THE PREMIERSHIPS
1986
Glenelg went into the 1986 grand final rank underdogs and came out with the premiership. Coach Cornes somehow managed to cover the loss of Kernahan and McGuiness to Victoria, the retirement of Copping, and a series of injuries to again out gun North Adelaide. On paper the 1986 side lacked the class of 1985 but their fierce commitment saw the trophy return to Brighton Road for a second succesive year.
GLENELG WINS AND WILL REMEMBER
By Chief Football Writer GEOFF KINGSTON
They said it couldn't be done. Glenelg, weakened by injury, was
the overwhelming underdog against North Adelaide in football's
grand Final. It's journey to Football Park was a hopeless
mission. But strengthened by bravery, the players scorned the
opposition to build a wonderful monument - a memorial that will
stand forever on the tableau of the Glenelg Football Club.
It's staggering 48-point demolition of North, which has been
planning for six years for this failure, was a wonderful reward.
And in victory Glenelg had little compassion for its victim.
The ill-feeling runs deep. On Saturday night at Glenelg - even in
the full blown joy of success - they were unwilling to forget
coach Mike Nunan for "fingering" Glenelg rover
Greg Bennett during a 1975 tribunal hearing.
Dobbing in another player was then judged unforgivable.
Apparently it still is - at least at Glenelg. Nunan was playing
for Sturt at the time.
Then there is the Stringer connection. Alan and Wayne quit North
when Nunan arrived at Prospect and the anguish triggered by that
move is always on the boil.
But the clincher - as far as Glenelg was concerned - happened
while Glenelg was savoring the delirious joy of victory. Defying
tradition Nunan led his team from the stadium. It was an act that
angered many at glenelg. And the players will remember the snub
when they meet again.
But on Saturday it was as if the Glenelg player's motto was
"Do unto others as they have done unto you ... only do it
first."
Had the North players sneaked a look at the chalk board in the
Glenelg rooms before the game they might have got a clue about
what was to come. Scrawled in big letters were the words
"fierce aggression - control." And around the word
"control" was a solid ring of chalk. Hit and hurt but
don't lose control ... that was the message and the players
reacted superbly.
It is doubtful whether a Glenelg side has ever been so
destructive, more brutally efficient and it had many North
players running scared as early as midway through the first
quarter. Even usually good, tough competitors in the North side
seemed intimidated and without their strength the capitulation
was sudden and staggering.
And the player to inflict the first hint of trouble for North was
Glenelg captain Peter Carey. He was the most sparkling gemstone
in Glenelg's treasure trove of talent. The man is quite
remarkable. His strength, his grace, his speed and his ability to
beat swifter and jumpier opponents week in and week out, year in
and year out, is awesome. And he did it all again on Saturday in
a performance which ranks with some of his greatest.
Then there was follower Peter Maynard and centre half-forward
Tony Hall. Together they pushed the timid North side right over
the brink.
Maynard, free of any defensive constraints, sparked an epidemic
of optimism. His confidence and skill together with the explosive
talents of Hall transported the Glenelg fans on a tour of the
bright lights of excitement.
Hall,entrusted once again with the difficult role of centre half
forward, embarrassed Trevor Clisby, forcing his shift to the
obscurity of the back pocket. And he continued to fire Glenelg
when John Riley was shifted to quell him.
And, rover Kym Hodgeman, struggling with the pain of a groin and
thigh injury, but buoyed by pride, shoved North further behind.
He shouldn't have been allowed to play was well as he did. Agains
of the best- Darel Hart and Tony Antrobus - he should have been
struggling. But his indomitable spirit and greed ensured he won
his private battle.
On the wings Tony Symonds and David Kernahan were like a couple
of left hooks right on the button. While they were attacking the
faces on the North bench grew still and watchful. It was like an
emergency was happening nearby - just out reach and they could do
nothing about it.
Cementing all the individual skills together was a mix of courage
and aggression that softened a few resolves in the North side.
And the tackling. It was relentless, quick and at times suicidal.
Glenelg centreman Alan Stringer embodied that commitment. He
chased and tackled as if the North players were running down the
street with everything he owned.
So also did Chris Duthy and Max Kruse in the key defensive roles.
But no-one wanted victory more than defender Wayne Stringer who
played with three pain-killing injections in a broken hand…
and triumphed.
For North Adelaide the smell of shame will linger long in the
nostrils.
Did it learn nothing from its defeat by Glenelg in last year's
grand final? Did it not understand that rules are bent in grand
finals, that things happen in that last game of the year which
are sometimes outside the law, but things which must all be
handled and conquered.
Sure, there were a few North players who did okay. But that is
compensation for only a handful of mums and dads. For the bulk of
the North players, the administration and the fans, the day was a
tedious and painful waste of time. Certainly there was danger,
but there was also glory if North had wanted it. But its
unmitigated surrender was inexcusable. Its deception as a serious
premiership threat was complete. And rather than base their
happiness on a premiership it seemed three square meals a dav,
saying prayers, being courteous and doing some exercise was more
important to many North players.
Rover Darel Hart battled almost single handedly against the odds.
But he never flinched. Follower David Robertson, while refusing
to play defence against Maynard, neverless was prepared to take
risks, Michael Poynton near goals did well for the few chances
that fell near him and John Riley and Paul Arnold left the
stadium with some diginity.
For Gleneig, well it did what Most people believed was
impossible. Held together .with needle and thread it sitched up
its second premiershipin a row. Now it is hungry for a third.
Glenelg 7.2 12.4 17.5 21.9. (135) North Adelaide 3.2 6.7 9.11 12.15 (87)
Three Best On Ground: P. Carey (G), 3;
P. Maynard (G), 2; T. Hall (G), 1.
GOALS - Gleneig: Hall 6, Symonds 3, Maynard 3, Marshall 2,
Copping 2, Seebohm 2, Hodgeman, Kidney, A tringer.
North Adelaide: Hart 3, Poynton 3, Robertson 2, Parsons 2,
Antrobus, Bennett.
BEST - Glenelg: Carey, Maynard, Hall, Symonds, Kernahan, A.
Stringer, Hodgeman McDermott, Kruse.
North Adelaide: Hart, Robertson, J. Riley, Poynton, Arnold.
1986 Major Round Results
Elim. Final, Sept 14 .... Woodville 21.14 (14) d Norwood 14.13
(97).
Attendance: 26,912.
Umpires: R. Campbell/J. Hylton.
Qual. Final, Sept 13 .... Glenelg 18.10
(118) d Port 9.17 (7 1) Attendance: 22, 837.
Umpires: R.Kinnear/G. Hilton.
1st Semi Final, Sept. 21…Woodville
18.20 (128) d Port 18.13 (121)
Attendance: 39,066.
Umpires: L. Argent/N. Thorpe.
2nd Semi Final, Sept.20…North
14.12 (96) d Glenelg 11.6 (72)
Attendance: 24,404.
Umpires: G. Hilton/J. Hylton.
Prelim. Final, Sept.27…Glenelg
15.15 (105) d Woodville 11.18 (84)
Attendance: 30,744.
Umpires: R. Kinnear/L. Argent.
1986 PREMIERSHIP TABLE Team p W L D F A P % GLENELG 26 16 10 0 2866 2342 32 55.03 NORTH 24 17 7 0 2740 2167 34 55.84 WOODVILLE 25 15 10 0 2729 2753 30 49.78 PORT 24 13 11 0 2424 2411 26 50.13 NORWOOD 23 12 11 0 2438 2469 24 49.68 Central 22 11 10 1 2200 2386 23 47.97 West 22 9 13 0 2367 2251 18 51.26 Sturt 22 9 13 0 2032 2146 18 48.64 South 22 7 14 1 2194 2335 15 48.44 Torrens 22 6 16 0 1810 2540 12 41.61
