football characters who were you 'heroes' growing up (sanfl)

[bayman]

as a kid i used to 'idolise' daryl rady, greg croser, studley & from west torrens ian wallace

[Adelaide Hawk]

daryl rady

Rady!! My old sparring partner Top bloke.

My 4 heroes in footy as a kid were Bill Wedding, Ron Kneebone, Ian Brewer, and Peter Hudson.

From opposition clubs, I'd have to say I always enjoyed watching Rick Schoff, Fred Bills, and a number of others. As I grew older, Barrie Robran and Peter Marker were certainly amongst my favourites ... and of course ..... 2 8 ..... Johnny Wynne

[bayman]

ah, 'heroes' that was the word i was looking for so if a mod can change 'love' to 'hero' that'd be appreciated thankyou

[GWW]

Ralph Sewer, Grenville D, Rudi M'ker, John Paynter, Bruce Lindsay from opposition clubs.

From my club Greg Phillips, Abernethy, Russell Johnston, Russell Boyd, Stephen Curtis, George Fiacchi and Daryl Chenoweth.

[smac]

Dean Mobbs, John Platten, Peter Krieg and Peter Bythein were the Centrals players I worshipped most as a kid. I used to enjoy watching Bruce Lindsay as well - then I stood him in one of my very few reserves games. He towelled me up (hardly surprising) and I no longer like him at all.

[GWW]

Then there's Lee Robson, a very unlikely looking League player

[Adelaide Hawk]

Then there's Lee Robson, a very unlikely looking League player

I recall Peter Marker saying once in a commentary that Robson looked like Rasputin. I thought that was very amusing

[Magpiespower]

Tim Evans
Craig Bradley
Michael Aish

[leftlegger]

Carey, Cornes, Hodgeman

.....and Stephen Copping with the telescopic arms.

[rogernumber10]

Well, it's pretty obvious.

But as a secondary point, I remember one of the very first players I ran onto the ground to get his autograph after a match was Greg Parke, and I always remember just how massive he seemed to a little kid.

[Psyber]

When I was very young I was at Port Elliot beach with my older sister and some of her friends, and we met Aldo Rosetto, then Westies CHF. He was a really nice bloke, well-groomed, well-spoken, and well-mannered. Although he was obviously interested in the girls he was really nice to the footy mad [Norwood supporting] kid most of the afternoon. He was like that on the footy field too, but very effective, proving you don't have to be violent or brutal to succeed there either.

I always liked Ian Stasinowsky's individuality. In a Holden/Ford world he used to turn up at Norwood in a Daimler.

Not so much "heroes" as "role models"!

My wife knew Phil Carman when he played for Norwood - she was in the sound & lighting game as a Uni student - and says he was really pleasant off field, not at all aggressive.
She also once tried to hand "28" a kitten at a party, and he freaked out - she hadn't known he was cat phobic.

[Sojourner]

John Schneebichler, Wayne Fairclough and Mark Naley were some of my favourite Panthers, Mark Naley once took our U/10 Primary School side for training and I well remember him kicking the footy over the length of the school oval and being very much in awe!

From the opposition sides, Wilbur Wilson from Central was always my favourite player, there was something special about the way that he used to try his guts out on the field in a losing side week in and week out yet stayed totally loyal to the Dogs for his whole career, I still admire him now for his sheer commitment to Central through the toughest times of the club and when the Dogs won their first Premiership I was very much stoked for Wilbur to see that the dream had finally come to fruition albeit in another generation of players.

[McAlmanac]

Unquestionably Ralph Sewer. A larger than life character.

[McAlmanac]

But as a secondary point, I remember one of the very first players I ran onto the ground to get his autograph after a match was Greg Parke, and I always remember just how massive he seemed to a little kid.

A blast from the past. The thing I don't recall is Melbourne's forward line leaving backmen destitute from 1968 to 1973....

[spell_check]

Although Dillon did have the leading goalkicker at Melbourne to his credit.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Although Dillon did have the leading goalkicker at Melbourne to his credit.

Dillon topped Melbourne's goalkicking twice, in 1969 (48) and 1970 (41). Parke topped Melbourne's goalkicking in 1972 (63 goals). They were both quality forwards. Dillon, the dependable strong mark and reliable kick. Parke was a spectacular player, pulling in screamers and crashing heavily to ground, thus missing a number of games through injury. His kicking for goal was inconsistent, but he was great value for spectators.

When they were both "on song" they were really something. Pity we only had Parke at Norwood for 1 season.

[Mr66]

Russell Ebert.
Melbourne's famous 'World of Sport' program once showed Ebert holding the ball over his head and punching in his inimitable style.
It was very rare to see any SANFL action on Melbourne TV screens before 1980 and this image is still with me.

[spell_check]

Actually, from the last quarter and a bit of the 1976 match between Norwood and Carlton I have, he did take one of those marks.

[GWW]

Daryl Chenoweth was an interesting player at Port in the mid 80's. Looked like a bikie, but had a bit of skill too. Him on one wing, and Tregenza on the other, probably 2 complete opposites.

[blueandwhite]

Peter Darley
Lindsay Backman
Bill Bennett