Players we left in the SANFL in 1997 - a reflection

[Powerstufff]

In 1996 we had just won 3 SANFL GFs straight and a number of those players were picked up in our inaugural AFL team for 1997. But a number were left behind for the newly established PAMFC that let them play in the next 3 GFs straight, and still strong enough to win 2 of them. Meanwhile we took until about 2000/2001 to get going properly.
So I'm interested in the politics that resulted in us leaving some pretty strong players behind, especially George Fiacci and Tim Ginever. I was even talking to Timmy late last year but only thought afterwards how I'd missed the chance to ask about it all. Can anyone explain our leaving strong players behind? Particularly who was invited across, and who was not (and why).

 

[Ebert80]

Others will have a better recollection than me - but Ginever had already turned 30 by the time we played our first AFL game in 1997. If he was a fraction quicker, I imagine he may have been given a 1 year contract, but his age counted against him.

 

[Jonts]

subbed would love to hear about this

 

[blackdiamond]

If we were able to enter the AFL in 1991 like we should've been able to I'm sure Ginever and Fiacchi would've been there.

Robbie West is one bloke who should've made the squad in 1997 except he got bashed senseless doen at Victor Harbour.

 

[raman]

Byron Pickett

 

[Macca19]

By the time we played our first game, the old crew would have been:
Ginever 30
Delaney 31
Fiacchi 32
D Smith 32
R Smith 30

Borlase (30) and Northeast (26) were considered decent chances to get a gig. Daisy was a late bloomer who captained the Maggies to a flag in 98. Northeast was still a decent age but im not sure was ever a serious chance at getting a look in. Leys (28) may have been worth a shot but he went back to Victoria to be Hawthorns reserves captain in 1997. T Malakellis (26) struggled with injury in 1996.

Of the young crew obviously Pickett got left behind but he hadnt played league at that point. We had some talented youngsters in Antony Sheehan (Port rookied in 98), Jason Dylan (Port rookied in 97), Beinke (went to NM in 97), Tony Bamford (considered too small, played state footy in 97).

Mcguiness is probably the most interesting of the players that missed out. He was traded to Port after Tylor requested a trade to Glenelg. Had a really good year in 96 and was reasonably unlucky, though I doubt he had the skill level to give AFL a decent shot.

I know a lot of people here give the Crows shit for picking an old man squad in 1991, but in the end, and I know its hindsight, we would have been no worse off giving the old crew etc a 1 year contract at the expense of guys like Jake Lynch, Scott Mathews, Scott Yerbury, Andrew Osborn who were simply making up the numbers and never going to go close to getting an AFL game. The thing that really counted against the old crew was that they were seriously slowing down. Fiacchi made the best players 3 times all year, R Smith none, D Smith 3 times. All three spent time in the reserves. Ginever had a ripper year and Borlase was arguably our player of the season.

A few years earlier, say if we managed to get in in 1994, no doubt they all would have played a part.

 

[charcolechaddy]

Mcguiness is probably the most interesting of the players that missed out. He was traded to Port after Tylor requested a trade to Glenelg. Had a really good year in 96 and was reasonably unlucky, though I doubt he had the skill level to give AFL a decent shot./quote]

Never forget that goal he kicked against Norwood in the GF standing still from 50 to basically win us the game.

Did he flee to the Bahamas with tony?

 

[tribey]

Byron was the travesty.

I get the future planning vis-a-vis age profile, but in hindsight some of the complete shit listed wasn't worth a squirt of Ginever, Borlase and co's post-hangover piss.

 

[Noobz0r]

According to Wikipedia, Cahill was keen on selecting Pickett in the initial squad, but Byron cited homesickness and declined.

That said, the paragraph that point is made in isn't cited.

Edit: cited.

 

[Macca19]

Pickett is another hindsight pick. In hindsight he was 'the one that got away' but in reality at the time im not sure he was ever a realistic shot at getting in. He was well down the list of talented Magpies youth at the time.

Im also not sure that that wikipedia statement is correct because im sure he came out in the media during his North career and said he was insulted that Port didnt pick him and wanted to make sure he made the most of his career.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Port were keen on Pickett and his talents for football and destruction were well known at Alberton. But he also had an off-field reputation that nearly stopped him getting to North and would also have been well known to Port.

In the end we had the best of both worlds, Alan Stewart secured us Mark Conway, Nathan Steinberner and Jarrod Cotton from his nearly successful Centrals team and we eventually traded Byron back for a lousy first round pick and change.

 

[Ebert80]

Stewart must have somehow been seen as some fantastic identifier of talent given that he had experience coaching the Teal Cup side - in reality, his success rate was overwhelmingly poor in terms of the squad that was assembled.

 

[Macca19]

Looking through some old articles, Borlase & Northeast both missed out due to some last minute deals. The Cummings deal was done in the last half hour before cut off and we picked up Lyle & Bond late in the piece which meant Borlase and Northeast missed out.


From other clubs, Cameron Roberts, Kent & Wade Kingsley, Jason Rae, Robert Schaeffer, Aaron Keating, Scott Simister, Gavin Colville, Nathan Bassett, Jason Millar, Todd Davey, Peter Walsh, John Cunningham, Tim Nunan were picked to be there abouts. Some of those names we listed and traded on, others became a success at other clubs and others missed out completely.

 

[moses]

If we were able to enter the AFL in 1991 like we should've been able to I'm sure Ginever and Fiacchi would've been there.

Robbie West is one bloke who should've made the squad in 1997 except he got bashed senseless doen at Victor Harbour.

Scott Hodges may also have had a chance to prove how much of a gun full forward he could have been at AFL level. Was always miffed at the way Adelaide refused to play both him and Modra in the same forward line.

 

[blackdiamond]

Nathan Bassett was a big miss, how we picked up his brother Scott in the inaugural squad and not Nathan mystifies me.

 

[El_Scorcho]

I think it speaks volumes to the character of Fiacchi and Ginever that they were left out of the squad but became two of our biggest and most vocal supporters through our good and bad times.

These are the sorts of people that make a football club great. Legends.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

1996 flag side. Those in bold made the inaugural AFL squad of 46. We should have pick a few guys who were 28- 30 age group but the fact the concessions that Freo had weren't granted to Port probably changed the club's thinking.

Would have loved to have seen the ghost Rohan Smith running around in the AFL, Timmy G, Brian Leys, Roger, Northeast and even Darren Smith. Those 6 might have only been good enough for 1997 and 1998 and maybe 1999 but given some of the dubs we picked up it would have been worth the risk.


F ... W. Tredrea...S. Hodges....P. McGuinness
HF... Borlase.........D. Smith.......R. Smith
C.... G. Anderson...M. Wilson.....F. Francis
HB... Northeast......B. Leys........S. Carter
B.... G. Fiacchi.......R. Delaney....B. Beinke
R.... D. Mead.........T. Ginever....D. Brown
Int.. S. Crothers.....A. Bamford....N. Fiegert

 

[tribey]

Pickett is another hindsight pick. In hindsight he was 'the one that got away' but in reality at the time im not sure he was ever a realistic shot at getting in. He was well down the list of talented Magpies youth at the time.

Im also not sure that that wikipedia statement is correct because im sure he came out in the media during his North career and said he was insulted that Port didnt pick him and wanted to make sure he made the most of his career.

Have heard anecdotes that there was significant buzz about Byron amongst the senior group to the point where a few made the effort to get to games early to see what all the fuss was about.

A bit mindboggling that Port Adelaide - with its legendary feats of player management with many a wayward soul - would baulk at a homegrown talent with such dazzling rewards.

As it happens he took down the club's very first Norman, so it all evened out, but bloody hell. Andrew Osborn? Jarrod Cotton? Robert Schaeffer?

 

[Power Raid]

Choppy is still one of my favourites!

 

[Zakk Wylde]

Choppy is still one of my favourites!

Had #15 on my 04 guernsey...

Thought Phil McGuinness might've got a look in the inaugural squad.

 

[Powerstufff]

Thanks for the replies to date, there are some pretty informative ones. To be honest I hadn't thought of age in relation to the many good players who weren't grabbed. Seems we just didn't understand what we had waiting ready to go. I expected to hear some big names didn't want the travel etc, especially in the days not so long ago when footy wasn't yet a full-time job and many players had jobs, businesses.

 

[Macca19]

Ginever had a really good year in 1997 and ended up being the BnF in a (obviously) depleted team that still made a GF. He retired at the end of 1997. Fiacchi had a poor year and spent half the season playing reserves and played in the reserves flag that won by a point. D Smith played until the end of 1998 when he missed the GF through suspension. Rohan retired at the end of 97 as well after playing a fair chunk of reserves.

I found an article this morning about this where Ginever was fairly dirty that the AFL had knocked us back fairly late in terms of entry for the 1996 season. I have a feeling that maybe some of these guys may have had an assurance they would have got a 1 year deal in 1996.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

.....

I found an article this morning about this where Ginever was fairly dirty that the AFL had knocked us back fairly late in terms of entry for the 1996 season. I have a feeling that maybe some of these guys may have had an assurance they would have got a 1 year deal in 1996.

The proposed concessions in 1995 were a lot better than what we got in 1996, so i wouldn't be surprised if blokes were given assures in 1995 that they would make the inaugural squad.

 

[Jonts]

The end of this video when timmy says he can't wait to play for the power makes me sad he never did

 

[Chopperdave]

Slightly off topic but does anyone have a list of players drafted out of Port Adelaide? It would be interesting to see if we could put a team together just how good it could be?