Vale Bruce Light

[RussellEbertHandball]

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2018-01-27/vale-bruce-light
THE Port Adelaide Football Club mourns the passing of premiership wingman Bruce Light. Light, who represented Port Adelaide in 216 games from 1967 to 1978, passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 68 after a long battle with illness. Light was awarded Port Adelaide Life Membership in 1976 and played a pivotal role the following season in the club’s drought-breaking 1977 premiership.

His close friend and premiership captain Russell Ebert recalls a man who was adored by Port Adelaide supporters throughout the 1970s for his electrifying speed, courage and flowing blond hair.

“Bruce had the respect of everyone. Regardless of who you asked - Port Adelaide supporters, fellow teammates or casual observers - Bruce Light would invariably be in the top 3 for people’s favourite players during his career,” remembered Ebert. “Bruce was different to wingman of that time. He loved being in the thick of the action and he had the courage to back it up. But he was also the fastest player I’ve ever seen which made him very popular with our supporters but not so popular with opposition wingman.”

In the book Dynasty, legendary Port Adelaide player and coach Fos Williams described Light as a “superior footballer”. “He was courageous, he’d wave the ball around and get away with it and was just a natural showing the skills on both sides of his body,” said Williams.

Ebert fondly reflects on Light’s career noting his performance in State games versus Victoria as highlights along with his brilliant 1977 finals series for Port Adelaide. For Light, team success always overshadowed individual glory. “Bruce was all about team success and triumph for the whole club. Along with his teammates, Bruce loved the trainers and volunteers at the club and always felt a real sense of responsibility toward the entire club and supporter base. And anyone who saw Bruce play would know he played like he carried that responsibility,” said Ebert.

For all the incredible football qualities Light possessed it was his friendship and willingness to help others that resonates most with Ebert. “Bruce was a great friend. You often get asked about teammates you would go to war with and I know Bruce would be the first to put his hand up to be alongside you,” said Ebert. “Footy was a vehicle for Bruce to do other things in life that were important to him and to help others. During his career, Bruce went back to study as a mature-aged student and got a teaching degree. One of his great passions was teaching and helping the children of Ashford Special School here in Adelaide to develop and achieve their goals and he spent more than a decade in that role. “Beyond football, Bruce had many amazing qualities that a lot of people didn’t see and he’ll be sadly missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

Everyone at the Port Adelaide Football Club passes on its condolences to the entire Light family. Bruce Light will be farewelled next week at a private service. Port Adelaide will honour Light’s memory and outstanding contribution at Adelaide Oval in Round 1.
http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2018-01-27/vale-bruce-light

 

[Eddie Dingle]

http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2018-01-27/vale-bruce-light
THE Port Adelaide Football Club mourns the passing of premiership wingman Bruce Light. Light, who represented Port Adelaide in 216 games from 1967 to 1978, passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 68 after a long battle with illness. Light was awarded Port Adelaide Life Membership in 1976 and played a pivotal role the following season in the club’s drought-breaking 1977 premiership.

His close friend and premiership captain Russell Ebert recalls a man who was adored by Port Adelaide supporters throughout the 1970s for his electrifying speed, courage and flowing blond hair.

“Bruce had the respect of everyone. Regardless of who you asked - Port Adelaide supporters, fellow teammates or casual observers - Bruce Light would invariably be in the top 3 for people’s favourite players during his career,” remembered Ebert. “Bruce was different to wingman of that time. He loved being in the thick of the action and he had the courage to back it up. But he was also the fastest player I’ve ever seen which made him very popular with our supporters but not so popular with opposition wingman.”

In the book Dynasty, legendary Port Adelaide player and coach Fos Williams described Light as a “superior footballer”. “He was courageous, he’d wave the ball around and get away with it and was just a natural showing the skills on both sides of his body,” said Williams.

Ebert fondly reflects on Light’s career noting his performance in State games versus Victoria as highlights along with his brilliant 1977 finals series for Port Adelaide. For Light, team success always overshadowed individual glory. “Bruce was all about team success and triumph for the whole club. Along with his teammates, Bruce loved the trainers and volunteers at the club and always felt a real sense of responsibility toward the entire club and supporter base. And anyone who saw Bruce play would know he played like he carried that responsibility,” said Ebert.

For all the incredible football qualities Light possessed it was his friendship and willingness to help others that resonates most with Ebert. “Bruce was a great friend. You often get asked about teammates you would go to war with and I know Bruce would be the first to put his hand up to be alongside you,” said Ebert. “Footy was a vehicle for Bruce to do other things in life that were important to him and to help others. During his career, Bruce went back to study as a mature-aged student and got a teaching degree. One of his great passions was teaching and helping the children of Ashford Special School here in Adelaide to develop and achieve their goals and he spent more than a decade in that role. “Beyond football, Bruce had many amazing qualities that a lot of people didn’t see and he’ll be sadly missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

Everyone at the Port Adelaide Football Club passes on its condolences to the entire Light family. Bruce Light will be farewelled next week at a private service. Port Adelaide will honour Light’s memory and outstanding contribution at Adelaide Oval in Round 1.
http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2018-01-27/vale-bruce-light

What a ****ing legend.

 

[simmo_bc]

Bruce obviously played a handful of state games but who were his main rivals in the 70s era?

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

You can see Bruce play the last quarter of the state game at AO v the Vics in 1973 and they win 21.13 139 to SA 20.15 135 and you see Bruce for the first time 45 seconds into the quarter wearing no. 19

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Bruce obviously played a handful of state games but who were his main rivals in the 70s era?

Do you mean locally? Phil Gallagher Norwood; Tony Burgan Sturt; Peter Vivian Centrals; John MacFarlane Glenelg; Barry Stringer North some of the better wingmen from the 70s that I remember.

 

[Interstater]

When thinking about Bruce on the weekend I made a suggestion to the club to display the names of all 100 game players on the bottom back black panel of the appropriate jumper.

e.g. the names Light Anderson and Foster on Bonners #26.
DBJ's #33 would look good with Reval Mead Ebert Summerton

A regular reminder of what they are playing for.

I hope the club considers it.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

The 1977 grand final is a thing of beauty all on its own but check out around the 10:30 mark of this video of the closing stages of the game to see Bruce Light execute just about the perfect football bump on David Holst.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

The 1977 grand final is a thing of beauty all on its own but check out around the 10:30 mark of this video of the closing stages of the game to see Bruce Light execute just about the perfect football bump on David Holst.

And the intercept and pass to Evans at 12.37.

I never really thought of it before, but Bruce Light and Michael Wilson attacked the ball and player with the ball in a very similar manner. No wonder both were loved by the fans.

 

[Northalives]

Bruce light was an incredible Port Adelaide person. His love of the club off field was second to none and his displays on field were the stuff of legend.

If you were an opposition player assigned to stand on Bruce Light, you shit your pants. You could never get away from Bruce Light without paying the price. Some opponents would be running with the ball and behind them, closing like a rocket, would be Light and even if you got your kick away, you would invariable be nursing sore kidneys because no-one got off scot free when Lighty was after you.

To watch that number 26 flying around the field causing mayhem was a feeling that you just cannot describe to anyone and to witness the center line of B. Light, R. Ebert, B. Nyland was magnificent! Bruce did not ever, ever shirk a contest and never, ever took a backward step and was wonderfully gifted and trained like he played: he was a superior footballer.

B. M. Light was and will always be a Port Adelaide legend and for those of us who were privileged to see him play, we were blessed. Thank you Bruce Light.

 

[raptalia]

It has taken me some time to respond to this thread as The Colonel was a cult hero among those of us who followed the Magpies in the late sixties and into the seventies and his passing is a tremendous shock. I still have visions of the no26 with his long blond locks, exceptional pace and an intimidating exponent of the hip and shoulder bump. Of the players I have seen only Byron Pickett was as adept at the bump. Sadly that aspect of our game has been legislated out of the game and if The Colonel played the modern game he would probably have to rely on his speed. In that respect I lament the fact that the younger generations will never see the like of Bruce Light again.

I am pleased to read that Russell acknowledged Bruce Light's career direction change and his work in Special Education. I can attest that Bruce was an exceptional professional and well respected among his colleagues for his work at Ashford. They give you a special allowance for working in Special Education but I can tell you from experience it is a calling which takes an exceptional person to answer. Bruce Light was such a person.

in this time of sadness I am in mind of a story 'Blinky' Nyland once told me. The game was against Sturt at Adelaide Oval and Sturt wingman Brenton Miels was camped under the ball waiting. Blinky ran to him and said, 'hey Brenton here comes Lighty'. Miels took his eye off the ball, looked at The Colonel coming at him and dropped the mark which Bruce ponced on and ran away with. Sadly both The Colonel and Brenton Miels have now passed away.

The sun is setting on a great era.

Thanks for the memories Colonel.

 

[1954]

Bruce obviously played a handful of state games but who were his main rivals in the 70s era?

I reckon Lighty stood Victorian wingman Ken Fletcher a couple of times in state games during the early 1970's, once at Adelaide oval, and another time at the MCG, with honours about even on each occasion.

Ken Fletcher is the father of ex Essendon fullback Justin.

 

[simmo_bc]

Is there anyone at all in the modern era that would be comparable to Light?

 

[Ford Fairlane]

You can see Bruce play the last quarter of the state game at AO v the Vics in 1973 and they win 21.13 139 to SA 20.15 135 and you see Bruce for the first time 45 seconds into the quarter wearing no. 19

That was a bloody good game of footy and the names that played were great. Huge crowd too. Even enjoyed hearing Max, Wally and Elbows calling too.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

I reckon Lighty stood Victorian wingman Ken Fletcher a couple of times in state games during the early 1970's, once at Adelaide oval, and another time at the MCG, with honours about even on each occasion.

Ken Fletcher is the father of ex Essendon fullback Justin.

The commentators mention Fletcher playing on Light in the state game REH posted. Fletcher stood Michael Graham and beat him, then Light was moved onto him.

 

[raptalia]

Is there anyone at all in the modern era that would be comparable to Light?

As I posted previously it is a different game nowadays. The Colonel was fast and physical, you can still be fast but the physical bit has been engineered out of the game. Even a modern era player like Byron Pickett would need to change his game and sadly Bruce would have to do the same. The short answer to your question is the rules will not permit another Bruce Light as those who saw him play will attest.

 

[raptalia]

I can vaguely recall an incident involving The Colonel and a Norwood player. Think that player may have been Phil Carman and someone's beard was pulled. Bruce had a goatie at one stage but I cannot recall Carman having whiskers. I assume that Carman gave The Colonel's beard a tug. Can anyone please refresh my memory? The incident has us all laughing at the time.

 

[1954]

I can vaguely recall an incident involving The Colonel and a Norwood player. Think that player may have been Phil Carman and someone's beard was pulled. Bruce had a goatie at one stage but I cannot recall Carman having whiskers. I assume that Carman gave The Colonel's beard a tug. Can anyone please refresh my memory? The incident has us all laughing at the time.

The beard pulling incident happened at the parade end half forward flank on the grandstand side, and it was Carman that pulled the Colonel's beard.
Legend has it that Lighty challenged Phil to meet him in the car park after the game, there were rumours that Bruce gave Phil a smacking, and others that Phil was a no show.

I suspect the no show is more likely to be correct.

 

[raptalia]

The beard pulling incident happened at the parade end half forward flank on the grandstand side, and it was Carman that pulled the Colonel's beard.
Legend has it that Lighty challenged Phil to meet him in the car park after the game, there were rumours that Bruce gave Phil a smacking, and others that Phil was a no show.

I suspect the no show is more likely to be correct.

Thanks Mick. That was a much talked about incident at the time yet another example of the colour that we have lost from the modern game.

 

[Wharf Dweller]

Devastated. My favourite player.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

I thought this was a nice touch from the club. I noticed it Friday night at the AGM, took a pic from the gap between the 2 stands from on the footpath but it was crap as phone zoom was poor, and I forgot to take one from the Quinn grandstand after the AGM, so thanks to Power Pete for sneaking it in the background from yesterday's training shots. I reckon a 26 between the T and the bloke on the scoreboard would have added just an extra nice touch.

 

[Garibaldi Red]

I thought this was a nice touch from the club. I noticed it Friday night at the AGM, took a pic from the gap between the 2 stands from on the footpath but it was crap as phone zoom was poor, and I forgot to take one from the Quinn grandstand after the AGM, so thanks to Power Pete for sneaking it in the background from yesterday's training shots. I reckon a 26 between the T and the bloke on the scoreboard would have added just an extra nice touch.

View attachment 456903

I reckon it was a pretty poor effort from Pete. He should’ve got a picture of Riley Bonner instead of Jack Hombsch.