Where are they now: Ralph Sewer nears another fond farewell, after 45 years in the Fire Brigade
WOODVILLE legend Ralph Sewer recalls being approached by Warriors chairman Bill Sanders at the end of the 1990 season to discuss his playing future.
WOODVILLE legend Ralph Sewer recalls being approached by Warriors chairman Bill Sanders at the end of the 1990 season to discuss his playing future.
Sewer, already the club games record-holder with 325 league appearances after making his debut in 1969, was contemplating another season despite his final game being just one week shy of his 40th birthday.
“I was saying I’d play one more season, probably B grade footy and Bill came to the fire station where I was working and said ‘Ralph, you know you are 40’,” Sewer said.
“I said ‘you have a point there, Bill’.”
His final game was against West Torrens, the club with which the Peckers amalgamated for the 1991 season, and he was named best-on-ground in a fitting farewell. Impressive for a bloke who had just recently become a grandfather.
Sewer’s career is littered with personal accolades.
He was Woodville’s 1978 best-and-fairest winner, twice the club’s leading goalkicker and 10 times wore the South Australian jumper in interstate battles.
There were also 57 games with Glenelg.
Much of his game was as a centreman and he established himself as feisty, elusive and a skilful left-footer with an accurate and penetrating kick.
“I might have played the most games but there were the greats at the club such as Malcolm Blight, Ray Huppatz and John Cummins,” Sewer said.
“My first year of colts I played with Blighty and then he played league the next year while I was still in colts.
“All the guys I watched as a kid I eventually played with – I got to play with some of the greatest ever.
“They still say ‘hello Ralph’ and that makes me feel important ... it’s unbelievable.
“I just loved footy. When the game finished I’d look forward to training and when that finished I’d look forward to the game on Saturday.”
Sewer will have another retirement in 10 months when he ends his time in the fire brigade after 45 years’ service.
He considered retiring five years ago, then opted for one more year, then another.
“I’ve had a fairytale life,” he said.
“I’ve got no big plans when I retire ... just put the feet up and take it easy.”