Left Centre Wing - Shine Hosking (Port Adelaide)

Despite being repeatedly beset by injury during the early part of his Port Adelaide career Hosking quickly established a reputation for speedy, effective play, notably characterised by accurate disposal, fierce, almost callous determination, and a notorious partiality for gamesmanship.  Given his self-confessed reputation as "one of the dirtiest players who ever stripped" [see footnote 1] his achievement in winning an award presented to the League's best and fairest player was remarkable.  Perhaps standards of 'fairness' have changed!

During his playing career Hosking gave notice of his latent coaching ability by instigating strategies such as commissioning a loose man in attack (typically Hosking himself) and stationing one of the team's on ballers a kick behind the play (again, as often as not, this proved to be Hosking).

Despite officially retiring in 1921 after 12 seasons and 149 games with the magpies Hosking was later to effect 2 brief 'come backs'.  In 1927, his first season as coach of Port he added 2 further games to his tally and, even more remarkably, during his second stint as coach of the magpies, at the age of 48, he sat on the bench as 19th man for 1 game in 1936.  Despite the fact that there were to be no further 'resurrections' after that the status of Sampson Hosking as one of the true giants of the game had been well and truly established.

Centre - Russell Ebert (Port Adelaide & North Melbourne)

And how loquacious that football was!  Quite simply, Russell Ebert probably came as close as any player in history to exhibiting complete mastery over all the essential skills of the game.  On the attacking side he was a superb mark, handled the ball brilliantly in all conditions, and typically disposed of it, whether by foot or by hand, with pinpoint accuracy.  However, it was his defensive qualities which really marked Ebert out from the herd; unlike many acknowledged champion players Ebert excelled in performing the small, often unnoticed, ostensibly ignominious tasks that are so vital to a winning performance - tasks like shepherding, smothering, checking, tackling, spoiling which are the traditional function of the football journeyman rather than the superstar.

And 'superstar' - an admittedly much over-used term - is exactly what Russell Ebert was.

Between 1968 and 1985 he played a total of 417 games of league football, all but 25 of them with Port Adelaide.  He also represented South Australia 29 times.  In addition to his Magarey Medal wins in 1971, 1974, 1976 and 1980 he was Port's best and fairest player on no fewer than half a dozen occasions.  He had the satisfaction in 1977 of captaining the Magpies to their first premiership in twelve years, and also played in the premiership teams of 1980 and 1981.  After the 1981 grand final victory over Glenelg, he won the Jack Oatey Medal for best afield.  Mere statistics can only hint at the unique genius that was Russell Ebert, however.

Right Centre Wing - John Cahill (Port Adelaide - vice-captain)

Beginning with Port Adelaide in 1958 Cahill quickly developed into one of the state's top wingmen, thereby following in the footsteps of his uncle, Laurie Cahill, who had played the position with distinction for both South Adelaide and South Australia a couple of decades earlier.  Midway through his career, however, John Cahill was switched to centre, where he performed with equal distinction until replaced, late in his career, by another all time great in the shape of Russell Ebert.

A tremendous on-field leader, Cahill captained Port between 1967 and 1973.  He also skippered South Australia for 3 consecutive years and, after the 1969 Adelaide carnival, was selected as vice-captain of the All Australian team.  Some observers felt that South Australia's failure to maintain its challenge to the VFL in the 2nd half of that Carnival's decisive game was attributable in no small way to Cahill's effectiveness being blunted after he pulled a muscle during the 2nd term; up to that point he had been the most influential figure in the match.

When John Cahill retired after the 1973 season he was still close to the peak of his form as 59 goals from a half forward flank and a 4th club best and fairest award proved.