Former Sturt champ Colin Casey claims Phil Gallagher mark in 1978 grand final should have been his free kick
The 1978 grand final is among the most talked about in SANFL history. Ahead of Saturday’s Sturt v Norwood elimination final, Double Blues champion Colin Casey reveals his different take on the Phil Gallagher controversy in the final moments.
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FORMER champion Sturt defender Colin Casey has added another twist to the infamous Phil Gallagher incident in the final minutes of the 1978 grand final.
It was the most talked about moment of Norwood’s one-point triumph, Gallagher being paid the mark by umpire Des Foster.
Most of the 50,867 fans at Football Park, including the commentators, thought Gallagher was awarded a free kick. Foster later confirmed he had awarded the mark.
Whether a mark or free kick, Gallagher nailed the goal to put the Redlegs back in front and they would hang onto the lead until the final siren.
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Casey had scrambled the kick from deep in defence while falling to the ground under pressure from an opponent.
“It was in the scoreboard pocket and I was pushed from behind when I kicked the ball,” Casey said.
“I was hitting the deck so did not see what happened next.
“But I thought the whistle was for my free kick. Should I have been given the free kick? Of course, just ask me.
“I won two premierships, but three would have been nice.”
Casey also mentions a goal credited to the Redlegs which just snuck in for a point, and a behind which was clearly out on the full.
This was the grand final the Double Blues could not lose. Their only loss for the season was to West Adelaide and they had three convincing wins over the Redlegs, who were in danger of missing the finals until a burst of six wins from seven games.
Even when the Double Blues led by 29 points at three-quarter time, Casey did not feel secure.
“When you are kicking so many behinds, you could never think you were home,” he said.
First quarter
The Double Blues bagged five goals with Michael Graham and Paul Bagshaw among those on the score sheet. Shoddy kicking for goal, however, haunted the side all day and they amassed nine behinds. The Redlegs’ only goal was kicked by Gallagher and the Double Blues led by 28 points.
Double Blues 5.9 (39)
Redlegs 1.5 (11)
Second quarter
The Redlegs were on fire early and they closed to within 12 points, before the Double Blues responded. But the Redlegs got the deficit back to 11 points 16 minutes into the term, the closest they would get until the final quarter.
Double Blues 8.15 (63)
Redlegs 5.10 (40)
Third quarter
The quarter was highlighted by some brilliance from Bagshaw 12 minutes into the term when he evaded an opponent before putting a trademark precision drop kick to the top of the goal square for Rick Davies to mark and goal. Just five minutes later, the game appeared set to ignite when Redlegs’ John Wynne overruns the ball and cannons into the Double Blues dug out. Plenty of players and officials lock horns, before the umpires quickly grab control.
Double Blues 12.21 (93)
Redlegs 9.10 (64)
Fourth quarter
The Redlegs nailed the opening two goals inside two minutes and then Brian Adamson gets a controversial free kick and nails the 60m screw punt to close the gap further. A minute later, Redleg Glen Rosser appears to miss everything with his shot for goal, only for it to be called a behind. Wynne puts the Redlegs in front for the first time since the opening seconds of the game 17 minutes into the quarter. And then 29 minutes into the term, there is the most talked about moment of the contest and Gallagher is paid a mark from Casey’s kick.
Redlegs 16.15 (111) d Double Blues 14.26 (110)
BEST — Norwood: Adamson, Taylor, Craig, Button, Rosser, Nunan. Sturt: Burgan, Winter, Davies, Heinrich, Barton.
GOALS — Norwood: Adamson 5, Gallagher 3, Turbill, Woodcock 2, Adler, Craig, Taylor, Wynne. Sturt: Heinrich 3, Barton, Burgan, Davies, Graham, Winter 2; Bagshaw.
What they said about that mark
Phil Gallagher: “Either way (mark or free kick), I’m happy with it. Everyone forgets, while they argue push-in-the-back or mark, I still had to kick that goal.”
Rick Davies: “If Des is saying it was a mark, I’ll say it is the worst decision in the 140 years of SA football. Mark? It cost us the flag.”
Colin Casey: “I thought the whistle was for my free kick. Should I have been given the free kick? Of course, just ask me.
Des Foster: “I definitely paid the mark. So when I looked at the replay and saw what happened, I cacked myself. Yep, Rick’s right — that is the worst decision. But to say it cost Sturt the premiership is too much. They had plenty of chances to win that game — even Rick had them in the last five minutes.”