Story of 78 Extract
Relive the 1978 SANFL grand final and read this breathtaking account of the match.
A huge roar went up as Des Foster held the ball high in regal fashion then bounced it. In an event unimaginable today the cameraman used a wide-angle lens to view the opening bounce. Consequently the 78 per cent of the state tuned in to the first live television broadcast of a SANFL final missed the game's opening.
By the time the camera was in focus Davies had fisted the ball toward Sturt's goal and Norwood's enterprising wingman Glen Rosser was the first player in the grand final to have a controlled possession.
In the early moments Norwood appeared confident and refreshed, perhaps out of appreciation of making it to the big day. The Redlegs registered the first score of the game as Graham Reed rushed the ball through from a scrambled kick off the boot of Roger Woodcock. Nerves were evident as the usually reliable Michael Taylor fumbled the ball across Norwood's half-forward line.
The initial activity was frenetic. Sturt's 21-year-old rover Phil Heinrich crashed in to the goal post during the Blues' first attack into the forward line. Michael Graham was prominent although he appeared to be rushing his disposals. Norwood's ruck-rover Neil Craig made his presence felt with several early constructive possessions.
Winter weaved through a cluttered and confused pack to feed out a handball to Barton who goaled for Sturt, the first of the match. Davies used his checkside positioning to try to nullify the attempts of Neil Button who had matched the Sturt champion early.
Wynne's physical presence was obvious as he shepherded Sturt's wingman Geoff Leonard out of the way and provided Rosser with a direct path to goal. He missed. Norwood three points to Sturt's one goal one. The Redlegs were the more physical side early with Sturt rover Barton on the receiving end of a David Armour boundary line shirt-front and then the aggressive physical intentions of Wynne. Davies casually kicked for goal from a set shot but was wayward.
Both centremen were featuring prominently in the play. Klomp took a spectacular mark and cleared the ball from half-back to Leonard. The ball later emerged from a pack where a clever handball from Bagshaw found Burgan who walked into an open goal and missed from no more than 10 metres.
‘You don't miss them in a grand final. A big let off for Norwood at the twelve-minute mark,' said Harrison. The camera panned to the Sturt bench, who all looked horrified and then began to smile, except Jack Oatey.
Sturt regained the momentum of the game but seemed complacent as it kicked for goal. Redlegs' full-back Ian Stasinowsky, described by Harrison
as Norwood's ‘custodian', repeatedly brought the ball back into play towards the outer side. Phil Gallagher appeared on his opposite wing. By the time play had transferred back to the members' side he was again in the action. Gallagher was of a rare breed, a player perhaps ahead of his time, nimble of foot, and clever, who presented at the contest when required. He was also the best finisher in the league.
Chris Fienemann marked on an acute angle and delivered to Gallagher. In the dying stages of the first quarter he kicked the 50 metres required to goal and more. As the ball travelled through the uprights the siren sounded. Norwood at last had a major on the board. Sturt led 5 goals 9 to Norwood's 1 goal 5. ‘The game's been played at a blistering pace,' said Day.
In the opening quarter Sturt had kicked three goals in the first 15 minutes, but in the remaining 16 minutes managed only two goals from nine attempts. It had been a quarter of squandered opportunities. While the Redlegs' attacks were pressured, Sturt wasted numerous unpressured assaults at goal. The difference was 28 points. It should have been much more. In fact, the game could have been all over.
At the quarter-time break Jack Oatey was unusually demonstrative in his address as he gestured to his players en masse in an animated manner. ‘If you had kicked straight we would have the cup in our hands.' He then urged his charges to ‘go out and bring home the bacon'. Some of the Sturt side already looked tired. In the Norwood camp Hammond was calmly urging his side on. He knew that if Sturt had kicked straight he would have been organising his players for an honourable defeat. Instead they were still within reach.
At the start of the second quarter Gallagher was again prominent. Norwood had numbers at the fall of the ball and seized the early
initiative. Perhaps the slight breeze toward the southern end was assisting. ‘For the first time Norwood has built a wall across their half-forward line,' said Harrison.
Norwood attacked. Barton sloppily threw the ball out of a crowded pack. Woodcock pounced, the ball luckily fell to his left side and the natural left-footer kicked truly to goal. ‘Norwood are off to a more confident start in the second quarter,' exclaimed Day.
The Redlegs advanced again via two of their main playmakers, Craig and Rosser, who delivered to Adamson, but this time Reed bodied his lighter opponent out of the way. All of a sudden Sturt were alive. The ball was quickly transferred up the ground: Klomp to Burgan and then to Graham who ran, then dodged an opponent before steadying and again missing a goal. ‘Gee Graham took his meterage,' called Day, referring to the distance the Sturt half-forward had covered without bouncing the ball.
Norwood was tackling hard. Wynne handballed to Woodcock who evaded Sanders to the right then shifted to his preferred side before kicking his second goal. Six minutes into the term and Sturt's lead had been reduced to 18 points.
Wynne crashed through a pack. The ball eventually found Adamson who was once more on his own and converted from a distance of 20 metres. Norwood's third major in seven minutes. The commentators interacted in a confused manner about the effects of the breeze. ‘I doubt the wind is having a direct benefit in the game, although it must be having some effect,' said Harrison.
Sturt wasted another attack when Graham gathered close to goal and under pressure provided a looping handball to Winter. The ball bounced awkwardly and Norwood's defenders crudely applied pressure. A Winter free, but his kick for goal from an acute angle missed.
The Blues' centre half-forward was soon in the action again, this time using Stephen Kerley's head as a stepladder to mark. ‘It could be the Pentagon mark of the day,' called Harrison.
Davies marked and kicked to Burgan who doubled back and converted from 15 metres out. After several attempts Sturt had registered its first goal of the quarter. Norwood began getting the ball out of the centre with greater regularity. Day wondered aloud whether Michael Nunan's knowledge and experience of Davies' game was helping. Sims fumbled the ball on the outer side as the Norwood rover applied pressure. Wynne picked the ball up as Howard charged. Sturt attacked again as a fire sprang up behind the goal. ‘While Rome burns play goes on,' said Day.
Sensing that Norwood required some form of impetus Hammond began making moves, taking rover Von Bertouch off and putting Turbill on. Norwood responded via Stephen Kerley to Taylor and a long pass to Adamson who dummied and then goaled, recording his sixth kick and second goal.
Graham, who according to Day ‘can run half an hour in 25 minutes', was knocked down by Greg Nicholson. He then goaled after eluding his opponent and snapping successfully using his left foot and a customary two-handed grip. It was his second and last goal for the match.
Winter marked on the goal line and converted. Nunan off, Von Bertouch immediately into the action. Jim Michalanney off, Paul Adler on. The move signalled the end of the game for Norwood's young full forward Michalanney, who had had a minimal impact on the game.
Graham then squandered another opportunity, before Davies kicked from the pocket and Sturt registered its fifteenth point. Sturt 8 goals 15 to Norwood's 5 goals 9. Reed tried to gather a ‘hospital handball' from Geoff Wiseman and felt the weight of a charging Button. Turbill's first touch was an uncomfortable one after he was quickly enveloped by Nigel Wark and Heinrich. The Norwood rover responded by tripping Heinrich before wrestling with him. A 15-metre penalty ensued. Umpire Mead removed Turbill from the scene as Heinrich stood up dazed. As he prepared to take his kick the siren sounded.
The second quarter analysis revealed a more even contest. Each side had nine scoring shots with Norwood making more of their opportunities to outscore Sturt, 4 goals 5 to 3 goals 6.
