Who is the greatest player to have taken the field for West Adelaide?
WEST Adelaide stalwart Lee Harradine recalls a game between the Bloods and Port Adelaide at Richmond Oval when Neil Kerley was calling the shots as coach.
WEST Adelaide stalwart Lee Harradine recalls a game between the Bloods and Port Adelaide at Richmond Oval when Neil Kerley was calling the shots as coach.
Harradine was only a youngster but he vividly remembers the inspiring words of Kerley at quarter-time.
“When I ran back I could have jumped the fence from 50 metres away, his address was so inspiring,’’ Harradine said. “The stories about Kerley being tough were not exaggerated, he was a tough, tough man who could play the game.’’
There are 34 players listed in the Bloods’ Hall of Fame and just two have legend status — Kerley and Brian Faehse.
Kerley is not just a legend of the West Adelaide Football Club but a legend of the game, full stop. A four-times best-and-fairest at the Bloods, he made his league debut in 1952 when captain-coach Faehse left the game injured. His opponent in his first game was former West Torrens champion Lindsay Head.
Reflecting on the impact Faehse had at the club, the Richmond Oval grandstand is named in his honour to recognise his incredible contribution.
The first superstar wearing the red-and-black jumper of the Bloods was Henry Head, or Richard Head as he is better remembered. The brilliant centreman was a four-times premiership star and the 1909 Magarey Medallist.
“Just looking at his record, Head stands out as a champion of the club,’’ Harradine said. “The club has had many great players and there are not too many clubs who can brag about producing three Brownlow Medallists (Bernie Smith, Mark Ricciuto and Adam Cooney).
“The early Crows teams contained Shaun Rehn, Tyson Edwards, Tony Modra and Ricciuto. From the players I have seen, there are few better than Peter Meuret and Ken Eustice for raw talent. Then there are blokes like Ian Borchard, Bruce Lindner, Geoff Morris, Roger Luders, Robert Day, Grantley Fielke and Ryan Ferguson.
“Fielke was very consistent. Players like Lindner were brilliant on their day but Fielke was really consistent.’’
Harradine has followed the Bloods for most of his life and has held an official position for the past 26 years. He is the current league team manager.
“Ryan Ferguson is right up there with the best players I have seen at the club,’’ Harradine said. “He had skills and courage and the thing I loved most about him was the possessions he got were the important ones.
“Other blokes would rack them up but he would take the desperate mark to save a game. Robert Day was a wonderful player and current coach Mark Mickan was brilliant for the club.’’
BRIAN FAEHSE
Games: 222
Goals: 60
Captain: 1951-56
Premierships: 1947
State games: 19
Best and fairest: 1950, 51
SA Football Hall of Fame
West Adelaide Hall of Fame legend status
GRANTLEY FIELKE
Games: 364 (record), Collingwood 16, Adelaide 24
Goals: 255
Captain: 1994-96
Premierships: 1983
Magarey Medallist: 1985
Best and fairest: 1990
State of Origin games: 8
SA Football Hall of Fame
RICHARD HEAD
Games: 143
Goals: 22
Captain: 1913, 14, 19, 20
State games: 37 (captain 1913)
Magarey Medal: 1909
Premierships: 1908, 09, 11, 12
SA Football Hall of Fame
NEIL KERLEY
Games: 165
Goals: 87
Captain/coach: 1959-62
Premierships: 1961
State games: 32 (captain 1959-62, 65-66)
Best and fairest: 1958, 59, 61, 62
All Australian: 1961
SA Football Hall of Fame
AFL Hall of Fame
West Adelaide Hall of Fame legend status
BRUCE MCGREGOR
Games: 102 West
Goals: 173
Captain coach: 1926-29
Premierships: 1927
State games: 22 (captain 1927-29)
Magarey Medals: 1926, 27
Best and fairest: 1924, 25, 26, 27
SA Football Hall of Fame