Random thoughts and observations
West Adelaide had a good win over South Adelaide today at Richmond Oval. My enjoyment of the game was heightened by listening to the colorful commentary of a one-eyed Panthers fan.
The beanie-clad barracker stopped near me just before the game to discuss racing tips with a mate. He spent most of the first half berating the umpires, who to be frank were equally bad to both teams.
History has a way of turning up unexpected treasures and I feel fortunate to have discovered one such gem accidentally today. Fortunate in the sense I now know something about an unsung South Australian sporting hero of the 19th century; sad however at his tragic end. The SANFL this weekend celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture with its inaugural Indigenous Round. It’s a travesty the name of former North Adelaide player Harry Hewitt is missing from that team and I hope an effort is made to rectify it.
West Adelaide Football Club celebrates the centenary of its 1911 premiership tomorrow. According to the club newsletter I received today, in 1911 West Adelaide started the season in exceptional form, winning its first 10 games before losing the last two games of the season to Port Adelaide and Norwood and having to settle for second position behind Port Adelaide after the minor round. Regaining key players for the first semi-final, West secured a runaway victory after keeping Sturt scoreless in the last quarter.
I went to Unley Oval this afternoon to see Sturt and the Umpires defeat West Adelaide. It was the first time I had been to the ground. Sturt plays most of its home matches there; the others at Adelaide Oval. It’s what might be called a “boutique” stadium, with most of the seating and spectator facilities on the western side of the ground. The highest verified attendance was 22,015 for a league game against Port Adelaide in 1968, although an estimated crowd of 24,000 packed in to see Sturt play Norwood in 1924.
I’ve uploaded to YouTube a short video of the West Adelaide Football Club song, part of a highlights package from the club’s 1983 premiership season. That was the most recent premiership for the Bloods, as they are known, although things are shaping up fairly well for a serious tilt this year. Back in 1983 the SANFL was a rival to the VFL in terms of standard and professionalism. Attendances were pretty good too. Here is the video:
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