Glenelg: 1973 or 1985?

I've often wondered which team is considered the better one?

GLENELG 1973
Coach: Neil Kerley
F: Graham Cornes, Fred Phillis, Rex Voigt
HF: Neville Caldwell, Peter Carey, Greg Wickens
C: Peter Millard, Kerry Hamilton, John MacFarlane
HB: Steve Hywood, Wayne Phillis, Brian Colbey
B: Jim Rawson, Peter Anderson, Bob Tregenza
Ruck: Bob Tardif, Peter Marker (c), Greg Bennett
Res: John Sandland, Craig Marriott

GLENELG 1985
Coach: Graham Cornes
F: Peter Carey (c), Adam Garton, Tony McGuinness
HF: Stephen Copping, Stephen Kernahan, David Marshall
C: David Kernahan, Alan Stringer, Tony Symonds
HB: Wayne Stringer, John Seebohm, Tony Hall
B: Ross Gibbs, Chris Duthy, Michael Murphy
Ruck: Wayne Henwood, Peter Maynard, Chris McDermott
Res: Robin Kidney, Scott Salisbury

I'm not a Glenelg support but went to all 3 grand finals from 85 to 87. The Bays had a fantastic side in the mid 80's, and those names listed are above contain many stars. I'm not sure how close to how the actual side that lined up though, would Tony Hall actually have played across half back? In saying that though, I seem to have a vague memory that he did start his career in defence. He ultimately played some very good footy on the wing from memory.

From my count, 13 of the above played AFL/VFL.

I can't comment too much on the '73 side but it was obviously a very godo side too. For those that can remember, how close was the North Adelaide side that they played, to the NA sides of the previous 2 years.

Maybe that could solve this one.
Can the North sides be printed here to compare the opposition they beat.

NORTH ADELAIDE 1973
Coach: Michael Patterson
F: John Spry, Dennis Sachse, David Marsh
HF: Rodney Robran, Neil Sachse, Barry Hearl
C: John Phillips, Barrie Robran, Barry Stringer
HB: Alan Howard, Bronte Mumford, David Burns
B: John Robinson, Bob Hammond (c), John Plummer
Ruck: Gary Sporn, Charlie Payne, Terry Von Bertouch
Res: Adrian Rebbeck, Terry Collins

NORTH ADELAIDE 1985
Coach: Michael Nunan
F: John Brearley, Michael Parsons, Darel Hart
HF: David Robertson, Peter Bennett, David Sanders
C: Brenton Phillips, Andrew Jarman, Matthew Campbell
HB: Michael Armfield, David Wildy, John Riley
B: Stephen Riley, Paul Arnold, Stephen Hay
Ruck: Michael Redden, David Tiller (c), Tony Antrobus
Res: Paul Zoontjens, Trevor Hill

Hard call but I'm going for the 1973 Bays side, as any team that beat a side with Robran in it (pre injury) has to be pretty good. Adn I may be a bit off but I think there were more Glenelg players in the 1973 side that had impact for longer.

For my two Bobs' worth ( ) those twin towers (Tardiff / Tregenza) were a hard combination to nullify.

However, this was one of the first finals I watched as a kid.
A ripping game too.

FOOTYfollower wrote:would Tony Hall actually have played across half back?

He certainly did. Tony Hall always played taller than he really was. His pace, balance and tremendous overhead ability enabled him to play key roles like CHF whereas others of his build could never have managed it. As a Hawthorn supporter, it was fantastic having a player like Tony at the club, you could play him anywhere. Even after his knee reconstructions, he lost bit of leg speed but his skills were still sound.

1985 for mine!

I'm leaning towards 1973, only because they had a magnificent minor round, and beat a team who had won the previous 2 years' premierships. The only thing is, the 1985 team went back to back in 1986, something the 1973 team couldn't do. Amazing to think that groupl of players could only win 1 flag. Marker, Cornes, Carey, the Phillis boys, some of the all-time greats of the game.

Glenelg 1973; 1 loss
Glenelg 1985; 8 losses
Winner - 1973

I've only seen the '73 game on video, whereas I saw '85 live

From what I've heard about the '73 North Adelaide team they were a fantasic opponent who had won the Champions of Australia title the year before. From the video I could see there was absolutely nothing left in the tank from either team. No wonder it's judged by many to be the best SANFL Grand Final ever

It's a hard one, but in the end I reckon the '73 Team gets the nod...just ... because of the quality of the opposition team they defeated

73 side by a stretch

I saw both Grand Finals And I'd say 1973. North in 1973 were as good the previous two years with one obvious ommission Bohdan Jaworskyj. Oh how different history might be if he'd played on Carey and not Neil Sasche.

yeah the bays would have won by 7 goals not points!

fatty wrote:yeah the bays would have won by 7 goals not points!

Can't agree with that. Jaworskyj enjoyed 3 wonderful seasons with Hawthorn and was a quality defender. Hawks people still talk about Bugsy.

Glenelg 20-11
North 19-16
Very deep into the last qtr in the 1973 Grand Final
The ball is marked By John Sandland
The siren sounds
Glenelg win the 73 Grand Final
John Sandland kicks the goal after the siren sounded for a 21-11 to 19-16 victory
John kicks his 4th goal and Glenelg win by 7 points

Sadly, John Sandland passed away very recently
The first thing that always springs to mind when discussing or thinking of that epic game is John Sandland at siren time

John leaves a legacy of a wonderful footballer in a wonderful era of SANFL football

Scrappy wrote:Glenelg 20-11
North 19-16
Very deep into the last qtr in the 1973 Grand Final
The ball is marked By John Sandland
The siren sounds
Glenelg win the 73 Grand Final
John Sandland kicks the goal after the siren sounded for a 21-11 to 19-16 victory
John kicks his 4th goal and Glenelg win by 7 points

Sadly, John Sandland passed away very recently
The first thing that always springs to mind when discussing or thinking of that epic game is John Sandland at siren time

John leaves a legacy of a wonderful footballer in a wonderful era of SANFL football

Ironically ended his playing career at North Adelaide. I think he was swapped for Adrian Rebbeck.

Scrappy wrote:Glenelg win the 73 Grand Final
John Sandland kicks the goal after the siren sounded for a 21-11 to 19-16 victory
John kicks his 4th goal and Glenelg win by 7 points

It used to be favourite trivia question of mine. It's amazing how many times, when you ask who kicked the final goal in the 1973 GF, people answer with Graham Cornes.

Very good player was Sandland, recruited from University for memory, along with a ruckman named Ian Hockridge.

Scrappy wrote:John Sandland kicks the goal after the siren sounded for a 21-11 to 19-16 victory
John kicks his 4th goal and Glenelg win by 7 points

Sadly, John Sandland passed away very recently
The first thing that always springs to mind when discussing or thinking of that epic game is John Sandland at siren time

As mentioned above John finished at NAFC. I had the fortune to meet John and asked him why he kicked the ball after the siren sounded since a 1 point margin seemed justified. He said he never thought about anything but kicking for goal.

I witnessed all three GFs 73-85-86. No question 73 was the greatest game ever played. Whilst the skill level can not be compared to the modern era the incredible pace of the game was an exhilarating spectacle.

For the NAFC officianados.

North finished the season in 3rd place behind Glenelg and Sturt. We were the only side to defeat Glenelg that year which was accomplished in about Round 7 at Prospect Oval by 27 points. In the return match at the Bay we got whipped - Glenelg won 33.20 (218) to 8.10 (58), with the next game being the GF.

Under the Final Five system we played Sturt in QF and went down in close encounter by 11 points or so. We then went to play Robert Oatey's Norwood (at The Parade) and scraped home by 5 points. Glenelg comfortably accounted for Sturt in 2nd semi by about 25 points.

Against expectations we then clobbered Sturt in the Preliminary by 10 goals plus. Thus set the scene on the great match. Robran played on one leg and was hardly dominant. Full back Hammond was supreme. Tregenza (Ruck) for Glenelg had to cover for injured Tardiff - played the game of his life and was reportedly ill for the following week unable to attend celebrations.

Umpire Ducker was brilliant hardly making a mistake. Rebbeck (North) kicked a goal in the third quarter that was awarded minor score only.

Half time scores:

Glenelg 9-10
North 8-10

Full time scores:

Glenelg 21-11
North 19-16

Bays kicked 12-1 in the second half and very much needed the pin-point accuracy to pull off a magnificent victory.

..

John Sandland
Was an excellent forward , and played along side Freddy Phillis , giving Glenelg a potent attack in the early to mid 70s

1970 Grand Final
Sturt 12-13
Glenelg 9-10
For those who remember that day it started drizzling about 6:00am and it rained all day until about 6:00 pm that evening
John Sandland had a pretty good game in that muddy final, as did Mal Greenslade for Sturt

2 years after the 1973 rip snorting final of finals John Sandland ended up at North Adelaide, in a direct trade with Adrian Rebbeck

In 1975 John suffered a knee injury in a match at Footy Park [against Port I reckon]
That injury was most probably the reason why he didnt recapture his best form 1975 onwards

So Adelaide Oval would have given John some fond memories, whereas Footy Park may not have

Welcome to TFSA, The Gm.

Great post to start.

The preparation leading up to THAT 1973 Grand Final was interesting

North Adelaide
North were on top of the world in the early 70s
Premiers in 71-72
Champions of Australia after beating Carlton by a point
Barrie Robran was a star, and perhaps the best footballer in the land
David Marsh won the clubs best first year player award playing about a dozen games in 72, and was considered the next big thing
Dennis Sachse was a big strong full forward
Adrian Rebbeck emerged as a star forward in 72, and did kick 4-6 of Norths 10-13 to Carltons 10-12 in the Champions Of Australia comp
Bob Hammond played his 200th game, and arguably the best full back of the 1960s-70s [he played in the 1960 grand final win as well]
Terry Von Bertouch and Kevin Barr played their 100th games in 72
They had a great deal of experienced players including, Robinson, Lehmann and Phillips who had all played 100+ games
Geoff Paull did retire , and might have been handy playing on Rex Voigt in the 73 final

Coach Mike Swap Fox Patterson had this to say leading up to the 1973 season
"" The players are far more advanced physically and in their competitive attitude than at any other time Ive been in Adelaide. They think, work, and act and react as friends , not just team mates.""


Glenelg
Glenelg had finished 6th the previous 2 seasons
This was said by Ray Curnow the retiring Glenelg Secretary/Manager
""It would be foolish of us to offer excuses for our position; it was generally felt that greater success should have been forthcoming with the talent that was available -however that state of affairs is history.""
Ray ended a 44 year association with the club, a Horse took over from him

Glenelg had stars, the skipper Peter Marker who was commuting from Melbourne to Adelaide to play[cant believe a VFL club didnt snap him up]
Graham Studley Cornes was a freak aerialist, with a leap like a startled gazelle may I add.
Other experienced 100+ games campaigners were Rosewarne, Voigt, Colbey, Moss , Anderson[the former Rooster]Butch Phillis and Freddy Phillis
Add to this squad a young Super Peter Carey in 1973, and this club had a team of stars
They also had a good forward in John Sandland to support Freddy Phillis
One notable retiree after 1972 was Ray Button , remember this bloke taking a few speccys

Apparently in 1972 , there was a poster in the Glenelg Clubrooms saying 'This is the year of the tigers" , it ended up being pulled down


This is just part of an insight leading into 1973, and THAT Grand Final