SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TEAM OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Coach

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Coach - Foster Williams (Port Adelaide, South Adelaide & West Adelaide)

Most discussions as to the greatest coach in the history of South Australian football centre on 2 men: Fos Williams and Jack Oatey.  Both were supremely successful (Oatey 10 premierships, Williams 9); both knew their own minds; both were enormously influential - Oatey in his advocacy of skill, Williams in the way he imbued his teams with Victorian style tenacity and fanaticism.  (This is not, of course, to suggest that skill, tenacity and fanaticism were unknown in South Australian football, but merely to acknowledge Oatey's and Williams' feats in elevating these attributes to previously unprecedented heights.)

Where Williams arguably scores over his great adversary is in the interstate sphere, particularly in matches against Victoria.  South Australia had beaten the Vics on many occasions in the past, of course, and included in those victories were the only 4 occasions in history that the 'Big V' had succumbed to interstate opposition on home turf. [see footnote 1]  However, under Williams South Australia's performances against Victoria reached a consistently higher plane, including record-breaking wins in 1960 and 1965, and a historic triumph on the MCG in 1963.  Williams also masterminded 2 triumphs against Western Australia in Perth where South Australia historically has never enjoyed much success.

At club level all of Fos Williams major achievements came during 21 seasons (in 2 separate stints) in charge of Port Adelaide.  Again, the premierships and grand final appearances tell only part of the story: Williams' most significant achievements were, in the strict sense, unquantifiable, revolving as they did around the nurturing and honing of what might be termed 'the Alberton culture', a culture which Williams himself was responsible for defining perhaps more lucidly than anyone else:

The Creed of the Port Adelaide Football Club

We the players and management of the Port Adelaide Football Club accept the heritage which players and administrators have passed down to us; in so doing we do not intend to rest in idleness but shall strive with all our power to further this club's unexcelled achievements.

To do this we believe there is great merit and noble achievements in winning a premiership.  To be successful, each of us must be active, aggressive and devoted to this cause.  We agree that success is well within our reach and have confidence that each member of both the team and management will suffer personal sacrifices for the common end.  Also we know that should we, after striving to our utmost and giving our everything, still not be successful, our efforts will become a further part of this club's enviable tradition.

Any team which faithfully adhered to the above philosophy would be certain to perform to its optimum.  Any team coached by Foster Neil Williams would have no choice but to conform to the above philosophy to the letter.

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Footnotes

1.  Victoria's home losses against South Australia came in 1890, 1902, 1920 and 1926.  Return to Main Text