Legendary sports activities broadcaster Bruce McAvaney nonetheless remembers the day he first witnessed the person he calls the perfect South Australian footballer he is ever seen in motion.
It was April 15, 1967, and a 13-year-old McAvaney was among the many 1000’s at Unley Oval to see a South Australian Nationwide Soccer League (SANFL) sport between the house aspect and premiers, Sturt, towards North Adelaide.
The visiting Roosters debuted a 19-year-old from Whyalla referred to as Barrie Robran within the centre, sporting what would grow to be a well-known quantity 10 guernsey in North’s crimson and white colors over the subsequent 14 seasons.
“I noticed him, I noticed his first [senior] match within the league; he’d come down and performed within the reserves finals the yr earlier than and made an unbelievable impression,” McAvaney says.
McAvaney was a supporter of Norwood from his childhood like his father, whereas his mom was a Port Adelaide Magpies fan — a real soccer fault line in his family.
“I noticed him [Robran] on the Unley Oval … I did not barrack for both aspect, however simply went there,” he says.
“My father will need to have taken me, Sturt had been crew to look at — my reminiscence is that he stood [Bob] Shearman and [Paul] Bagshaw and cleaned them up on the in the future from the centre.”
Shearman was a former Essendon half-back flanker with a robust leap, good fingers and a booming drop punt kick, who had come to South Australia, ended up captaining his new state and was a key a part of the Sturt aspect of the mid-to-late Sixties.
Bagshaw was a supremely expert footballer — generally known as “Mr Magic” — who would find yourself profitable seven flags with Sturt. However neither of them may cease Robran that day — nor may anybody else.
“It was Coleman-esque,” says McAvaney, referring to Essendon nice John Coleman, who kicked 12 targets on debut in 1949.
John Mitchell, from North Adelaide’s Historic Committee, was there within the crowd as properly, and would go on to see nearly each considered one of Robran’s 201 video games for the Roosters.
“He simply turned it on that day — I considered it whereas watching (Harry) Sheezel’s debut sport (for North Melbourne) not too long ago,” Mitchell says.
“Robran had 23 kicks that first day — they did not depend the handballs.”
The story is advised that one of many Sturt gamers went in at half-time and requested “who the f*** is their quantity 10?”.
Sturt had thumped the Roosters by 85 factors within the earlier yr’s prelim — and they’d go on to win 5 flags in a row — however in spherical considered one of 1967, North Adelaide received by 17 factors, and a brand new star was born.
Virtually 66 years to the day from Robran’s senior debut, when the opening bounce occurs tonight on the Adelaide Oval for Adelaide and Carlton, it would sign the beginning of a one-round takeover of footy in South Australia by the AFL.
The Collect Spherical will see South Australia welcome all 18 AFL groups to the state, with matches performed at Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval and Mt Barker within the Adelaide Hills.
And it is an ideal time to replicate on the historical past of SA soccer, and those — like Robran — who stay relative mysteries to loads of followers within the japanese states.
It is not as if the AFL has solely simply arrived within the Pageant State — South Australia grew to become the fifth state represented within the league in 1991 with the debut of the Adelaide Crows, earlier than Port Adelaide joined in 1997.
However for greater than a century prior, a league that finally grew to become generally known as the SANFL was the principle — certainly the one — sport on the town, and South Australian soccer had its personal champions and heroes, a lot of whom had been solely seen within the east in interstate matches.
From Prospect to Thebarton and Woodville, from Alberton to Unley, Norwood to Richmond and Elizabeth and Glenelg to Noarlunga, the suburban grounds echoed to the sounds of native soccer — and in finals, massive crowds would head to Adelaide Oval, with 50,000 to 60,000 followers thronging the well-known venue for the SANFL grand ultimate within the 50s and 60s.
West Torrens defender John Graham, a teammate of one other triple-Magarey medallist in Lindsay Head, is aware of what it is prefer to face Robran.
“I had the unenviable job for (West) Torrens to be advised Monday night time that on Saturday you’ve got obtained Barrie Robran,” Graham says.
“Nicely I would yell again, ‘you may have advised me Thursday night time — that may’ve been good, I would get three or 4 good nights sleep’.
“Seeing a man like that, you understand you have to have your wits about you. There’s by no means a quiet second even when the ball’s down the opposite finish that he can have an affect someplace on the road inside moments. And also you needed to be proper on it.”
When Jezza clapped Robran — North Adelaide, champions of Australia
The Championship of Australia, pitting the premiership winners of South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania, had been first performed on and off between 1888 and 1914.
Port Adelaide received 4 of the 11 editions, with West Adelaide and Norwood profitable twice every, earlier than the competitors ended. When it resumed in 1968, it was simply the SANFL towards the VFL to start out with, with Sturt shedding thrice and North Adelaide as soon as.
In 1972, there have been 4 states concerned, together with Carlton from the VFL, East Perth from the WANFL (later the WAFL) and Metropolis-South from Launceston in Tasmania. North Adelaide beat Metropolis-South to make the ultimate.
“Carlton performed East Perth, who had Mal Brown, who went berserk and fought [the Blues],” Mitchell says.
“They obtained by, they might have been a bit sore and sorry after that sport, however they nonetheless would have thought they might make mincemeat [of North Adelaide].”
A drawn VFL semi-final had thrown the schedule out, which means Carlton needed to play North Adelaide the day after beating East Perth. On a depressing moist and windy day at Adelaide Oval it was degree at quarter-time, then Carlton kicked 4 targets to 2 to steer by 16 factors on the half.
The Roosters all however blew it within the third time period, kicking 3.6 to path, leaving Carlton 5 factors to the nice with a five-goal wind to come back. However two targets to the house aspect, together with the winner from Darryl Webb, noticed them residence.
Robran had a time out within the mud, capped by a second that has gone down in folklore — even when footage of it not exists.
“I can nonetheless image it at my age,” Mitchell says.
“Barrie had three (Carlton) gamers coming at him, and he back-turned so brilliantly that he evaded all three.”
The final of the trio was Blues nice Alex Jesaulenko, who stood and applauded his rival.
“It (North Adelaide beating Carlton) felt incredible, nevertheless it was nearly that particular person acknowledgement of Robran as a lot as the rest,” McAvaney says.
“So North Adelaide received and the truth that it was Jezza (applauding Robran), it was like one god to a different.”
It was a excessive level for each the participant and the membership. The Roosters would lose the 1973 grand ultimate to Glenelg by seven factors — they might not win one other flag for 15 years.
Robran was the winner (or joint winner) of seven straight North Adelaide best-and-fairests and three Magarey medals between 1967 and 1973, however he wrecked his knee enjoying for South Australia towards Victoria in 1974, ending his interval of dominance.
He continued till 1980, enjoying 201 video games for North Adelaide earlier than retiring. He might have signed a kind for Carlton within the VFL, however there was by no means a query of him enjoying for anybody aside from the Roosters.
Halbert’s glad time at Sturt, capped by 1966 flag
The nice Port Adelaide aspect of the Fifties and early Sixties, largely coached by Fos Williams, received eight flags in 13 years (seven beneath Williams), together with a document six-straight between 1954 and 1959. It was succeeded by the Sturt aspect of the mid-to-late Sixties — coached by Jack Oatey — which received 5 in a row between 1966 and 1970.
One of many key gamers for the Double Blues was John Halbert, who performed SANFL soccer from 1955 to 1968, though he missed Sturt’s profitable grand finals in his final two years with harm.
He received the Magarey medal in 1961 at Sturt, the identical yr he was named All Australian. He performed in a string of interstate matches for SA, and was acknowledged as the most effective centremen of his era — though he was moved to centre half-forward later in his profession.
He would go on to educate Glenelg and Sturt within the SANFL within the late Seventies and Eighties, and was an inaugural inductee to the Australian Soccer Corridor of Fame in 1996.
“1966 was an exquisite yr; Sturt received their first premiership in 26 years, I used to be the captain of the crew that yr — it was the spotlight of my soccer profession,” he says.
Halbert and his teammates obtained used to enjoying massive finals in an exciting ambiance at a heaving Adelaide Oval.
“It was very tough for followers to see the footy [because of the numbers]; they needed to attempt to discover a spot within the momentary grandstand … or stand with the gang and hope they may see over individuals,” Halbert says.
Like a lot of his era, Halbert didn’t go to the VFL. One consideration was the very fact you needed to get clearance to go interstate, which often meant sitting out of soccer for a yr.
Halbert says he was provided the teaching place at Perth within the WAFL and a potential enjoying spot for Footscray within the VFL after profitable the Magarey in 1961.
“Ultimately … I wasn’t fascinated with going. I used to be pleased with my job instructing in highschool … I actually had a robust skilled life [in South Australia] and soccer,” he says.
It was a distinct time, whilst curiosity from media grew ever stronger.
“There was no TV once I began in 1955,” Halbert says.
“Even once I received the Magarey medal in 1961, it was a radio broadcast.
“I had a broadcaster from radio 5AD ready exterior my home — he interviewed me once I received, then put me in his automobile to take me to Channel Seven [for TV].”
Along with annual interstate matches, there have been common Australian carnivals, bringing the Australian rules-playing states collectively in a single venue for a collection of matches.
The All-Australian crew was named on the finish of every carnival — and Halbert made it in 1961.
“That is why it is a bit of a joke if you hear about AFL footballers [these days] being three-time All-Australians, they could have had three actually good years collectively,” Halbert says.
“We did not have that chance. Carnivals had been often three or 4 years aside, when you missed out in a single yr you had been lucky when you obtained picked [three or] 4 years later.”
Upset on the ‘G in ’63: SA beat the Vics and encourage a era
In a world exterior of league soccer, there was an insatiable want on the South Australian aspect of the border to win the interstate matches, dominated by the ‘Huge V” of Victoria.
“Interstate soccer, it was at all times South Australia first towards the Vics. Western Australia may maybe say the identical, however there gave the impression to be extra venom within the video games, extra angst and extra pleasure in [SA] enjoying Victoria, beating them,” West Torrens defender Graham says.
This was particularly so on the MCG, which had not been a contented looking floor for South Australia. After they got here to headquarters on June 15, 1963, it had been 37 years because the guests had crushed the Vics on their residence deck.
There have been a minimum of six future AFL Legends taking to the sphere, all for Victoria.
Victoria had an “open choice”, which meant selectors weren’t restricted to 2 gamers per crew. This was not State of Origin, both.
The Huge V had the likes of Fitzroy half-back flanker Kevin Murray and Melbourne’s nice Ron Barassi at half-forward, alongside St Kilda’s Tasmanian star Darrel Baldock.
South Melbourne’s Bob Skilton was rover and skipper, whereas Geelong’s Western Australian ruck legend Graham “Polly” Farmer labored in tandem with John Nicholls of Carlton.
On the South Australian aspect, coached by Williams, there was Shearman as skipper, with Halbert within the centre.
West Torrens star Head was at half-forward, and his membership teammate (and Australian cricketer) Neil Hawke was at full-forward.
The guests had Norwood’s Invoice Marriage ceremony within the ruck, and the ruck rover was Neil “Knuckles” Kerley, often known as the “King” of South Australian soccer — who the next yr would make historical past by taking South Adelaide from backside of the SANFL to the flag as captain-coach.
Main as much as the sport, Richmond and Victorian nice and later AFL Legend Jack Dyer was requested what he’d say to the Victorian crew if he was coach. His replay was succinct — and dismissive of the opposition: “I would give them a pep speak and go to the races!”.
This did not sit properly with Kerley, who got here along with 1962 Brownlow Medallist Alistair Lord on the opening bounce, leaving the Geelong star on the bottom. The guests kicked three targets within the opening 10 minutes to seize an early lead and had been 29 factors in entrance on the half.
The Vics surged again, nevertheless, to path by seven on the ultimate change. The house aspect hit the entrance, and it appeared like all South Australia’s work could be for naught. However then Head bagged two late targets to stun the gang of 59,260 followers.
Because the siren went, South Australia had received by seven factors.
Again in Adelaide, McAvaney was per week away from his tenth birthday. It was a sport, and a end result, that he has by no means forgotten, one he charges as the most important win for South Australian soccer.
“It was definitely ’97 and ’98 with the Crows [AFL grand final wins], and 2004 with Port Adelaide. However I nonetheless really feel in my lifetime, 1963 tops all of them,” he says.
“So that is the impact it had on me.”
The crew returned to a heroes welcome at Adelaide Airport.
“I feel in some ways [it] gave the state a way of positioning in sport in Australia for a minimum of a few a long time. So these which can be sufficiently old to recollect, will always remember it,” McAvaney says.
Lindsay Head, the ‘Clever Dodger’ from West Torrens
John Graham was 17 when he began at West Torrens, and performed with Lindsay Head for 10 years till Head’s retirement in 1970. Graham was West Torrens captain for a season in 1972 earlier than retiring in 1974.
Head was a part of the crew that received the SANFL premiership in 1953, his second yr within the league.
Sadly for he and West Torrens, the membership by no means made it again to a grand ultimate. However the man generally known as the ‘Clever Dodger’ solely obtained higher, profitable three Magarey medals in 1955, 1958 and 1963.
Graham had a entrance row seat for Head’s brilliance.
“He’d be within the centre, in these days there was one umpire, and it would be a circle to the centre bounce and he (Head) would stand within the centre both on the ball or because the centreman,” Graham says.
“He’d have three or 4 gamers round him both pulling his shorts, pulling his jumper or doing no matter. However when the ball was bounced, nobody noticed him. He had the ball. That is how good a participant he was, yeah, he simply disappeared.”
Head was right-footed, however he was one of many first to utilize the checkside (banana) kick, each going for targets and normally play.
“He’d run down the bottom and see individuals on the proper out on an angle like 45 levels, he’d bend the ball to get to that participant. Simply the way in which he used the soccer off his boot,” Graham says.
In 1969, Head grew to become the primary SANFL participant to play 300 video games — when he retired in 1970 he set a brand new document of 327 video games.
West Torrens struggled in later years earlier than merging with Woodville in 1990. Each few months, Graham and different former West Torrens gamers nonetheless meet up, in what’s generally known as the “Gathering of Previous Eagles”.
“There’s solely Alf Roberts now, he is 95 and Lindsay, who’s 87, who’re alive from ’53,” he says.
“However Alf Roberts performed in one other premiership in 1945. And we solely received 4 in 93 years, West Torrens received 4 premierships. The brand new membership, our membership has now received 5 in 32.”
Kangaroos open the chequebook — and SA is rarely the identical
“I at all times thought these groups that I noticed within the 60s and 70s, the very prime South Australian crew would’ve made the finals in Victoria,” McAvaney says.
“I feel Sturt would’ve been in that [VFL] ultimate 4. And I feel the identical about Port Adelaide within the 50s. In order that’s how robust the competitors was.
“You felt just like the Victorians, due to their local weather that they are in all probability a bit of stronger, they’re in all probability a bit of extra bodily, however when it comes to talent and expertise, there was not a lot between them. In order that’s type of the period I grew up in.”
The Seventies modified the dynamic — notably the North Melbourne soccer membership, whose rise to the highest had loads of South Australian enter.
“When North Melbourne obtained the chequebook out within the Seventies and Allen Aylett was the president they usually obtained Ron Barassi [as coach] and Ron Joseph — who simply handed away — was the final supervisor. Bob Ansett was behind them as properly,” McAvaney says.
It did not matter whether or not they had been from Woodville like Malcolm Blight, Port Adelaide like Russell Ebert, or Glenelg like Graham Cornes. The Kangaroos needed them.
“They lured Blight and Ebert and Cornes to Victoria. And that was a large factor for us as a result of Blight was at his peak or about to peak,” McAvaney says.
“Ebert was previous his peak, however nonetheless an excellent participant. And Cornsey was on the again finish because it turned out, however nonetheless performed some nice footy when he got here residence.
“However that was a large factor and it rocked us a bit in South Australia. In order that was the start of the exodus and in some ways, I feel the start of the dilution of the SANFL competitors.”
Within the Eighties, a string of South Australian gamers went to the VFL, together with the star duo of Craig Bradley and Stephen Kernahan to Carlton.
“In the center of the eighties we had Bradley and Kernahan and [Geof] Motley and [Tony] McGuinness and [Mark] Naley all went to Victoria,” McAvaney says.
“And that was even an even bigger wave than the one within the 70s. And actually from that time on, the SANFL grew to become definitely far inferior when it comes to its energy and its degree in contrast with the VFL.
“So, it has been a seismic change in my lifetime. It has been exceptional.”
Collect Spherical in Adelaide sparking speak of SA soccer historical past
McAvaney says he is happy that this week’s historic AFL spherical in Adelaide is sparking speak and acknowledgement of South Australia’s soccer historical past and achievements.
“I feel it definitely will showcase the sport in an unbelievable option to have all of the 18 groups right here and all of the expertise and all of the followers from different golf equipment descending on the state, an unbelievable sense of delight, a factor that I feel will definitely resonate,” he says.
“I am having fun with the truth that persons are pondering, OK, what’s South Australia’s contribution to Australian soccer, Aussie guidelines — and it [that contribution] is huge, with an unbelievable historical past.”
And who does he put within the prime echelon of the state’s contribution?
“So Robran’s the perfect I’ve seen — now Blight, Ebert and Bagshaw I feel are proper there,” he says.
“And Head was extraordinary. Kerley was a distinct kind of participant, not almost as skilful, however had an enormous impact. After which within the trendy time we have had unbelievable gamers like [Gavin] Wanganeen, [Mark] Ricciuto and [Andrew] McLeod. Yeah, properly there is a lengthy checklist.
“He [Robran] may do something, he may play anyplace and do something, that is how I sum him up; he may play full ahead, centre, half ahead, centre wing, he may ruck, he may rove.
“He was courageous. He may take an enormous mark. He was kick. He had all of it. And I feel the truth that he was the one non-VFL participant to be a Legend within the Australian Soccer League Corridor of Fame, mentioned a lot.”
John Graham says he thinks the Collect Spherical is “incredible” for soccer and for South Australia. However he can be watching on TV moderately than moving into particular person.
“I do not go to the soccer now on the Adelaide Oval, as a result of … to get a prepare into the town, stroll throughout the bridges after which climb these stairs (to the stands). I do not try this mate. I am 79. However I like my soccer, I like the way in which the sport is performed [today],” he says.
At North Adelaide, Mitchell admits to being enthusiastic about Collect Spherical.
“It may be large,” he says.
“Even for old-timers like me who do not assist a crew, I will go and watch St Kilda play, as a result of Callum Wilkie performed for North Adelaide and received a premiership (earlier than going to the Saints).”
Some issues by no means change in South Australian soccer, nevertheless, notably when it comes for previous rivalries.
“For us, extra not too long ago, North Adelaide had Connor Rozee for a yr earlier than he went to the Energy,” Mitchell says.
“Now we (North Adelaide followers) would barrack for the Russians towards Port Adelaide, however we would prefer to see him (Rozee) do properly.”
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