After a tremendous struggle in the Final, NORTH ADELAIDE covered itself with glory and brought great distinction to South Australian Football by defeating the Victorian Premiers, Carlton, by one point.  North Adelaide had previously defeated City-South (of Tasmania) and Carlton had beaten East Perth (of Western Australia).

Players vie for possession during a frenetic moment in the game.  The North Adelaide players from left to right are Bohdan Jaworskyj, Geoff Paul, Alan Howard and Bob Hammond.  Greg Kennedy is the visible Carlton player.  (Click on image to enlarge.)

As a natural progression from the matches which have been played annually since 1968 between the Premiership teams of the Victorian and South Australian Leagues, a knock-out series between the Premier teams of the four major football States, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, was played in Adelaide on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th October.

The series was originally set down for decision on Saturday 7th and Monday 9th (a Public holiday in Adelaide) but was delayed for one week following the draw in the VFL Semi Final match between Richmond and Carlton.  The compulsory change in programme dates meant that the competing teams were faced with playing matches on successive days.

North Adelaide (S.A.N.F.L.) won the title as 'Australia's Champion Team' by defeating Carlton (V.F.L.) by one point in a tense and exciting game.  After appearing to be in a winning position at the last interval, Carlton tired badly and failed to take advantage of a strong wind advantage.

North Adelaide thoroughly deserved their victory, but may have been fortunate to meet a Carlton which had lost many players through injury after a strenuous match against East Perth (W.A.N.F.L.) on the previous days (sic.).

'Big Nick' holds the 1972 VFL premiership cup aloft after Carlton's grand final victory over Richmond - click to see an enlarged version of the image.

A slight difference of opinion.

North Adelaide shocked the football world when it toppled Carlton by a point (10.13 to 10.12) in the Australian club championship final at Adelaide Oval.

It was an historic victory, being the first time that a major match had been held in SA on a Sunday.

Trailing by five points at three-quarter time, North seemed in a hopeless position when it headed for home into a five-goal wind.

The odds of victory lengthened when Carlton goaled in the first five minutes to widen the gap to 11 points.  To the crowd of 23,213 it just seemed a matter of time.

Displaying tremendous fighting spirit, and with reserves of stamina, North scored again through Darryl Webb in the 17th minute to hit the front.

Play fluctuated from end to end, but that was the final score after magnificent defence by North led (by) Bohdan Jaworskyj, Bob Hammond and John Spry.

There were other factors in North's great win - the dynamic ruckwork of Gary Sporn, the brilliance of centreman Barrie Robran and wingman Barry Stringer, the evasion in attack of Adrian Rebbeck and the solidity at centre half-forward of Neil Sachse.

In addition, there was the battering that Carlton had taken a day earlier against WA premiers East Perth - a tough match that had caused a Carlton reshuffle for the final through injuries and had left many other players stiff and sore.

Gary Sporn - a great performance in the ruck for the Roosters.  (Click on image to enlarge.)

North Adelaide champion Barrie Robran, best afield in the 1972 SANFL grand final, and in both matches in the Champions series.  (Click on the image to enlarge.)

North Adelaide, coached by former Richmond stalwart Mike Patterson, came from behind into a five goal wind to beat Carlton by a solitary point.

Carlton was depleted, no doubt - and with its six missing grand final stars in the team probably would've beaten North by a couple of goals.

But the way North swamped the Blues in that torrid last quarter (it held Carlton scoreless for the last 12 minutes), showed that SA was capable of pressure football.  Even if it took an ex-Victorian to make the point.

Patterson, who played 167 games for Richmond, says that (Barrie) Robran is the best player he's ever seen.  Jesaulenko is reputed to have stood and clapped after a piece of Robran wizardry during (this) match.

A dual Magarey Medallist and winner of just about every award, Robran is not vaguely interested in playing VFL football.

Hard, skilled, well coached, full of courage and deserving.  No praise can be too big for the North Adelaide team that contested Carlton to determine the Club Champions of Australia.

North, it seemed, had booted away its chances with some appalling kicking for goal in the third quarter.

At the last change North was down five points.  Carlton goaled at the 5 minute mark, but North refused to give way.

Dennis Sachse replied with a goal, and, 12 minutes later, Darryl Webb ran into an open goal and North were 1 point up.

The North Adelaide backmen defended in a fanatical manner, refusing to allow Carlton to score again.

The crowd of 23,213 were hysterical as the siren sounded, showing North 1 point in front, and Club Champions of Australia.

Robert Walls, who bagged 3 goals for the Blues.

The last laugh.....