Vale Geof Motley OAM

The South Australian Football Commission and SANFL are mourning the passing of South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Geof Motley.

The 1964 Magarey Medallist played in a record nine premierships with Port Adelaide while lining up in 250 games from 1953 to 1966.

Motley was a key member in Port Adelaide’s six SANFL grand final wins in succession from 1954 to 1959.

The sixth was as the club’s captain-coach, a position the SANFL Player Life Member would hold for three seasons before continuing as captain through to his retirement in 1966.

Winner of four-best-and-fairest awards at Alberton, Motley was also a passionate South Australian while donning the treasured red guernsey on 28 occasions, including the famous 1963 triumph against Victoria at the MCG.

SA Football Commission Chairman, The Hon. Rob Kerin, paid tribute to Motley while recognising his outstanding contribution to Australian football on and off the field.

“Geof will be well remembered by the South Australian football community as being a fierce competitor, but one who was also incredibly fair and highly respected,” Mr Kerin said of Motley, who was an Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2008.

”There are few SANFL players who have surpassed the incredible successes of Geof Motley and it’s certainly a sad time to lose another great of our game.”

The Commission and SANFL extends its deepest sympathy to Geof’s daughter, Wanita, sons Peter – a fellow SA Football Hall of Fame member – and Brett, and the extended Motley family as it honours Geof’s outstanding service to the game in South Australia.

PLAYING RECORD

• 250 games and 156 goals for Port Adelaide 1953 – 1966
• Captain of Port Adelaide 1959 – 1966

PREMIERSHIPS

• Member of 9 premiership teams for Port Adelaide, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965

MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA

• 28

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Magarey Medallist 1964
• Best and fairest for Port Adelaide 1958, 1959, 1963, 1965
• Life member of Port Adelaide 1962
• Player life member of SANFL

COACHING RECORD

• Coach of Port Adelaide 1959 – 1961
• Coach of North Adelaide 1967 – 1969