John Condon’s long dedication to SA football earns recognition in the Hall of Fame
HALL of Famer Stephen Kernahan last week noted SA football’s giants in guiding the game through turbulent times at club level have been Bob McLean, Wally Miller - and John Condon.
HALL of Famer Stephen Kernahan last week noted SA football’s giants in guiding the game through turbulent times at club level have been Bob McLean, Wally Miller - and John Condon.
The trio stands together in the SA Football Hall of Fame with Condon’s induction on Tuesday night to the game’s grand honour roll of achievers.
Condon’s 57 years of continuous duty in SA football - sparked in 1964 by North Adelaide Football Club treasurer Len Thompson ushering the teenage Condon to the Roosters’ committees - has covered every administrative portfolio in the SANFL and AFL from the changerooms to the front office and board room.
“Along the way I’ve learned you stick to the rules - and you respect people,” Condon said.
“And the role of an administrator is to provide the players with an environment that allows them to succeed.
“My philosophy was to treat everyone on their merits rather than to apply a blanket rule.
“I’ve known a lot of players at North Adelaide and the Crows and everyone of them remains a friend.”
Condon rose to the North Adelaide general manager’s role in 1979 and finished his 28 seasons at Prospect amid the greatest crisis in SA football - the 1990 drama created by Port Adelaide’s move to join the expanding VFL.
“All hell broke loose,” recalls Condon, who was one of the SANFL club leaders who petitioned VFL clubs to stop Port Adelaide and to endorse the Crows model adopted for the 1991 AFL season.
“They were difficult times - and I will never forget them. But I am not anti-Port Adelaide Football Club.
“There is no doubt football is better for the AFL. The number of fans who go to the football beats any argument against the AFL.
“But I only wish the SANFL and the two AFL clubs here (Crows and Power) would have better trust between each other rather than fight to defend their castles.”
The Hall, first established in 2002, inducted four new members at the black-tie ceremony that preceded the Magarey Medal count at Adelaide Oval last night.
This year’s class covered the four main themes of SA football in the past 50 years.
STUART PALMER, the 337-game South Adelaide defender, represents the SANFL’s golden era from the 1960s-1980s before the VFL clubs’ raids on local talent drained the league of its stars.
CONDON as the club administrator who saw the SANFL’s transformation to the national era - and then served as the league’s “salary cap” cop for 18 years.
DAMIAN SQUIRE, the 1999 and 2000 Magarey Medallist, who combined an SANFL and AFL career from 1991 when SA football was changed with its first national league entry, the Crows.
MICHAEL O’LOUGHLIN, the 303-game recordbreaker at Sydney, represents the modern era when local talent is taken to the AFL before reaching senior SANFL ranks.
O’Loughlin was in the Central District under-19s group when the Swans claimed him at No. 40 in the 1994 AFL national draft.