 3/4 time in 2018
Thus NA leading by 5 points in 4 consecutive quarters in winning finals against NW
Pot luck ...
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby mal » Fri May 01, 2020 11:40 pm

Whilst on the number 5
Peter Argents nominee was Barry Potts in the 1960 Grand Final
He surely did play a great game having scored 7-1 of the NA 14 -11

In Barry Potts first 5 games of his career , in 1958 NA , he wore 5 different numbered guernsey numbers
11
18
16
6
17
Those 5 numbers were worn in consecutive weeks in the first 5 rounds of the season
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby JK » Sat May 02, 2020 1:02 am

robranisgod wrote:"Chicken" Hayes was a dasher, but with what I would politely describe as having a bit of mongrel in him.


This is an interesting one for me, because I knew "Chicken" long after his playing days and he seemed a nice enough bloke. But my old man, born and bred Norwood High boy who grew up idolising (ie, one-eyed) Norwood put Chicken and Cornes in the same category - Both highly skillful, who'd get an opponent from a position of advantage maybe with a raised elbow, but shit themselves when confronted. Not saying either is right or wrong (wasn't there, wouldnt know), but interested in others thoughts to compare what I grew up with "as gospel" compared to perhaps a balanced view?
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby robranisgod » Sat May 02, 2020 9:48 am

JK wrote:
robranisgod wrote:"Chicken" Hayes was a dasher, but with what I would politely describe as having a bit of mongrel in him.


This is an interesting one for me, because I knew "Chicken" long after his playing days and he seemed a nice enough bloke. But my old man, born and bred Norwood High boy who grew up idolising (ie, one-eyed) Norwood put Chicken and Cornes in the same category - Both highly skillful, who'd get an opponent from a position of advantage maybe with a raised elbow, but shit themselves when confronted. Not saying either is right or wrong (wasn't there, wouldnt know), but interested in others thoughts to compare what I grew up with "as gospel" compared to perhaps a balanced view?


Without trying to be too controversial he always had at least half of the reputation that your father referred to. That is why I mentioned the number of players reported against him. Him not being reported and his opponents being reported so often was even raised with him one day on World Of Sport. It was just laughed off though. Also I don't know about him taking a backward step. It is not my image of him (or anyone else coached by Fos).
I always thought a little similar to your father, too, about Cornes, in that he was never reported either, but I don't think that he was in the same class as "Chicken" as an antagoniser. I never thought Cornes took a backward step either. Cornes would certainly have been done trial by video these days when he knocked Nunan at Footy Park in 1981, even though Cornes maintains to this day that it was an accident.
Having said all that I have about Chicken, a friend of mine stood him a few times and actually liked him as a man and as an opponent, so maybe all of these stories are apocryphal.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby FOURTH ESTATE » Sat May 02, 2020 12:21 pm

I always thought a little similar to your father, too, about Cornes, in that he was never reported either, but I don't think that he was in the same class as "Chicken" as an antagoniser. I never thought Cornes took a backward step either. Cornes would certainly have been done trial by video these days when he knocked Nunan at Footy Park in 1981, even though Cornes maintains to this day that it was an accident.

Probably pay back for dobbing on Greg Bennett at a tribunal hearing in 1975

Glenelg supporters were still giving it to Mick Nunan in the 85 & 86 Grand Finals for what he did to Greg Bennett
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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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby DOC » Sat May 02, 2020 12:59 pm

I remember being at that game as a small boy and puzzling as to how the commentators of the day managed to pronounce Trevor's surname as "Roy" as he featured so prominently. Any poster with a knowledge of German might be able to resolve how to correctly pronounce Trevor Reu and satisfy me at last after 57 years as to the correct pronunciation.


Is correct.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby DOC » Sat May 02, 2020 1:10 pm

I am like a giddy schoolboy waiting for the 1964 installment.

I really enjoy reading both RIG's and MAL's posts and thank both of you for the time that you put in.

The glasses might be rose colored but give me the old style SANFL any day. Blokes went to work and were part of everyday life.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby robranisgod » Sat May 02, 2020 3:37 pm

FOURTH ESTATE wrote:I always thought a little similar to your father, too, about Cornes, in that he was never reported either, but I don't think that he was in the same class as "Chicken" as an antagoniser. I never thought Cornes took a backward step either. Cornes would certainly have been done trial by video these days when he knocked Nunan at Footy Park in 1981, even though Cornes maintains to this day that it was an accident.

Probably pay back for dobbing on Greg Bennett at a tribunal hearing in 1975

Glenelg supporters were still giving it to Mick Nunan in the 85 & 86 Grand Finals for what he did to Greg Bennett


Even last year I heard Cornes say it was an accident, so it wouldn't have been pay back.

I am no Nunan disciple, but if under oath you are asked whether you were hit or not, what response should you give? That was the crux of the Bennett/Nunan scenario.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby robranisgod » Sat May 02, 2020 7:30 pm

Geof Motley coached Port for 3 years and despite being Minor Premier each year they only won the one flag, 1959. Motley's finals coaching record with Port was an unflattering 2 wins and 5 losses. So Port changed from their tradition of Captain-Coach and appointed Fos WIlliams as non playing Coach. Other than Jack McCarthy in 1949 Port had always had a playing Coach, at least since World War II. Since he had retired as Playing Coach of Port, Williams had coached South Adelaide for one year but with little success.

Under Fos Port again were minor premiers, four games clear of second placed West Adelaide. They then won the Second Semi Final in a canter by 61 points and were unbackable for the flag. West, though put up a magnificent fight in the Grand Final, only to lose another close one, this time by 3 points. Peter Argent's best on the ground in that game was the imposing Port Adelaide Centre Half Forward and Ruckman, Ian Hannaford. Hannaford was recruited from Riverton as an 18 year old having already played in two premierships for his home town whilst also being a border at Prince Alfred College, where he won the Gosse Medal as Best and Fairest in the College competition. He played in Port's 1958 premiership as an 18 year old but missed the 1959 premiership after tangling with Neil Kerley in the Second Semi Final. Hannaford who was a very good mark and an athletic big man also played in Port's 1963 premiership before retiring at the end of 1964 at the tender age of 24.

Hannaford was a qualified architect and found that he didn't have time for footy, having already played 123 league games, been a player in three premierships and had already played in 17 interstate games including playing the difficult Centre Half Forward position in the famous 1963 MCG victory over Victoria. Given his record one can only wonder as to how he may have been recognised had he not retired so young.

Port Adelaide weren't nearly as dominant in 1963, finishing second at the end of the Minor Round but only one game ahead of fourth placed West Adelaide. In fact, Port had to win their last Minor Round game against ladder leader, West Torrens, who had been the dominant team for much of the minor round. Torrens, like North in 1958 were struck down late in the season with a number of serious injuries and lost their last two minor round games and both of their finals. Port had beaten Torrens in the Second Semi Final and then Torrens unluckily lost to North in the Preliminary Final. In the last minute with Torrens two points down, Geoff Kingston had a set shot from about 45 yards out to win the game, but he kicked poorly and Hank Lindner marked between the goal and behind posts. Lindner muffed his kick which was marked by Bob Shearman, 35 yards out, but the umpire deemed that Lindner hadn't kicked over his mark and made him take his kick again. The siren sounded as Lindner's retaken kick reached the pack.

Port Adelaide dominated much of the Grand Final. They jumped a very inexperienced North Adelaide to lead by 31 points at quarter time. North's Captain Coach, Don Lindner, played a magnificent Second Quarter which got North back into the game. In the third quarter North dominated for the first 20 minutes drawing level despite missing many opportunities to goal. But then Trevor Obst, who had roved well all day exploded, scoring a goal himself and setting up another one to give Port a two goal lead. Port then coasted home to a 33 point win with all media recognising Obst as best man on the ground. Many posters may be surprised to realise that Obst was a Rover in that game, he certainly is remembered more as a dashing barrel chested back pocket who cleared with magnificent drop kicks. Ironically he won the 1967 Magarey Medal tying with Don Lindner, clearly the opposition best player in the 1963 Grand Final.

In the end the 1963 Grand Final was a blow out, but many old timers, including a number of players of that era consider that 1963 was when the SANFL reached its peak. It was the last year of the 8 team competition and most weeks there were four good games. And of course South Australia, under the coaching of Fos Williams, defeated Victoria on the MCG, the ultimate in SA footy in those days.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby DOC » Sun May 03, 2020 11:42 am

The Motleys owned a deli in the street that runs into the Alberton train station. My Nana lived around the corner and I recall going there several times with Mums youngest brother to buy a "tank" loaf (seemed liked a novelty to us). My Uncle always liked to go because you might get to see Geof Motley, as he served in the deli.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby robranisgod » Sun May 03, 2020 1:10 pm

DOC wrote:The Motleys owned a deli in the street that runs into the Alberton train station. My Nana lived around the corner and I recall going there several times with Mums youngest brother to buy a "tank" loaf (seemed liked a novelty to us). My Uncle always liked to go because you might get to see Geof Motley, as he served in the deli.

Fussell Place, Alberton. Great people.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby robranisgod » Sun May 03, 2020 7:56 pm

1964 was such a momentous year, I will give a bit of background first. It is hard to imagine now, but Adelaide was the fastest growing city in Australia at that time and much of the growth was around the satellite city of Elizabeth. It stood to reason that a league team should be introduced out there. In 1959 Central District was introduced into the Seconds Competition and to make it a 10 team comp. Woodville were also brought in, at least unofficially to weaken Port Adelaide. There were no guarantees about them becoming league clubs but it was the aim for Central at least to become a league club. The conundrum was should Central and Woodville become league clubs or should one of the existing clubs relocate to Elizabeth to keep an 8 team competition.

South Adelaide won flags in 1935 and 1938 and were runner up in 1940 but after that time they had experienced a dreadful time. Between 1945 and 1963 the highest position they had finished was sixth even though for much of that time they had a champion Centreman in Jimmy Deane playing for them. Thus by the early 1960s there were moves to either relocate South to Elizabeth or replace them with Central. It got to a vote of the League, 4 teams voted for Central to come in with Woodville to make a 10 team comp, 4 clubs voted for Central to replace South in some form. It got down to the casting vote of the League President who decided on a 10 team competition starting in 1964.

South had been wooden spooners in both 1962 and 1963, and although they had only won 2 games in 1963, their were definite signs of improvement. In the first six matches of 1963 their smallest losing margin was 14 points, but their biggest losing margin was only 19 points. They weren't far away. Later in the year they copped some hidings but they did lose to eventual Grand FInallist, North Adelaide by 3 points. They had one young champion in Peter Darley and other young stars in David Kantilla, Bob Schmidt, Alf Skuse and Lindsay Backman. Additionally their seconds made the Grand Final, so the seeds had been sewn.

In the meantime, West Adelaide, as always seemed to happen after a successful era, were imploding and they sacked their Premiership captain, Neil Kerley, which led to an exodus of players. South snapped up Kerley as coach, and huge piece that it was, that was the final piece in the jigsaw in turning "poor old South" as they had become universally known, into a premiership contender. South won 5 of their first 6 matches and then when they beat reigning Premier, Port, by 14 points in round 7 in front of 27,000 people, the football world started to really take notice. They continued with their excellent form and ended the minor round with a 17-3 win loss record to be second to Minor Premier, Port on percentage.

In the second semi final, Port came from 32 points down at 3/4 time to win by a point. South earned another shot at Port when they beat Sturt easily by 41 points and then onto the Grand Final where Port were red hot favourites because of the finals experience but South had the whole of the state other than Port supporters behind them. South didn't allow Port to score a goal until after half time and despite Port rallying to get within 16 points. South played with a grim determination to keep Port to a single goal in the last quarter whilst kicking 2 goals 5 themselves to win by 27 points. I was there as a 9 year old and I have four great memories of the game and occasion, firstly I can still picture David "Soapy" Kantilla marking seemingly every ball that came near him, I remember Ian Day, in his last league game before becoming the doyen of SANFL television commentators,kicking a goal in the last quarter to sew up the game, the chant of South, South, South echoing around the ground in the last quarter drowning out the Port supporters and old time South supporters crying out Yee-Oh at various times during the game.
I mentioned David Kantilla as marking everything. He was Peter's choice as best man on the ground and everyone who was at that ground would have been in agreement. He dominated in a way similar to Barrie Robran in 1971-1972 and Rick Davies in 1976.
David Kantilla had been recruited from the Tiwi Islands in 1961 and as far as can be ascertained to use the vernacular of the day was the first "full blood" indigenous player to play in the SANFL. By the time of 1964 Grand Final he had already won 2 Best and Fairest Awards at South as well as being their leading goalkicker in 1961. He represented South Australia on four occasions and played 113 league games for South.

He was chosen in the Indigenous Team of the Century, the AFL Northern Territory Team of the Century as vice captain and is a Legend in the AFLNT Hall of Fame. I quote from the AFL Northern Territry website :

"Kantilla stood at six feet five inches and was a fine mark but at just 79 kilos he played with the grace and mobility of a rover. At the end of his final season in 1967, he had played 113 games and was the first Indigenous player to reach the 100 game milestones in South Australia.

At the end of each SANFL season, he would return home to the Northern Territory where he continued to play for St Mary’s, winning four Premierships in the 50’s and 60’s."

Sadly, "Soapy", the nickname bestowed upon him in his early days at South when a newspaper photo was published of him washing his hair in the shower, was killed in a Car accident in 1979 at only 40 years of age.

If I could add a personal comment here. How is it possible that this man is not in the SANFL Hall of Fame?
Last edited by robranisgod on Sun May 03, 2020 9:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Jack Oatey Medallists

Postby mal » Sun May 03, 2020 8:43 pm

Interesting transition for South Adelaide coaches leading to the 1964 Premiership under Neil Kerley
1960 ....3-15 Fos Williams
1961 ....5-14 Bill Sutherland
1962.....3-16 Bill Sutherland
1963.....2-18 Bill Sutherland and Dennis Parham

Neil Kerley took over with a 17-3 minor round in 1964, in an amazing transition
Was there anything Bill Sutherland and to a lesser extent Dennis Parham contributed to the 64 success ?

In 1961 + 1962 David Soapy Kantilla won South Adelaides best and fairest awards under Bill Sutherland
So does Bill Sutherlands coaching of David Kantilla deserve a mention, as he might be a contributing reason why Kantilla became the great footballer he was ?
Did Bill Sutherland also nuture some players that matured and played well under Neil Kerley ?
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