Where Are They Now, with Jesper Fjeldstad. This week: Stephen ‘Bomber’ Clifford

JESPER Fjeldstad catches up with Port Adelaide warrior Stephen “Bomber” Clifford, a crowd favourite at Alberton around 30 years ago.

STEPHEN “Bomber’’ Clifford was a crowd favourite at Alberton. He was both cheeky and brave and, after crossing from Collingwood, he won three best-and-fairests with the Magpies. He also played in three premierships — in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

JF: We haven’t spoken for a while, Bomber. What are you up to these days?

SC: Well mate for the last 12 months I’ve been battling cancer. I’ve had prostate cancer. So it’s been a bit of an issue but I’m OK now. But it’s been pretty tough. I’ve been through a similar thing to Michael Aish and John Letts and these blokes. I had no symptoms or no problems. It was only through regular blood tests that it was located. I was lucky that it was found early. Other than that, I’m taking a bit of an interest in the Power and the Magpies. I still go and watch both of the teams, being a life member

JF: What are you doing work-wise?

SC: Working with Linfox. I’ve been there for about the last 15 years and I reckon I’ll be there until I finish work. I operate a fork lift, help run a ware house ... nothing too dramatic.

Stephen "Bomber" Clifford playing for Port Adelaide in 1984.

JF: What about football? You’ve been involved since you finished playing, haven’t you?

SC: I coached Woody (Woodville) South for a couple of years, going back to 2011 and 2012 and got them to a premiership. Other than that, since I finished that I’ve just been barracking for the Magpies and the Power.

JF: Do you still love the game, Stephen?

SC: Absolutely. I’m pretty upset I’m not young any more. I still, even now when I sit on the couch and watch it on the TV, just love the game.

Port Adelaide footballers, from left, Greg Phillips, Tim Evans, Brian Cunningham, Stephen Clifford and Milan Faletic holding the Thomas Seymour Hill trophy after their 1979 premiership win.

JF: Are there any other sports in your life?

SC: I don’t know if it’s a sport but I really like fishing. I go fishing with friends when I can and I quite enjoy that as a pastime. But strictly in summer, when it’s nice and warm. Don’t really go in the winter months.

JF: Not one for cricket or tennis or anything else.

SC: No, not really mate. I’ve got five grandkids now so they keep me pretty busy.

JF: Did you find it hard to retire at the time?

SC: Not really when I retired from SANFL footy because I went on and played and coached in the amateurs with Greenacres. That made it easier for me, to have something to go back to. I coached them for a few years and we won a premiership in division one amateurs. I think it’s still the only one they’ve won.

Stephen Clifford covered in mud in 1987.

JF: You went up to Queensland for a while too, didin’t you?

SC: Yes, went up to Cairns, lived up there for a couple of years and played a bit of local footy for North Cairns. They didn’t have a great deal of success. I got a bit homesick and came back to Adelaide.

JF: There’s a change in leadership in the AFL, with Gillon McLachlan taking over. What do you think are the most pressing issues he needs to confront?

SC: I’m a bit sad that the bump has been taken out of the game. It was a part of footy that was enjoyable and I think people came to watch. As far as footy’s concerned, that’s a real issue. But the pace of the game, the way it’s evolved, I really enjoy watching the game.

JF: Are you still close to Port, turning up to functions and reunions or just to games as a former player?

SC: Oh yes. Every now and then if there’s a function we try to get together with past players. I’d like to think I’m still part of the club in that way. I don’t mind a drink and I quite like the horses so I quite often frequent the football club on a Saturday afternoon.

Stephen Clifford getting a rub-down from room steward Alen Childs.

JF: Is the game better now or was it better than when you played?

SC: As a spectacle ... people went to the footy when I was playing and they enjoyed the hardness of the game, the clashes and the hard hits. But I think as footy has moved forward people have moved forward. I really like the way it is now, too.

JF: Who do you still keep in touch with, from the playing days.

SC: You occasionally have a few beers with blokes here and there but there’s no one I really keep in contact with. You might see them at a function but as far as keeping in contact with or seeing on a regular basis, there are not that many. I see Tim Ginever and Wayne Mahoney and these sort of blokes every now and then but I’ve got my own circle of friends that I stay involved with.

JF: Who do you like of today’s players?

SC: I really like the way Dane Swan plays. He’s hard and tough and a really hard-running player.

Stephen Clifford tackles Woodville’s Mark Krzeminski in 1984.

JF: There have been a few rule changes since you finished. Which ones do you like and which ones do you dislike?

SC: I’m really happy with the way the game is more free-flowing now, and faster. I don’t like the little in-the-backs and stuff like that, they’re the main ones. But footy’s evolved pretty well.

JF: Final one, who wins this year’s premiership?

SC: I’d like to think the Power, I really would. They’re playing great footy and I really think we’ve got a window there. There are a lot of players around the 25-game mark with a few games under their belts and I think we’ve got a window of about three or four years.