1977 SANFL Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 1977 SANFL (South Australia National Football League) Grand Final
saw the Port Adelaide Magpies
defeat the Glenelg Tigers by 8 points. The match was played on Saturday 24 September 1977 at Football Park
in front of a crowd of 56,717 .
1977 marked 100 years of the SANFL.
:
Glenelg Tigers:
For Port Adelaide, Brian Cunningham
had 28 possessions (24 kicks, 4 handballs) and
Russell Ebert
had 27 (11 kicks, 16 handballs). Randall Gerlach and Brian Cunningham
both took 7 marks.
For Glenelg, Kym Hodgeman
had 38 possessions (33 kicks, 5 handballs) and R. Voight had 24 (15 kicks, 9 handballs).
Peter Carey took 11 marks, Graham Cornes
took 10 marks.
7.2, I. Eckerman 3.2, D. Granger
2.1, B. Cunningham
2.0, M. James 1.3, G. Blethyn
1.1, T. Sorrell 1.0, P. Belton 0.1, (Rushed 0.1)
Glenelg: R. Paech 5.0, D. Phillis
3.0, D. Rady 2.1, P. Carey 2.0, K. Hodgeman
1.2, M. Farquhar 1.0, D. Holst 1.0, S. Jackson 1.0, N. Caldwell 0.1, D. Johnston 0.1, P. McInerney 0.1, W. Phillis 0.1, (Rushed 0.2)
and coached by John Cahill. Glenelg was captained by Wayne Phillis and coached by John Nicholls.
This was John Cahill's first premiership as coach of Port Adelaide Magpies, in his 4th season as coach. Cahill went on to coach Port Adelaide to 10 premierships, with the last coming in 1995.
The game was umpired by Peter Mead and Robin Bennet.
Twenty-four-year-old Randall Gerlach retired after the game after playing for 2 years with kidney problems.
and 2 to North Adelaide. The 1977 premiership was the first of 4 premierships in 5 years for Port Adelaide (others were 1979,1980,1981).
, Port Adelaide
wore a replica of the 1977 Port Adelaide Magpies jumper. Playing in the Port Adelaide team were Brett Ebert
, son of Russell Ebert
; and Chad
and Kane Cornes
, sons of Graham Cornes
.
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
saw the Port Adelaide Magpies
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
defeat the Glenelg Tigers by 8 points. The match was played on Saturday 24 September 1977 at Football Park
AAMI Stadium
Football Park is an Australian rules football stadium located in West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia...
in front of a crowd of 56,717 .
1977 marked 100 years of the SANFL.
Quarter by Quarter Scores
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Adelaide Port Adelaide Magpies The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League... |
4.3 | 9.7 | 13.9 | 17.11 | 113 |
| Glenelg | 5.2 | 8.3 | 12.6 | 16.9 | 105 |
Teams and Statistics
Port Adelaide MagpiesPort Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
:
| F: | P. Belton | T. Evans Tim Evans Tim Evans is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Victorian Football League and Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League .... |
D. Cahill |
| HF: | T. Sorrell | D. Granger David Granger (footballer) David Granger is a former leading Australian rules footballer, playing with St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League and Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League.-St Kilda :... |
A. Porplycia |
| C: | B. Light | R. Ebert Russell Ebert Russell Ebert is acknowledged as one of the greatest players in the long history of Australian rules football.Born in Berri, South Australia, Ebert debuted for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League as an 18 year old in 1968 and immediately made an... |
K. Kinnear |
| HB: | L. Warren | P. Woite Peter Woite Peter Woite is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Port Adelaide and Glenelg in the SANFL during the 1970s. He is on the interchange bench in Port Adelaide's official 'Greatest Team' from 1870 to 2000.... |
I. Eckerman |
| B: | A. Hannan | G. Phillips Greg Phillips Greg Phillips is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Port Adelaide FC in the SANFL and had a stint with Collingwood in the VFL during the 1980s. He also played 20 interstate matches for South Australia.... |
R. Gerlach |
| R: | J. Spry | M. James | B. Cunningham Brian Cunningham Brian 'Bucky' Cunningham is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League, playing for the Port Adelaide. Cunningham was later CEO of Port Magpies in the SANFL, and the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL.Making his league debut in 1971, Cunningham... |
| Int: | A. Giles Tony Giles Anthony 'Tony' Giles is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Port Adelaide in the SANFL during the late 1970s and early 1980s.... |
G. Blethyn Geoff Blethyn Geoff Blethyn was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL.A full-forward, Blethyn had a slim frame and was easy to spot on the field because he wore glasses. He kicked 4 goals in their 1968 Grand Final loss to Carlton and had his most prolific game up forward when he... |
|
| Emg: | K. Curtis (did not play) |
Glenelg Tigers:
| F: | R. Paech | S. Copping Stephen Copping Stephen Copping is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL during the 1980s.After finishing as Glenelg Football Club's joint leading goal kicker in 1979 and outright in 1981, Essendon recruited Copping to the VFL and he made his debut in the opening round of the... |
P. McInerney |
| HF: | M. Farquhar | P. Carey | D. Rady |
| C: | N. Caldwell | D. Holst | D. Johnston |
| HB: | J. Lihou | P. Weston Paul Weston (footballer) Paul Weston is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL.Weston started his career at Glenelg and was with them until he got a clearance to Essendon at the age of 26. A key defender, Weston won premierships with Essendon in his final two seasons... |
S. Hywood |
| B: | R. Voigt | D. Phillis Dennis Phillis Dennis Keith "Fred" Phillis is an Australian rules footballer who was a prolific goal scorer, playing his entire senior career with SANFL club Glenelg in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.... |
C. Hercock |
| R: | W. Phillis | G. Cornes Graham Cornes Graham Studley Cornes OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach, as well as a media personality with a weekday drivetime sports program that he hosts on Adelaide 5AA with Stephen Rowe.... |
K. Hodgeman Kym Hodgeman Kym Hodgeman is a former Australian rules footballer best known for his playing career with North Melbourne, VFL and Glenelg, SANFL in the 1970s and 1980s.- SANFL career :... |
| Int: | S. Jackson | P. Johnston | |
| Emg: | J. MacFarlane (did not play) |
For Port Adelaide, Brian Cunningham
Brian Cunningham
Brian 'Bucky' Cunningham is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League, playing for the Port Adelaide. Cunningham was later CEO of Port Magpies in the SANFL, and the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL.Making his league debut in 1971, Cunningham...
had 28 possessions (24 kicks, 4 handballs) and
Russell Ebert
Russell Ebert
Russell Ebert is acknowledged as one of the greatest players in the long history of Australian rules football.Born in Berri, South Australia, Ebert debuted for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League as an 18 year old in 1968 and immediately made an...
had 27 (11 kicks, 16 handballs). Randall Gerlach and Brian Cunningham
Brian Cunningham
Brian 'Bucky' Cunningham is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League, playing for the Port Adelaide. Cunningham was later CEO of Port Magpies in the SANFL, and the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL.Making his league debut in 1971, Cunningham...
both took 7 marks.
For Glenelg, Kym Hodgeman
Kym Hodgeman
Kym Hodgeman is a former Australian rules footballer best known for his playing career with North Melbourne, VFL and Glenelg, SANFL in the 1970s and 1980s.- SANFL career :...
had 38 possessions (33 kicks, 5 handballs) and R. Voight had 24 (15 kicks, 9 handballs).
Peter Carey took 11 marks, Graham Cornes
Graham Cornes
Graham Studley Cornes OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach, as well as a media personality with a weekday drivetime sports program that he hosts on Adelaide 5AA with Stephen Rowe....
took 10 marks.
Goal Kickers
Port: T. EvansTim Evans
Tim Evans is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Victorian Football League and Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League ....
7.2, I. Eckerman 3.2, D. Granger
David Granger (footballer)
David Granger is a former leading Australian rules footballer, playing with St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League and Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League.-St Kilda :...
2.1, B. Cunningham
Brian Cunningham
Brian 'Bucky' Cunningham is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League, playing for the Port Adelaide. Cunningham was later CEO of Port Magpies in the SANFL, and the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL.Making his league debut in 1971, Cunningham...
2.0, M. James 1.3, G. Blethyn
Geoff Blethyn
Geoff Blethyn was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL.A full-forward, Blethyn had a slim frame and was easy to spot on the field because he wore glasses. He kicked 4 goals in their 1968 Grand Final loss to Carlton and had his most prolific game up forward when he...
1.1, T. Sorrell 1.0, P. Belton 0.1, (Rushed 0.1)
Glenelg: R. Paech 5.0, D. Phillis
Dennis Phillis
Dennis Keith "Fred" Phillis is an Australian rules footballer who was a prolific goal scorer, playing his entire senior career with SANFL club Glenelg in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s....
3.0, D. Rady 2.1, P. Carey 2.0, K. Hodgeman
Kym Hodgeman
Kym Hodgeman is a former Australian rules footballer best known for his playing career with North Melbourne, VFL and Glenelg, SANFL in the 1970s and 1980s.- SANFL career :...
1.2, M. Farquhar 1.0, D. Holst 1.0, S. Jackson 1.0, N. Caldwell 0.1, D. Johnston 0.1, P. McInerney 0.1, W. Phillis 0.1, (Rushed 0.2)
Captains, Coaches, and Umpires
Port Adelaide was captained by Russell EbertRussell Ebert
Russell Ebert is acknowledged as one of the greatest players in the long history of Australian rules football.Born in Berri, South Australia, Ebert debuted for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League as an 18 year old in 1968 and immediately made an...
and coached by John Cahill. Glenelg was captained by Wayne Phillis and coached by John Nicholls.
This was John Cahill's first premiership as coach of Port Adelaide Magpies, in his 4th season as coach. Cahill went on to coach Port Adelaide to 10 premierships, with the last coming in 1995.
The game was umpired by Peter Mead and Robin Bennet.
Physicality
The 1977 Grand Final was a physical affair with Port Adelaide wingman Bruce Light reported for striking, Kym Kinnear taken concussed from the ground, and several other players sustaining injuries throughout the match. Twenty players were involved in a brawl at the half-time siren.Twenty-four-year-old Randall Gerlach retired after the game after playing for 2 years with kidney problems.
End of 12-year Premiership Drought for Port Adelaide
The 1977 premiership marked the end of a 12-year period for Port Adelaide without winning a premiership (a long time by their standards). This 12-year period included 6 grand final losses, with 4 to SturtSturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
and 2 to North Adelaide. The 1977 premiership was the first of 4 premierships in 5 years for Port Adelaide (others were 1979,1980,1981).
2007 AFL Heritage Round
In the 2007 AFL Heritage RoundAFL Heritage Round
Heritage Round was a round of matches in the Australian Football League in which all the teams wore guernseys from their past. The first Heritage Round was in 2003 and had been continuing every year until 2008....
, Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
wore a replica of the 1977 Port Adelaide Magpies jumper. Playing in the Port Adelaide team were Brett Ebert
Brett Ebert
Brett Ebert is an Australian rules footballer. He is the son of Port Adelaide legend Russell Ebert and cousin of Port Adelaide's Brad Ebert.-Early career :...
, son of Russell Ebert
Russell Ebert
Russell Ebert is acknowledged as one of the greatest players in the long history of Australian rules football.Born in Berri, South Australia, Ebert debuted for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League as an 18 year old in 1968 and immediately made an...
; and Chad
Chad Cornes
Chad Studley Cornes is a Australian rules footballer, who is contracted to play for Greater Western Sydney in 2012, in the Australian Football League...
and Kane Cornes
Kane Cornes
Kane Graham Cornes in an Australian rules football player who plays for Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League.-Early life:...
, sons of Graham Cornes
Graham Cornes
Graham Studley Cornes OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach, as well as a media personality with a weekday drivetime sports program that he hosts on Adelaide 5AA with Stephen Rowe....
.