Port Adelaide to hold two premiership reunions on one night to celebrate 1988 and ‘98 flags
A NIGHT of players talking “absolute crap”, reliving memories, and reminiscing with fans. That’s how four-time Port Adelaide premiership defender Brian Leys describes the format of this Saturday’s reunion of the 1988 and ‘98 flags.
A NIGHT of players talking “absolute crap”, reliving memories, one-upping each other and reminiscing with fans.
That’s how four-time Port Adelaide premiership defender Brian Leys describes the format of this Saturday’s reunion of the 1988 and 1998 flag-winning teams.
Players from those sides will gather at Semaphore’s Palais Hotel to recall the grand final triumphs – a 29-point win over Glenelg 30 years ago and the nine-point victory over Sturt a decade later – while watching them on a big screen.
Leys, now 50, says the reunion idea came about a few months back when members of the 1998 side were together and vowed to catch up more.
Several premiership veterans, including Queensland-based former Magpies captain Russell Johnston and Victorian Danny Morgan, will be coming from interstate for the occasion.
“We started with the ‘98 boys and I spoke to (Port great) Timmy (Ginever) and he said he’d like to get the ‘88 guys together too, which is great,” Leys says.
“It’s going to be a night of talking absolute crap and reliving it and one-upping each other about who did what.
“We want people to come along and just reminisce with us, listen to the stories and maybe add to the conversation.
“It’s going to be a really relaxing but great, fun night where people can meet the players and have a beer with them.”
Leys’ memories of the 1998 grand final include Tom Carr’s bump on Nathon Irvin and Sturt’s wasteful goalkicking.
“Jarrod Twitt kicked 0.5 or something, so we were pretty happy with him after the game,” he says.
Former Port captain Ginever predicts plenty of banter to fly around debating which of the two teams is better.
“Brian’s got a tough ask because he played centre half-back and we had Greg Phillips,” says Ginever, a seven-time premiership player.
“The half-back line of ‘88 was Martin Leslie, Greg Phillips and Bruce Abernethy – that’s not a bad half-back line.”
Ginever says only three members of the 1988 team cannot come on Saturday.
“The beauty of ‘88 is we won the reserves premiership as well so that’ll add to the fun and frivolity of the night,” he says.
Arrive at 7pm for a 7.30pm on Saturday, August 4.
To go along, ring the Palais Hotel on 8341 6333. Tickets are $35.
1988 Magpies premiership team
FF: David Brown, Scott Hodges, Wayne Mahney
HF: Richard Foster, Darren Smith, Rohan Smith
C: Phil Harrison, Stephen Williams, David Hutton
HB: Martin Leslie, Greg Phillips, Bruce Abernethy
FB: George Fiacchi, Roger Delaney, Greg Boyd
R: David Hynes, Andrew Obst, Tim Ginever
I/C: Geoff Phelps, Roger Kerr
Coach: John Cahill
1998 Magpies premiership team
FF: Bryan Beinke, Scott Hodges, Alf Steed
HF: Peter Burgoyne, Brett Chalmers, Tony Bamford
C: David Brown, Darryl Borlase, Simon Tregenza
HB: Nigel Fiegert, Brian Leys, Stephen Carter
FB: Paul Northeast, Richard Ambrose, Jared Poulton
R: Daniel Jacques, Andrew Obst, Matthew Ashley
I/C: Tom Carr, Trent Ormond-Allen, Danny Morgan
Coach: Stephen Williams
