Former Port Adelaide star David Granger runs amok in 1982 SANFL preliminary final loss to Glenelg
There have been few more controversial SANFL finals than the 1982 preliminary when Port Adelaide’s David Granger ran amok against Glenelg. As the sides resume their rivalry in a semi-final on Sunday, we revisit the infamous clash.
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There have been few more controversial games in SANFL history than the day David Granger ran amok for Port Adelaide in the preliminary final loss to Glenelg at Football Park in 1982.
Within seconds of being introduced into the contest 21 minutes into the second quarter, Granger flattened Tigers superstar Graham Cornes with a swinging left arm in one of the most talked about acts in the state league. It was to cost the tough Magpie an eight-game suspension and end his career.
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The brutality was unrelenting after half time. Early in the third quarter, Tigers’ half back Peter Maynard was flattened by a blow to the face and had to leave the ground due to a damaged ear drum.
Late in the term, Ralph Sewer was felled behind play and a few minutes later Tigers’ back pocket Stephen Barratt had to be stretchered from the field after breaking his leg. Granger was involved in each incident.
It was an out-of-character Tigers coach John Halbert who stood just outside the boundary line furiously venting his feelings.
Such was the anger in the crowd of more than 32,000, Magpies coach John Cahill was jostled by a female Tigers fan as he made his way from the box to the bench midway through the third quarter.
“After half-time it was the most unbelievable, ominous, sinister atmosphere at a footy game,” Cornes said. “Every time a Glenelg player was around the ball, particularly if Granger was around the place, they seemed to get hurt.
“I’ve never seen so much anger and frustration.”
While the actions of Granger infuriated the Tigers and their faithful, his presence had an impact on the scoreboard with Port constantly eating into a 38-point deficit late in the second term.
Granger’s physicality seemed to impact on the Tigers’ focus and they were under the pump to maintain their lead. Maybe it was Granger’s reputation, but a blatant push in his back by Cornes failed to earn a free kick in front of goal late in the game.
But when Port ruckman Russell Johnston marked and kicked a goal from close range with just minutes left on the clock, his side trailed by just one point to ensure a thrilling finale.
There were plenty of heroic acts for the Tigers, none more so than Peter McInerney’s tackle on Russell Ebert when he chased down the four-times Magarey Medallist in the middle of the ground when he was charging towards goal with only seconds remaining.
As the siren sounded to end one of the most infamous games in SANFL history and confirm the Tigers’ grand final berth, three police officers ran to Granger to escort him to the players’ race.
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Sunday September 26, 1982.
Glenelg 2.3 10.6 11.9 13.12 (90)
Port 4.3 6.4 11.4 14.5 (89)
Goalkickers
Glenelg — Kernahan 4.2, McGuiness 3.3, McInereny 2.1, Weston 2.0, Sewer 1.1, Carey 1.0, McDermott 0.3, Luniss 0.2.
Port — Evans 4.2, Huppatz 3.0, Cunningham 2.0, S. Williams, Agius 1.1, R. Ebert, Johnston, Belton 1.0, rushed 0.1.
Best
Glenelg — Carey, Cornes, McGuiness, Maynard, Marshall, Weston, Kernahan.
Port — Johnston, Belton, Cunningham, R. Ebert, Bradley.
Crowd: 32,339 at Football Park.