Which Magpies Premiership in the 1990s?

[Rory]

So which Magpies premiership during the 1990’s did you enjoy most? Could be for a number of reasons. I’m a bit young to remember anything pre 1995 but I have heard stories that the 1990 win over Glenelg was sweet after the drama earlier that year.

Mine was the 1998 Grand Final v Sturt. Port had come from the elimination final while Sturt were minor premiers. It was the year after that dreadful GF loss to Norwood. I remember a great contest all day with the Magpies pulling away in the last quarter thanks to some Brian Beinke brilliance. Other players from that game that stick out in the memory were Brett Chalmers and Alfie Steed along with David Brown. Was a shame Darren Smith couldn’t play as it would have been his last game.

It was a tough call between this one and the 99 GF but for some reason 98 sticks out better for me.

[True_Believer]

For me it was the 94 one. After getting flooged by them in the semi, and the drama of the prelim, and then conceding the first 6 goals and fighting back. Unbelievable.

[dyertribe]

Both ones over Centrals were very very sweet.

Still remember the puffpiece on the pro-Doggies "fairytale this fairytale that" ABC coverage concerning all the Centrals WaGs. Hope they shed enough tears to water the Elizaberth turf for a year.

What's more, we had to actually up and leave the comp in order for them to become strong enough to win a flag.

Tres amusement :D

[Ford Fairlane]

You had to live through 1990 to know just how great that premiership was. The firestorm that surrounded us, the phenomenal season we had in the face of the combined hatred of the SANFL after our AFL bid, losing the second semi to the Bays (and Ross Gibbs' ****er little fist pumping gesture when the Bays had the game won) and having to get through to the GF the hard way, rumours sweeping Adelaide before the GF that the Bays were going to take out our Magarey Medallist, soon to be goal kicking record breaking machine Scott Hodges early in the game, the Hodges, Hynes v Bartlett and Duthy punch on early, Hodges going off early in the second with a knee, Adrian Settre coming off the bench and kicking 3 goals - some would say match winning goals, Hodges coming back on in the second half, knee strapped and breaking the SANFL goal kicking record, a stunning debut GF for a 17yo budding superstar named Gavin Wanganeen, the desolation of Max having to present us with the trophy after the win, the euphoria after the win, Cornes' graceless speech in our rooms after the game and him being told to f**k off by Alan Gill, the celebrations at the club after where the riot police were forced to attend and several players charged ... that day had everything.

1994 was memorable for the context of the game. The Eagles were raging premiership favourites to go back to back, the Advertiser's Warren Partland had advised halfway through the season that the premiership was the Eagle's and the rest of us were playing for second place, they flogged us by 80+ points two weeks before the GF in the second semi, Eags supporters predicting an effortless 40+ point win before the game, they skipped out to a 6 goal lead early in the first quarter before a Tim Ginever inspired punch on brought us back to life, the relentless pressure we applied after that early lapse and how at 3/4 time you could sense the Eags were on the ropes but our poor kicking kept them in it, and then that unbelievable Hodges inspired last quarter where he kicked 6 and we nailed 9.6 for the qtr IIRC - the roar of the crowd even on video is spine chilling as he took the mark to put us in front in the last - it was a tidal wave of emotion that pushed Port relentlessly past the Eags and ended their self proclaimed dynasty only 12 months after they thought they established it. Only one club had a dynasty through the 1990s. And a special mention for a - at the time - much maligned young CHB who had been KO'ed by Sam Phillipou in a previous game and went on to win the Jack Oatey Medal. That young CHB? Darryl Wakelin.

[Macca19]

and then that unbelievable Hodges inspired last quarter where he kicked 6 and we nailed 9.6 for the qtr IIRC - the roar of the crowd even on video is spine chilling as he took the mark to put us in front in the last

IIRC, you're shown in the crowd in the last quarter arent you?:confused:

[MrMeaner]

...the desolation of Max having to present us with the trophy after the win...

The look on Max's face is something to always be remembered. The many emotions circulating within him were there for all to see.

...the roar of the crowd even on video is spine chilling as he took the mark to put us in front in the last ...

I'm getting shivers just thinking about it. It was that sort of game upon which our reputation as a club and as supporters is built.

I find it too hard to rank these games. They were all special days that stick in the memory for some reason or other.

1990 - I was sitting up in the stand next to Kate Cebrano, who was in a box in the members. I can remember explaining the significance of Hodges leaving the field early. When he came back on, my attention was directed solely at the ground.

1992 - Chalmers' goal from the centre square was special.

1994 - The comeback was awesome. I like to feel that I personally helped us over the line with my cheering and the 'Hodges' chant.

1995 - 1996 - Centrals' cockiness and Alan Stewarts' dummy-spitting made these special. Also, at one of these I was just about assaulted by a Centrals 'supporter' for daring to wear a Port scarf.

1998 - Is this the one in which Tommy Carr flattened an opponent, turning the tide, which had been running against us until that time? If it is, then it's that I remember it for.

1999 - Well it was Norwood, wasn't it? There's not much more to say. They were baying for our blood ever since we just got over the line in the 1996 PF. It was also pretty much the end of the line for the old Maggies.

As an aside, my favourite SANFL game ever was against West at Alberton Oval in 1990. The drama of the week before, which included speculation that we would be kicked out of the SANFL (as a 14-year old, I kind of believed that was possible) saw a massive crowd. KG was jostled by the crowd on his way out of the ground after he had attacked us all week. I was standing behind the Northern goal but still knew when KG was exiting - the word had got around. And, most importantly, we won. The emotion that day was sensational.

[wharfie_1870]

Definitely 1990. Ford has already explained very well.

After 1990, with the Cows entry into the AFL, the SANFL was not the strong competition it was which made the 1990 win even more significant as it was the end of an era.

[PJ Power]

Three really stood out for me and they were the first 3 of the decade.

1990 was the best - I loved that whole year. Us-against-them, Hodges at his brilliant best. I will tell anyone who is willing to hear it, but Hodges' 1990 season was the best individual year I have seen by a player in 20 years of watching footy at any level. He could do anything that year. I loved the tough guys in that side (Mahney, Hynes, the Williams boys).

1992 was enjoyable because of the brilliance of Buckley, Chalmers and again Hodges in the GF (6 goals I think).

1994 was the most amazing comeback I have seen in a GF. Again Hodges' last quarter heroics were just amazing. That was an incredible effort to win that game.

So in order:
1990
1994
1992

[Ford Fairlane]

IIRC, you're shown in the crowd in the last quarter arent you?:confused:

Yeah I reckon so. Probably spot me on a few other GF tapes too. We had that prime spot on the member's wing and behaved like maniacs back in the day ... ;)

[RussellEbertHandball]

1990 for me but I wasn't at the match. Bloody Peter Sumich. A group of us got tickets for the 1990 AFL GF in late August when travel companies and bus companies sold GF tickets. Sumich kicking that point and tieing the QF meant the GF was pushed back a week and was on the same weekend as the SANFL GF. I stupidly caught the bus back rather than paying full price for a flight back. Listened to the game on the radio driving back. Got home and drove straight to the other side of town to get the video of the game. My brother-inlaw saw his 3rd flag in a row for free on my SANFL membership. I was Os in 88 and caught up in Alice Springs with work and the pilots strike in 89. Ford beautifully summed up the feeling for those of us who lived through the drama of 1990.

1994 must have been special as well. I had been in Sydney for a couple of years and got 2 or 3 scores every quarter on ABC Grandstand. At 12.30 the next morning said brother-inlaw rang me in a very tired and emotional state from Alberton oval. He had virtually no voice left and repeatedly told me it's the greatest GF win he'd seen and he went to his first in 1965. I have only seen the video of the game once so it doesn't stick in my mind.

[RussellEbertHandball]

Full Points footy has a very good summary of the 1990 GF in the Great Games section
The End Of An Era (http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/1990_sanfl_grand_final.htm)

[Count Zero]

94 is my choice for all the reasons that Ford Fairlane has already described, and for the sensational last quarter by Scotty Hodges. Has any single player ever dominated a quarter like that? The first quarter found us way behind, the second and third quarters was some of the toughest footy that you could ever wish to see. We were about 2 goals down at the last break but I don't think that there was a person at Footy Park who did not know that Port were going to win. 1994 was one from the heart of the players. When we needed to claw our way back into the game it was Tim Ginever that set the example. I'm going all bleary eyed just thinking about it.:thumbsu:

[Papa G]

You had to live through 1990 to know just how great that premiership was. The firestorm that surrounded us, the phenomenal season we had in the face of the combined hatred of the SANFL after our AFL bid, losing the second semi to the Bays (and Ross Gibbs' ****er little fist pumping gesture when the Bays had the game won) and having to get through to the GF the hard way, rumours sweeping Adelaide before the GF that the Bays were going to take out our Magarey Medallist, soon to be goal kicking record breaking machine Scott Hodges early in the game, the Hodges, Hynes v Bartlett and Duthy punch on early, Hodges going off early in the second with a knee, Adrian Settre coming off the bench and kicking 3 goals - some would say match winning goals, Hodges coming back on in the second half, knee strapped and breaking the SANFL goal kicking record, a stunning debut GF for a 17yo budding superstar named Gavin Wanganeen, the desolation of Max having to present us with the trophy after the win, the euphoria after the win, Cornes' graceless speech in our rooms after the game and him being told to f**k off by Alan Gill, the celebrations at the club after where the riot police were forced to attend and several players charged ... that day had everything.

1994 was memorable for the context of the game. The Eagles were raging premiership favourites to go back to back, the Advertiser's Warren Partland had advised halfway through the season that the premiership was the Eagle's and the rest of us were playing for second place, they flogged us by 80+ points two weeks before the GF in the second semi, Eags supporters predicting an effortless 40+ point win before the game, they skipped out to a 6 goal lead early in the first quarter before a Tim Ginever inspired punch on brought us back to life, the relentless pressure we applied after that early lapse and how at 3/4 time you could sense the Eags were on the ropes but our poor kicking kept them in it, and then that unbelievable Hodges inspired last quarter where he kicked 6 and we nailed 9.6 for the qtr IIRC - the roar of the crowd even on video is spine chilling as he took the mark to put us in front in the last - it was a tidal wave of emotion that pushed Port relentlessly past the Eags and ended their self proclaimed dynasty only 12 months after they thought they established it. Only one club had a dynasty through the 1990s. And a special mention for a - at the time - much maligned young CHB who had been KO'ed by Sam Phillipou in a previous game and went on to win the Jack Oatey Medal. That young CHB? Darryl Wakelin.

Totally agree with this FF. Could not have said it better my self. Remember saying to my mate near the end of the 94 GF that I thought Wakelin was B.O.G.

[nivek48]

1990 & 1994 as explained well by Ford :thumbsu:

Winning after all the angst of our failed bid in 1990 and Hodges inspired last quarter blitz in 1994!

1998 was enjoyable to beat Sturt coz I remember 1976 well.

Centrals in 1996 was memorable - the year that Hodges sunk Norwood with that great late prelim final 50 metre goal, it was

... I was in Cairns for my cousin's wedding and flew back Grand Final morning (I had left Cairns at 6am and walked into Footy Park as the ball was bounced to start the game!)

[dyertribe]

I didn't appreciate '90 as much as '88-'89 - by then winning flags seemed old hat, as funny as it was to expose Glenelg as the absolute joke of a club they were, on top of the 'fuhkew!' sent to the rest of the league they were supposedly representing.

[pafc4life]

'94. Scotty Hodges :thumbsu:

[Ford Fairlane]

Always worth noting in a thread such as this that Port have won more Grand Finals against Glenelg (5 - 1977, 1981, 1988, 1990, 1992), than Glenelg have won Grand Finals (4 - 1934, 1973, 1985, 1986).

[Count Zero]

Always worth noting in a thread such as this that Port have won more Grand Finals against Glenelg (5 - 1977, 1981, 1988, 1990, 1992), than Glenelg have won Grand Finals (4 - 1934, 1973, 1985, 1986).
Good point. Glenelg have played in 16 GFs for 4 wins and I have heard that the 1934 was a very dodgy brothers kind of win. They have also had 15 spoons since being formed in 1920.

[Porthos]

Always worth noting in a thread such as this that Port have won more Grand Finals against Glenelg (5 - 1977, 1981, 1988, 1990, 1992), than Glenelg have won Grand Finals (4 - 1934, 1973, 1985, 1986).I love those kinds of stats, well done :D

[Frank Spencer Clone]

1994 by a street.
Was involved in a running debate all year with a vociferous Clown supporter ( also WWT Eagles tragic ) about how Hodges was a dud and the Clowns were right to delist him after 1993 with the rise of that butthole surfer Modra.
To see Scotty turn it on in the last term and send those Combine losers packing was just glorious - heaven on a stick.

1990 was probably next best, with that flag representing a symbolic ' flipping the bird ' gesture at the SANFL, Basheer, Whicker, Ross Oakley and Collingwood.

[Porthos]

And I know its slightly warping this thread, but I'd rate the (1995? 1996?) prelim against Norwood slightly above a couple of those premierships. When Hodges kicked that ridiculous goal from the pocket - pure thucking gold.

[Macca19]

So many great memories. How can you pick one.

I was too young to understand most of what happened in 1990 regarding the AFL bid and all the hatred surrounding it. Was a great match though. I was devastated when Scotty went off.

94 was outstanding. Thinking you were probably gone. Scotty, excellent last quarter. To beat the Eagles who were arrogant all year, great stuff.

95 was ruined because I had some ********s behind me kicking me in the back the whole match

96 was played on my birthday which was the best birthday present. Didnt think we would win and another Scotty inspired match. Flash was brilliant as well.

98 was great to shove it up the rest of the state who jumped on the Sturt bandwagon.

[Santos L Helper]

1994 was glorious.

[Magpiespower]

1990 and 1994 for very different reasons.

1990 - Felt relieved more than anything when the final siren went. Make no mistake, we were out on our feet and Glenelg were charging home. Probably the most gutsy win I've seen - down to fifteen fit players, the whole state against us.

To quote EJ: "(We) stuck it right up 'em! That's what we did. Stuck it right up 'em!"

1994 - Pure exhiliration. Never forget walking out of Footy Park at the end of the 2nd Semi when the Eagles absolutely pumped us.

Copped a mouthful from one Eagles supporter. My reply, which was full of bluster: "See you in two weeks...when we beat you in the grand final." He and his Eagles mates almost died laughing.

I only wish I saw them on grand final day to properly return the favour. Mind you, they're probably broken men by now...

[Ford Fairlane]

94 was outstanding. Thinking you were probably gone. Scotty, excellent last quarter. To beat the Eagles who were arrogant all year, great stuff.



No offence Macca, but that's a bit like saying, Bill Gates, yeah he's put away a bit for a rainy day. :D

[Count Zero]

And I know its slightly warping this thread, but I'd rate the (1995? 1996?) prelim against Norwood slightly above a couple of those premierships. When Hodges kicked that ridiculous goal from the pocket - pure thucking gold.
Thread warping? That's not like you Porthos :D Anyway I totally agree about that Hodges kick. One of the great moments in the history of SA footy. I have it on tape and you can see the pain on the faces on the Norwood bench.
Macca19 gives a great description here: http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=169899&postcount=4
My mates and I call that NW pocket: "The Hodges Pocket" in honour of that day in 96.
PS. The NE pocket should be forever known as: "The Wanganeen Pocket" for yet another great kick in yet another prelim final.