West Torrens greats had late teammate, Bob Enright, at the front of mind at reunion
As greats of the old West Torrens Football Club gathered together for their regular three-month reunion, they paid tribute to the late Bob Enright.
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As greats of the old West Torrens Football Club gathered together for their regular three-month reunion, there was a noticeable sombre tone which filled the room.
One of the most-loved and toughest club men – Bob Enright – was absent.
Enright, who was a solid, reliable defender for the Eagles from 1979 to 1989, died late last month following a battle with cancer.
He was 62.
Johnny Graham, a former tough defender who featured in 206 games for the now-defunct Eagles from 1961-1974, organised the regular reunions.
He was an ex-teammate of Enright, who played 17 league games with Port Adelaide from 1976-78 and another 225 during his 10 years with West Torrens.
Graham paid tribute to Enright at this month’s reunion.
“He’s in our memories today,” Graham, of Seacliff Park, said at the lunch.
“He was an exceptional player. He fitted in so well because he was a basic person.
“Bobby was Torrens through and through.
“I said to (Port legend) Russell Ebert a while ago that there’s two good things that came out of Port Adelaide – one was the road to the city, Port Rd, and the other was Bobby Enright.
“He was an exceptional club man and we loved him dearly.”
The reunion, hosted at West Lakes Golf Club, was attended by former Eagles players from 1945-1990, before the club amalgamated with Woodville.
Graham began organising the regular get-togethers as a way of reliving his days with the Eagles.
“About four years ago, I got sick and tired of going to hospitals or funerals or doing something like that for people I had played with,” Graham said.
“So I decided with a couple of other guys to put this together.
“Being with these people rekindle things in me that I think is what you play football for. My memories are of the people I played with and that bond.
I never played in a winning grand final. But I played with some greats of the game like Bobby (Enright), Lindsay Head and Bob Shearman.
“I am Blue and Gold through and through, with a bit of green now for Woodville-West Torrens.”
Other lunch attendees included one of the two living players of West Torrens’ 1945 premiership team, Jim Coverlid. Coverlid, 91, was a ruckman and lined up in 178 matches for West Torrens from 1945-1956.
He also had fond memories of his career. “The players I played with were great friends of mine,” Coverlids, of Brinkworth, said.
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