West Torrens Football Club
Encyclopedia
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
club that competed in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) from 1897 to 1990. In 1991, the club merged with neighbouring Woodville Football Club
Woodville Football Club
Woodville Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1964 to 1990, when it merged with the West Torrens Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles....
to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
Based in the western suburbs of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, the club derived its name from its location around the western reaches of the River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
.
Club history
There are references to a West Torrens team dating back to the 1870s but the modern club was formed in 1897 to compete in the SANFL. In its 93 year history, West Torrens won only four premierships and spent much of its existence at the foot of the premiership table.Despite their relative lack of team success, winning only four SANFL Premierships and one Night Permierhsip in their history (1924, 1933, 1945, 1953 and 1983 (night)), West Torrens boasted some of the best individual players ever to play Australian rules football. Players such as 1946 and 1947 Magarey Medallist, 1953 All-Australian
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
and 1953 premiership captain Bob Hank
Bob Hank
Robert W. "Bob" Hank is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League .Hank actually began his senior playing career with the wartime combination of West Torrens-Port Adelaide in 1944. He stepped smoothly in the West Torrens senior side next year when the...
, triple Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
winner (1955, 1958 & 1963), 1956 All-Australian and '53 premiership player Lindsay Head
Lindsay Head
Lindsay Hudson Head MBE is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League . His consummate skills were acknowledged by being awarded three Magarey Medals during his career.- SANFL :...
and former Australian Test Cricketer Neil Hawke
Neil Hawke
Neil James Napier Hawke was an Australian Test cricketer and leading Australian rules footballer.Born in Cheltenham, South Australia, Hawke quickly developed as a natural all-round sportsman who excelled in cricket, football and golf and made his senior Australian rules football debut for South...
were all star players for the club.
The club reached the finals for the last time in 1980 and by 1982 there were calls for West Torrens to merge with another club. In 1990, with the imminent entry of the South Australian based Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
into the national Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL), it was decided that West Torrens and Woodville would amalgamate. In an apt moment, Woodville and West Torrens were drawn to play each other in their respective final games. The two sides merged after the completion of the 1990 season and have since participated in the SANFL as the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
Awards
- Premierships 4 (1924, 1933, 1945 & 1953)
- West Torrens won an unofficial premiership in 1918 while the SANFL was officially disbanded for the duration of World War I.
- During World War II, West Torrens merged with Port Adelaide Football ClubPort Adelaide Football ClubThe 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...
and won the 1942 premiership.- SANFL Night Premierships: 1 - 1983
- SANFL Reserves Premierships: 17 - 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1941, 1946, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1962, 1968, 1984, 1990
- SANFL Under 19's Premierships: 9 - 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1973, 1989
- SANFL Under 17's Premierships: 3 - 1953, 1954, 1957
* 1983 SANFL Escort Cup Grand Final played at West Torrens home ground Thebarton Oval. The Eagles defeated South Adelaide in the last SANFL Night Grand Final to be played at a suburban ground.
Magarey Medallists
- Dave LowDave LowDave Low was an Australian rules footballer who played with West Torrens in the SAFL.Originally from Broken Hill, Low was a defender and debuted for West Torrens in 1910. He finished second in the 1911 Magarey Medal count and won the Medal the following season, becoming the first specialist...
(1912) - John KarneyJohn KarneyJohn Karney was an Australian rules footballer who played with West Torrens in the SAFL.Karney could play as either a centreman or rover and first appeared for West Torrens in 1919. He was their best and fairest winner in 1920 and 1921. In 1921 he performed well in the Magarey Medal count,...
(1921)* - Max PontifexMax PontifexSamuel "Max" Pontifex was an Australian rules footballer who played with West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League ....
(1932) - Bob HankBob HankRobert W. "Bob" Hank is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League .Hank actually began his senior playing career with the wartime combination of West Torrens-Port Adelaide in 1944. He stepped smoothly in the West Torrens senior side next year when the...
(1946 & 1947) - Lindsay HeadLindsay HeadLindsay Hudson Head MBE is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League . His consummate skills were acknowledged by being awarded three Magarey Medals during his career.- SANFL :...
(1955, 1958 & 1963)
* In 1998 John Karney, along with Charlie Adams
Charlie Adams (footballer)
Charles Adams was an Australian rules footballer who played with Port Adelaide in the SAFL during the 1920s.The 1921 season was the highlight of Adam's career, he played in a premiership side with Port Adelaide, won their best and fairest award and tied for the Magarey Medal. He lost the Magarey in...
(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...
) and Wat Scott
Walter Scott (footballer)
Walter "Wacka" or "Wat" Scott was a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League in the early 20th century...
(Norwood) was retrospectively awarded the 1921 Magarey Medal after he was originally in a four way tie with only South Adelaide's 1919 and 1920 Medal winner Dan Moriarty awarded the 1921 Medal.
SANFL Leading Goalkickers
- Geoff KingstonGeoff KingstonGeoff Kingston is a former Australian rules footballer who played for West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League . He was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2008....
: 78 goals (1961)
Club Colours and Emblems
- Blue and Gold (1897 - 1990)
- West Torrens was known as the Eagles throughout its existence in the SANFL.
Club Grounds
- Jubilee Oval (1897 – 1904)
- Hindmarsh OvalHindmarsh StadiumHindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
(1905 – 1921) - Thebarton OvalThebarton OvalThebarton Oval was formerly the home ground of SANFL club West Torrens who played their last game at the ground in on 2 September 1989 ending a run of 68 seasons at Thebby Oval...
(1922 – 1989) - Football Park (1990)
Famous players
- Bob HankBob HankRobert W. "Bob" Hank is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League .Hank actually began his senior playing career with the wartime combination of West Torrens-Port Adelaide in 1944. He stepped smoothly in the West Torrens senior side next year when the...
: The dual Magarey Medallist captained West Torrens for nine seasons and was Club Best & Fairest a record nine times. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of FameAustralian Football Hall of FameThe Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1999. - Neil HawkeNeil HawkeNeil James Napier Hawke was an Australian Test cricketer and leading Australian rules footballer.Born in Cheltenham, South Australia, Hawke quickly developed as a natural all-round sportsman who excelled in cricket, football and golf and made his senior Australian rules football debut for South...
: The test cricketer was also a star player with West Torrens following his clearance from Port AdelaidePort Adelaide MagpiesThe Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League... - Lindsay HeadLindsay HeadLindsay Hudson Head MBE is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League . His consummate skills were acknowledged by being awarded three Magarey Medals during his career.- SANFL :...
: The three time Magarey Medallist is also club game record holder with 327 games. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996. - Bruce LindsayBruce Lindsay (footballer)Bruce A. Lindsay is a former Australian rules footballer who played for West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League and Adelaide in the Australian Football League ....
: Captained West Torrens for seven seasons. At 29 was a member of the inaugural Adelaide CrowsAdelaide CrowsThe Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
squad for the 1991 AFL season1991 AFL seasonResults and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1991.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...
. - Michael Long: Won West Torrens Best & Fairest in 1988. Won Norm Smith MedalNorm Smith MedalThe Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
as best on ground playing for Essendon in their 1993 AFL Grand Final1993 AFL Grand FinalThe 1993 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 25 September 1993. It was the 97th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League/Australian Football...
win over Carlton. Of Aboriginal descent, Long has become a spokesman for Indigenous Australians and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2007. - Bob ShearmanBob ShearmanBob Shearman was a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League and South Australian National Football League....
: Went on to captain the Sturt Football ClubSturt Football ClubSturt 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 play in several of their premiership sides. Challenge trophy between Sturt and Woodville-West Torrens Eagles is named after him. - Neville Roberts: aka "Rocky" Roberts who wore a protective skull cap after an injury, before transferring to NorwoodNorwood Football ClubNorwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
- Kym DillonKym DillonKym Dillon is the lead sports presenter for Nine News Adelaide. He is also part of the successful breakfast radio trio Kym, Ali and Dzelde, currently on Triple M. He played football for former SANFL club West Torrens.-References:...
: Also a breakfast radio announcer and Sports reporter/announcer for Channel 9Nine NetworkThe Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
Adelaide. - Steven StretchSteven StretchSteven Stretch is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne and Fitzroy in the VFL/AFL and West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League ....
: One of the many top level players who went to the VFL prior to the AFLAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
to play for MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater... - Matthew Rendell: A 200cm / 102kg ruckmanRuckman (Australian rules football position)In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
who played 79 games for West Torrens before playing 164 games for the Fitzroy Lions in the VFL and winning two best and fairests in 1982/83. He played a further 13 games for Brisbane LionsBrisbane LionsThe Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
after the merger between the Brisbane BearsBrisbane BearsThe Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
and Fitzroy. Matthew's two brothers Tim and Steven also played for West Torrens.
Club Records
- South Australian Premiers: 4 - 1924, 1933, 1945, 1953
- SANFL Night Premiers (Escort Cup): 1 - 1983
- Record Attendance at Thebarton OvalThebarton OvalThebarton Oval was formerly the home ground of SANFL club West Torrens who played their last game at the ground in on 2 September 1989 ending a run of 68 seasons at Thebby Oval...
: 20,832 v Norwood in 1962 [West Torrens 11.8 (74) drew with Norwood 10.14 (74)] - Record Attendance: 48,755 v Norwood at Adelaide OvalAdelaide OvalThe Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
, 1948 SANFL Grand Final [Norwood 15.16 (106) d West Torrens 6.13 (49)] - Most Games: 327 by Lindsay HeadLindsay HeadLindsay Hudson Head MBE is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League . His consummate skills were acknowledged by being awarded three Magarey Medals during his career.- SANFL :...
(1952-70) - Most Goals in a Season: 85 by John Willis in 1952
- Highest Score: 34.15 (219) v South Adelaide at Adelaide OvalAdelaide OvalThe Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
in round 14, 1950 - Magarey Medallists: Tom MacKenzieTom MacKenzieTom D. MacKenzie was an Australian rules footballer in the South Australian Football Association /South Australian Football League ....
(1902), Dave LowDave LowDave Low was an Australian rules footballer who played with West Torrens in the SAFL.Originally from Broken Hill, Low was a defender and debuted for West Torrens in 1910. He finished second in the 1911 Magarey Medal count and won the Medal the following season, becoming the first specialist...
(1912), John KarneyJohn KarneyJohn Karney was an Australian rules footballer who played with West Torrens in the SAFL.Karney could play as either a centreman or rover and first appeared for West Torrens in 1919. He was their best and fairest winner in 1920 and 1921. In 1921 he performed well in the Magarey Medal count,...
(1921), Max PontifexMax PontifexSamuel "Max" Pontifex was an Australian rules footballer who played with West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League ....
(1932), Bob HankBob HankRobert W. "Bob" Hank is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League .Hank actually began his senior playing career with the wartime combination of West Torrens-Port Adelaide in 1944. He stepped smoothly in the West Torrens senior side next year when the...
(1946, 1947), Lindsay HeadLindsay HeadLindsay Hudson Head MBE is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League . His consummate skills were acknowledged by being awarded three Magarey Medals during his career.- SANFL :...
(1955, 1958 & 1963) - All-AustraliansAll-Australian TeamThe All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
: Bob HankBob HankRobert W. "Bob" Hank is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League .Hank actually began his senior playing career with the wartime combination of West Torrens-Port Adelaide in 1944. He stepped smoothly in the West Torrens senior side next year when the...
(1953), Lindsay HeadLindsay HeadLindsay Hudson Head MBE is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League . His consummate skills were acknowledged by being awarded three Magarey Medals during his career.- SANFL :...
(1956), Geoff KingstonGeoff KingstonGeoff Kingston is a former Australian rules footballer who played for West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League . He was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2008....
(1961), Bob ShearmanBob ShearmanBob Shearman was a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League and South Australian National Football League....
(1961)