Vale Bruce Light

[rogerjames]

Very sad about this. Brilliant player, underrated imo. The Power have never had a wingman that comes close to him. Was also a friendly fun guy. In 77 after every game we would head to the home or away change rooms for a chat with Lighty. After his shower he would come out for a chat with us and we'd just talk footy. We really loved that he made that effort every game, it was a special time for us as we were teenagers and he was our hero.

I often mention this to any Magpie fan that talks about the 70s. He should have lived forever. RIP Lighty.

 

[charcolechaddy]

Was my grandmas favourite player.

Vale Bruce Light.

 

[1954]

I remember being at a game at the bay oval in the mid 1970's when Bruce Light ran about 20 metres flat out to tackle a Glenelg player who had received a handball on their half back line and was running along the bowling club wing.
Lighty had to run directly towards the boundary to lay the tackle, and the absolutely ferocious look on his face as he made contact and took the player and the ball over the boundary line had to be seen to be believed.
I was about 5 rows from the fence and even the Glenelg supporters near me were impressed with the ferocity of that tackle.

RIP Bruce Light

 

[philreich]

My family didn't move to Adelaide until 1977, so I never saw him play, but wish I had.

RIP Bruce.

 

[PowerLil]

RIP ‘Lightning’ Bruce Light.
Lucky enough to get a hug from him when we all ran onto the ground when the final siren went at the 77 GF. Always one of my favourite players.

 

[Byrons Firen]

Hes the 1 player i wish i had a chance to see live.

RIP Bruce

I did and he was electric. I idolised him. When I saw this thread I involuntarily caught my breath.

 

[Nemisis]

Bruce Light was tough and skilled as well as being lightning quick.
If you could pick one player to showcase the 'Port Adelaide' way - Bruce would be my pick.
A humble bloke off the field but on it, it was show-time.

 

[Papa G]

Isn't he Roochewtoe's uncle?

 

[greg62]

Isn't he Roochewtoe's uncle?

Yes he was. My all time favourite player. Wish I kept my duffle coat with his number on my back. A gentleman off the field electrifying on the field. RIP Brucey.

 

[Interstater]

I remember him as a cross between Butcher and Josh Carr.
Was always my favourite player.

Farewell #26

I hope the club puts some footage together for our first home game.

 

[Byrons Firen]

Farewell #26

 

[shewho]

Would be an ideal fit into our current team. Played like a modern AFL player in the 1970s. Fast, tough, skilled. Quintessential Port player. RIP.

 

[Steve Dore]

RIP Bruce.

One of my favourite players. The 1977 Grand Final was the first Ports' premeirship I saw live.

 

[Cockle Diver]

Isn't he Roochewtoe's uncle?

I think he is . Bruce Light was a great Port Adelaide champion. RIP

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Roo's mum is Bruce's sister. We lucked out with the timing of the introduction of country zones. They started in 1970. The Riverland was allocated to North before West getting it in the late 1970's. 2 of our great in Bruce and Russell were Riverland lads. Bruce came to Adelaide at the start of 1967 and Russell at the start of 1968.

 

[jac147]

So very sad. Mad Dog or the Colonel was the typical Port Adelaide - highly skilful with just a touch of mongrel. Many a time I use to watch him burn up that wing at Alberton - so exciting. The old memory seems to want to tell me that he started his career with the Magpies with Peter Yeo - two very different types of players. Premiership glory eluded him in his early days at Port, with Sturt, Glenelg and North diminating for periods of the late 60’s and early 70’s.
But that 77 grand final must go down as one of the best cameo games of a Port Adelaide player in a grand final.
And once again relying on the old memory again it was in that game that he copped his first suspension, although it really did not matter because he had already announced his retirement from the game.
And then he sort of disappeared, leaving us oldies with the privilege of seeing one of Port Adelaide’s best.
RIP

 

[Eddie Dingle]

So very sad. Mad Dog or the Colonel was the typical Port Adelaide - highly skilful with just a touch of mongrel. Many a time I use to watch him burn up that wing at Alberton - so exciting. The old memory seems to want to tell me that he started his career with the Magpies with Peter Yeo - two very different types of players. Premiership glory eluded him in his early days at Port, with Sturt, Glenelg and North diminating for periods of the late 60’s and early 70’s.
But that 77 grand final must go down as one of the best cameo games of a Port Adelaide player in a grand final.
And once again relying on the old memory again it was in that game that he copped his first suspension, although it really did not matter because he had already announced his retirement from the game.
And then he sort of disappeared, leaving us oldies with the privilege of seeing one of Port Adelaide’s best.
RIP

He didn't finish after 77. Bruce was on 194 games at the end of that year and finished on 216. He belted David Johnston and served a 2 match suspension in preseason games.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

In my gentleman jack book I have a newspaper clipping from The News and bomber Clifford put together his scariest ever team. When talking about Carman he points out that Phil didn't turn up to a golden gloves showdown in the car park at Norwood oval.

Bruce could go a bit as in he could box not throw haymakers and elbows like Carman.

Eddie Dingle sent me pics of this clipping to post in here.

 

[Eddie Dingle]

Thanks mate

 

[Garibaldi Red]

Eddie Dingle sent me pics of this clipping to post in here.

View attachment 453990



View attachment 453991




View attachment 453992

David Holst from Bombers Iron Men team to Australia Day Award recipient for his work with children with disabilities.

 

[jac147]

He didn't finish after 77. Bruce was on 194 games at the end of that year and finished on 216. He belted David Johnston and served a 2 match suspension in preseason games.

Ah, that failing memory! I could have sworn that the 77 grand final game was his last after getting reported and suspended. But by “disappearing” after his final year he was abble to cultivate a legend that us oldies can relate to the younger fans.
Once again relying on my memory I think Bruce trained to become a teacher after football and specialised with kids from Minda.

 

[portly]

I'm a little surprised that Neil Sasche was in that team. One of my favourites at the time but he never struck me ([emoji3]) as being dirty in any way.


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[Nemisis]

I'm a little surprised that Neil Sasche was in that team. One of my favourites at the time but he never struck me ([emoji3]) as being dirty in any way.


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WHat! Surely you are thinking of big Dennis?
Neil was dirty as ... i met him a few years ago and he was a thorough gentleman. I reminded him how dirty he was!
I still remember watching the VFL highlights when he was made a quadriplegic... devastating but he overcome his disability amazingly well.

 

[1954]

WHat! Surely you are thinking of big Dennis?
Neil was dirty as ... i met him a few years ago and he was a thorough gentleman. I reminded him how dirty he was!
I still remember watching the VFL highlights when he was made a quadriplegic... devastating but he overcome his disability amazingly well.

Neil Sachse definitely had a lot of mongrel in him, I went to a North v Centrals game at Adelaide oval in the early 70's when from memory he was reported 3 times in the same game, one of the charges was for kicking the Central captain coach Tony Casserley.
I reckon he was suspended for a total of 4 games for those incidents, nowadays a player would probably get a 10 match suspension.

Another time I can recall Neil going for a loose ball with Michael Graham of Sturt on the outer wing at footy park, the two players were running directly towards me, and Sachse was continually smacking Graham on the side of the head, obviously to prevent him from picking up the ball.

That aside the bloke didn't deserve what happened to him, that was an absolute tragedy.

 

[GreyPower]

Salisbury hit Greg Anderson in '83?

There was the other incident too I think, which was a minor round game in '86.

Would be intetesting to know what year Bomber's article was written...my guess would be '85....bit surprised he didnt have Kym Klomp in his team, although his well known exploits may not have started until mid/late 80s.

Tom Thorn from West Adelaide, was another one not listed in the team, but who I remember having a bit of a reputation at the Tribunal.