West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club | ||
---|---|---|
Names | ||
Full name | West Torrens Football Club | |
1990 season | ||
Leading goalkicker | L. Schache | |
Best and fairest | Paul Pisani | |
Club details | ||
Founded | 1893 (as Port Natives) | |
Colours | Blue and Gold | |
Competition | Adelaide and Suburban Association 1893-94 SANFL 1895-1990 | |
Ground(s) | Jubilee Oval (1897–1904) Hindmarsh Oval (1905–1921) Thebarton Oval (1922–1989) Football Park (1990) | |
Uniforms | ||
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West Torrens Football Club was an
With the proposed introduction of representative Districts for clubs in the SAFA the Native Club in 1896 derived its name from Electoral district of West Torrens and based itself in the western suburbs of Adelaide, around the western reaches of the River Torrens.
Club history
A precursor club was the West Adelaide Football Club (1878–1887) that was founded in 1878 as the West Torrens and dissolved after just one season in the SAFA after changing its name to West Adelaide and wearing colours of Red, White and Blue in 1887.
Adelaide and Suburban (1893-94)
The annual general meeting of the Port Natives' Football Club was held at the Port Admiral Hotel on Tuesday evening 25th April 1893. There was a large attendance with Mr. J. Cox presiding. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Patron, Mr. R. S.Guthrie, M.L.C.; president, Mr. W. Knapman ; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. Williams, W. Hounslow, Samuels, Gairdner, A. G. Osterstock, and D. Bower ; committee, Messrs. H. Lane, W. Brady, and W. Stark ; association delegates, Messrs. W. Brady, E. McGuiness, and J. Cox; secretary, Mr. J. Carr ; captain, Mr. C. Fry ; vice-captain, Mr. J. Cox. It was decided that the club should join the Adelaide and Suburban Association,[1] and after several new members had been elected the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. [2]
SAFA
On Friday evening 8 March 1895, a junior club the Port Native Football Club Premiers of the Adelaide and Suburban Association,[3] who intended to enter the Senior Association during the ensuing season under the name of the "Natives," held a meeting at the Port Admiral Hotel. Mr. E. McInnes presided over a good attendance. The Secretary Mr J. Carr reported that at a previous meeting the following colours had been decided upon:— Darkblue guernsey with gold band, dark-blue trousers and hose. The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr. Ralph Potts; Presidents, the Mayor of Adelaide Mr. C. Tucker and the Mayor of Port Adelaide Mr. C. R. Morris: a number of Vice-Presidents; Secretary, Mr. S. W. Smith; Assistant Secretary, Mr. J. Carr; Treasurer, Mr. A. Darton; Delegates to the S.A.F.C., Messrs. E. Mclnnes and F. W. Ward ; Proxy Delegates, Mr. W. H. Carr, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. A general committee was also elected.[4][5][6]
The senior club that was formed originally was known as "The Natives" and competed in the 1895 SAFA season and 1896 SAFA season wearing Blue with a gold Hoop held its initial meetings at the President's Office at Grenfell Street in Adelaide. [7] With the introduction of Electoral Districts at a meeting of the SAFA on Monday 26th Oct 1896 at Prince Alfred Hotel the "Port" Natives delegates informed the SAFA that they intend to rename themselves West Torrens.[8] At the Annual General Meeting held on Friday 19 March 1897 at Lady Daly Hotel, Hindmarsh it was passed unanimously that the Club would alter the name from The Natives Football Club to West Torrens Football Club.[9]
In its history of almost 100 years, West Torrens won only four premierships; conversely, however, they only slumped to the wooden spoon on six occasions, evidence that they were generally quite competitive.
Despite their relative lack of team success, winning only four SANFL Premierships and one Night Premiership in their history (1924, 1933, 1945, 1953 and 1983 (night)), West Torrens boasted some of the best individual players ever to play Australian rules football. Players such as 1946 and 1947
The club reached the finals for the last time in 1980 and by 1982 there were calls for West Torrens to merge with another club. In 1990, with the imminent entry of the South Australian-based
Awards
- Premierships 4 (1924, 1933, 1945 & 1953)
- West Torrens won an unofficial premiership in 1918 while the SANFL was officially disbanded for the duration of World War I.
- During World War II, West Torrens merged with Port Adelaide Football Club and won the 1942 premiership.
- Minor premierships 2 (1924, 1963)
- Wooden Spoons 6 (1895 1st Season as Natives, 1930, 1941, 1975, 1976, 1986)
- SANFL Night premierships: 1 – 1983
- SANFL Reserves premierships: 17 – 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1941, 1946, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1962, 1968, 1984, 1990
- SANFL Under 19's premierships: 9 – 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1973, 1989
- SANFL Under 17's premierships: 3 – 1953, 1954, 1957
* 1983 SANFL Escort Cup Grand Final played at West Torrens home ground Thebarton Oval. The Eagles defeated South Adelaide in the last SANFL Night Grand Final to be played at a suburban ground.
Magarey Medallists
- Tom MacKenzie (1902)
- Dave Low (1912)
- John Karney(1921)*
- Max Pontifex (1932)
- Bob Hank (1946 & 1947)
- Lindsay Head (1955, 1958 & 1963)
* In 1998 John Karney, along with
SANFL leading goalkickers
- John Willis: 85 goals (1952)
- Geoff Kingston: 78 goals (1961)
Club colours and emblems
- Blue and Gold (1895–1990)
- West Torrens was known as the Eagles from the early 1950s until their merging with Woodville.
Home grounds
- Jubilee Oval (1897–1904)
- Hindmarsh Oval (1905–21)
- Thebarton Oval (1922–89)
- Football Park (1990)
Famous players
- Bob Hank: The dual Magarey Medallist captained West Torrens for nine seasons and was Club Best & Fairest a record nine times. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
- Neil Hawke: The Test cricketer was also a star player with West Torrens following his clearance from Port Adelaide
- Lindsay Head: The three time Magarey Medallist is also club game record holder with 327 games. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
- Adelaide Crows squad for the 1991 AFL season.
- Carlton. Of Aboriginaldescent, Long has become a spokesman for Indigenous Australians and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
- Woodville-West Torrens Eaglesis named after him.
- Neville Roberts: aka "Rocky" Roberts who wore a protective skull cap after an injury, before transferring to Norwood
- Kym Dillon: Also a breakfast radio announcer and Sports reporter/announcer for Channel 9 Adelaide.
- Steven Stretch: One of many SANFL players who were recruited into the VFL in the 1980s, playing for Melbourne and Fitzroy.
- ruckman who played 79 games for West Torrens before playing 164 games for the Fitzroy Football Club in the VFL and winning two best and fairests in 1982/83. He played a further 13 games for the Brisbane Bearsbefore retiring in 1992. Matthew's two brothers Tim and Steven also played for West Torrens.
- Peter Kelly: A former captain who played over 150 games for the Eagles during the 1970s.
Club records
- South Australian Premiers: 4 – 1924, 1933, 1945, 1953
- SANFL Night Premiers (Escort Cup): 1 – 1983
- Record Attendance at Norwoodin 1962
- Record Attendance: 48,755 v Norwood at Adelaide Oval, 1948 SANFL Grand Final
- Most Games: 327 by Lindsay Head (1952–70)
- Most Goals in a Season: 85 by John Willis in 1952
- Highest Score: 34.15 (219) v South Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, Round 14, 1950
- (1955, 1958 & 1963)
- All-Australians: Bob Hank (1953), Lindsay Head (1956), Geoff Kingston (1961), Bob Shearman (1961)
References
- ^ "Adelaide and Suburban Football Association". South Australian Register. 29 March 1893.
- ^ "Football". Express and Telegraph. 26 April 1893.
- ^ "Football". South Australian Register. 11 September 1894.
- ^ "Football". Express and Telegraph. 8 March 1895.
- ^ "Football". Express and Telegraph. 16 March 1895.
- ^ "Football". South Australian Register. 13 March 1895.
- ^ "Football". South Australian Register. 13 March 1895.
- ^ "Football". Advertiser. 27 October 1896.
- ^ "Football". Advertiser. 20 March 1897.