Diary of a Glenelg Football Club tragic: Gordon Armstrong relives every Tigers SANFL grand final since 1969 recounted
Glenelg supporters live in hope that 15 grand final appearances for three flags in the past 50 years will improve on Sunday. Reporter and lifelong Tigers fan Gordon Armstrong relives the lows and a few highs every grand final since 1969.
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Years ago Glenelg was regarded as one of the big four of the SANFL — Port Adelaide, Sturt and Norwood were part of that club.
Then came the new kid on the block in Central District with premierships galore and even the amalgamated Woodville-West Torrens grabbed a few flags and were regulars in finals.
But has any SANFL club endured a more love/hate relationship with grand final day than the mighty Bays?
This glutton for punishment has been there for the bad … and occasional good in what we can call the modern era.
1969 v Sturt
Somehow we found Richmond great Royce Hart in the team on some National Service exchange rule.
We had plenty of hope with warm conditions to suit. Hart was knocked out early but came back to play well.
Malcolm Greenslade kicked a bag and Sturt piled on the goals in a record 24.15 with their supporters yelling “pretty to watch”.
Long ride home on the train. Lost by 65 points.
1970 v Sturt
We came from the first semi and started well.
But it was wet and all I remember in the second half was getting poked in the head and eye by stupid umbrellas.
Every time we kicked a goal in the second half, Sturt would kick two.
Wayne Phillis was OK as was Ray “Baby” Button but I was too wet to be upset.
Lost by 21 points.
1973 v North Adelaide
Apart from getting married and having kids this was surely the greatest day created?
A group of us Bay-ites camped overnight outside the Adelaide Oval gates, stirred up the North cheersquad all night and then fell asleep at 9am when the colts GF kicked off the next day.
When Cornesy goaled and then Sandland on the bell I nearly lost one jumping over the picket fence to join the mad celebrations.
Driving back to the club along Anzac Highway was bizarre with scarfs and people hanging from car windows, horns tooting, cars swerving.
Let’s say SAPOL must have had its Bay supporters working that patch.
Won by seven points.
1974 v Sturt
First grand final at Football Park with more than 58,000 packed in.
Great form to come from elimination final.
Kicking into a howling wind was no fun as we trailed 6.5 to 0.1.
But two great quarters and we were five points down at the last change with the gale to come home with. Can’t lose.
Then Sturt coach Jack Oatey produced a telling move by bringing on Rob Barton who had a big impact. Thanks Jack.
Lost by 15 points.
1975 v Norwood
This one hurt.
Lowscoring but Bays looked okay at half-time. But when a Rex Voigt goal was disallowed the wheels seem to fall off.
Norwood steadied in the last quarter to win by 12 points ending their 25-year flag drought.
1977 v Port Adelaide
Another big crowd of 56,000 plus.
I think Fred Phillis and Tim Evans must have been great mates as they had a lay down together when the anthem was played. Patriotic.
Highscoring game but we just seemed to be two or three goals adrift after quarter time.
Made a late charge but never looked like pinching it. Port the best team all season.
Lost by eight points.
1981 v Port Adelaide
See below (didn’t give a yelp) but weather was good.
1982 v Norwood
See above.
1985 v North Adelaide
Thank heavens for North Adelaide!
A nervous start but good signs before half-time.
Stephen Kernahan dominated, copped a whack and then the cavalry hit the scoreboard.
The return of Graham Cornes to the club as coach was pivotal.
Won by 57 points.
1986 v North Adelaide
Played each week of the finals but this win and the margin was a surprise.
Led by 33 points at half-time and we all waited to get run over but the boys stood tall to win by 48 points.
A great day.
1987 v North Adelaide
All the North jokes were forgotten quickly as the karma bus smacked us big time.
One goal on the board at half-time was tough to watch.
Could not wait to slink out of the ground.
Lost by 82 points
1988 v Port Adelaide
Started well to trail by seven points at half-time but Port again too strong when it counted. Disappointing, but not shattering.
The club still rocked on at night. Lost by 29 points.
1990 v Port Adelaide
Down by 24 points at half-time but we hear good news (sorry Port).
Scott Hodges has broken two legs, an arm and has a crushed sternum and Port has six other long-term injuries.
We are going to win the last game before the Crows come into the AFL! What the! Hodges has surgery on his broken limbs, returns to action and kicks goals.
This IS a Bay thing. Lost by 15 points.
1992 v Port Adelaide
A great finals series coming all the way from the elimination final with wins over South Adelaide, North Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens.
Led by two goals then trailed by 21 points at the main break.
But blown away in the second half of the grandy by was it Craig Bradley or Nathan Buckley?
Can’t remember.
It was some young gun in black and white.
Kym Hodgeman coached his final league game, from memory.
Lost by 56 points.
2008 v Central District
A long lay off from the big day but feeling good after a big win in the preliminary final.
A tight first half, just a few points down.
But the Central machine cranked up and our scoring went down the gurgler.
Disappointing but not good enough.
Lost by 42 points.
2019 v Port Adelaide
The Bays have never lost a grand final to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval so here’s hoping!