SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TEAM OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Half Forward Line

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Left Half Forward Flank - Malcolm Blight (Woodville & North Melbourne)

During its comparatively fleeting involvement in the SANFL it is doubtful if the Woodville Football Club produced a more prodigious all round talent than Malcolm Jack Blight.  In 2 separate stints at Oval Avenue Blight played a total of 163 games, won the 1972 Magarey Medal, was twice named Woodville's best and fairest player, made 7 appearances for South Australia earning All Australian selection on 2 occasions separated by 13 years, and, for good measure, topped the SANFL goalkicking in 1985, his final League season, with 126 goals.

In between he spent a decade with North Melbourne where he became arguably the most celebrated South Australian to transfer to the VFL up to that point.  His record while in Melbourne is worth summarising:

  • member of premiership sides in 1975 and 1977
  • member of North's 1980 night premiership team
  • 1978 Brownlow Medallist
  • 7 interstate appearances for the VFL including 2 as captain
  • 4 times club leading goalkicker
  • Coleman Medallist in 1982
  • played 180 club games including 22 consecutive finals appearances

The bare facts reveal nothing of the artistry, power and genius of Blight's play, however.  Thankfully, his career coincided with the onset of the video age, and so a fair number of his more memorable feats have been recorded for posterity.

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Centre Half Forward - Barrie Robran (North Adelaide)

Barrie Robran was arguably South Australia's, some would say Australia's, greatest ever footballer.  The bare statistics fail to do him justice: 3 Magarey Medals and 7 consecutive club best and fairest awards during a 201 game career which also saw him represent his state on 17 occasions.  Originally from Whyalla, Robran off the field was shy and unassuming; on it, he was an artist.  Victorian Mike Patterson who coached Robran for much of his League career observed that "Barrie can match (any Victorian) in any phase.  I've seen him do things that the best players over there have been unable to accomplish".

Robran's 'finest hour' arguably came during North Adelaide's 1972 club championship of Australia final against Carlton when he performed with such brilliance that, on more than one occasion, opposition player Alex Jesaulenko - himself no mean footballer - broke into spontaneous applause.

In 1974, while captaining South Australia against the VFL at the SCG, he sustained a serious knee injury which, while not ending his career in a literal sense, effectively put paid to his genius, and meant that the sustained brilliance which had characterised his first 8 seasons in League football would seldom be seen again.  In 2001 that brilliance was accorded belated recognition by the AFL when Robran became the first AFL Legend never to have played League football in the state of Victoria.

Perhaps the most succinctly apposite description of Robran was coined by 'Advertiser' journalist and former West Torrens and state footballer, Geoff Kingston, who wrote simply that "Barrie Robran was a man in whom nature succeeded".

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Right Half Forward Flank - Bob Hank (West Torrens)

Bob Hank first played League football in 1944 as a member of the Port Adelaide-West Torrens wartime combination which lost that year's grand final to Norwood-North Adelaide.  Playing at half forward right Hank enjoyed a successful season, and his good form continued the following year when full-scale League football resumed.  Now playing in the blue and gold of West Torrens Hank was selected in the South Australian team which overwhelmed a Victorian combination which, despite being exclusively comprised of RAAF personnel, was regarded as the VFL's first 'official' post war interstate team.

This game proved to be just the start of a glittering 27 game interstate career for Hank whom opposing states quickly learned to view as 'public enemy number one' on account of his immense courage combined with tantalising elusiveness and superlative ball skills.

On the club front Hank was among the best players afield in the 1945 grand final when, playing at centre, he helped steer Torrens to a memorable 13 point win over erstwhile partners Port Adelaide.

Other highlights of Hank's career included no fewer than 9 club best and fairest awards (including 6 in succession between 1945 and 1950), selection in the first ever All Australian team, chosen after the 1953 Adelaide Carnival, and membership of West Torrens' last ever premiership team the same year.

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