Port Adelaide champion John Abley named in Australian football Hall of Fame
Off the field, Port Adelaide great John Abley was an absolute gentleman. On the field, he was tough and uncompromising. And one of his greatest memories was playing on John Coleman.
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John Abley had two personalties during his career with Port Adelaide.
Off the field, he was known as Gentleman John.
On the field and he was a tough and uncompromising full back.
“Brutal,” is the word used by his wife of 45 years Libby to describe John, one of the latest inductees into the AFL Hall of Fame, as a player.
Libby only got to watch John late in his career, mostly when the Magpies played Norwood, the team she followed.
And unless she asked him a question, he was “quiet” about his time in the game.
“He was interesting when you did get him to talk, but he was not one to brag,” she said.
“He had three All Australian blazers, and never wore them. That was the sort of bloke he was.”
Among the memories John, who passed away in 2011 aged 80, told Libby was when he played on John Coleman in a state game.
“He told me John Coleman stood on his shoulders and said he was a freak,” Libby said.
“It was the only bath he got from an opponent.’’
John played for Hawthorn reserves in 1949, before moving to Adelaide.
It took some clever work by then Port Adelaide secretary Bob McLean which enabled the Magpies to lure him to Alberton.
He had intended residing in Glenelg’s zone, only for McLean to find him accommodation near Alberton Oval.
He became a seven-time premiership player, a member of the club’s Greatest Team named in 2001 and a state player 23 times.
When John passed away, Port Adelaide legend Geof Motley said very few people had contributed more to the Magpies than John.
“Of all of his achievements by far his greatest was being among the six players who won an Australian record six premierships in a row between 1954 and 1959,’’ Motley said.
“He was as tough and mean a player as you would expect to find. He would get offended if a bloke got a kick against him let alone a goal.’’
“He was unbelievably well respected, but he was unbelievably quiet. John’s loyalty to Port Adelaide never waned throughout his life.”
Originally published as Port Adelaide champion John Abley named in Australian football Hall of Fame