AAMI Footy Flashback – 1998 Anzac Day Match

By ZAC MILBANK

The pressure on the Port Adelaide Football Club was immense approaching the 1998 Anzac Day match.

Poised to face arch-rival Norwood in the most important minor round clash on the calendar, the Magpies knew a significant response was required.

Twelve months earlier, Stephen Williams’ side succumbed to the Redlegs by a club-record 122 points at Adelaide Oval.

At the time, their total score of 4.3 (27) was also the club’s second lowest since World War 2.

Things didn’t get much better when Norwood crushed Port by a whopping 73 points in the 1997 Grand Final.

It’s fair to say Williams had a steely resolve leading into the blockbuster clash on Saturday April 25 of 1998.

”It’s been one of those games where the coach doesn’t have to do as much as normal as the guys are really looking forward to it,” Williams told the ABC before the match.

”Anzac Day at Adelaide Oval, it has got that special significance.

”We played there last year and we were pretty well embarrassed so we will be looking to do a lot better this year.”

Lining up with club greats such as premiership captain Darryl Borlase and SA Football Hall of Famer Darren Smith, the Magpies boasted a fierce back six which included hardmen such as Stephen Carter, Brian Leys and Jarred Poulton.

But the Redlegs also had no shortage of courageous players such as Magarey Medallist Garry McIntosh, Anthony Harvey – younger brother of Saints Brownlow Medallist Robert – and back pocket specialist Jerry D’Antiochia.

Other players of interest include Port’s Jack Oatey Medallist Brett Chalmers – the father of Olympic Gold Medallist Kyle Chalmers – and Norwood’s Tom Harley, who would eventually captain Geelong to its 2007 and 2009 AFL premierships.

Just two points separated the sides at half-time before the Magpies began to edge their way in front, establishing a 13-point lead at the final change amid the blustery conditions.

The Redlegs trim the margin to just 10 points on the back of an Andrew Pascoe set shot 17 minutes into the fourth quarter but would be left to rue several missed opportunities leading into the final siren.

An unlikely match-winner is then kicked by Leys, who reads the ball well at the back of the pack before playing on into an open goal from 15m.

Despite the Bob Quinn Medal for best afield not being established until 2002, Leys is considered to be the best player on the ground for his performance at centre-half back.

Saturday April 25

PORT  ADELAIDE  4.4  5.8  8.9  11.10 (76)
NORWOOD             3.2  5.6  6.8  8.13 (61)

At Adelaide Oval

(Reigning Premier in caps)

1948 Norwood 18.16 d WEST 11.20 (Adelaide)

1954 Port 11.11 d EAGLES 10.8 (Adelaide)

1956 PORT 13.18 d Norwood 7.15 (Adelaide)

1958 PORT 13.19 d Norwood 10.8 (Adelaide)

1959 West 12.11 d PORT 10.19 (Richmond)

1960 West 10.12 d PORT 9.14 (Adelaide)

1961 NORTH 16.11 d Norwood 12.10 (Adelaide)

1963 West 12.10 d PORT 11.15 (Adelaide)

1964 PORT 11.14 d North 12.3 (Adelaide)

1965 SOUTH 14.9 d Port 9.6 (Adelaide)

1966 PORT 12.15 d Sturt 11.17 (Adelaide)

1967 STURT 14.12 d Port 10.13 (Adelaide)

1968 Port 13.11 d STURT 10.10 (Adelaide)

1969 STURT 18.15 d Port 10.6 (Adelaide)

1970 STURT 14.22 d Glenelg 12.6 (Adelaide)

1971 STURT 10.10 d Glenelg 8.7 (Adelaide)

1972 Port 14.12 d NORTH 11.11 (Adelaide)

1973 Port 19.10 d NORTH 15.13 (Adelaide)

1974 GLENELG 24.21 d North 14.14 (Adelaide)

1975 Glenelg 16.14 d STURT 12.16 (Football Park)

1976 Glenelg 17.26 d NORWOOD 15.9 (Football Park)

1977 Port 21.9 d STURT 11.9 (Football Park)

1978 Glenelg 18.14 d PORT 7.6 (Football Park)

1979 NORWOOD 20.17 d Sturt 12.14 (Football Park)

1980 PORT 11.17 d South 8.11 (Football Park)

1981 PORT 15.8 d Norwood 8.14 (Football Park)

1982 Glenelg 12.9 drew PORT 11.15 (Football Park)

1983 NORWOOD 29.14 d Glenelg 12.12 (Football Park)

1984 Sturt 19.28 d WEST ADELAIDE 19.8 (Football Park)

1985 NORWOOD 23.14 d Port 19.13 (Football Park)

1991 PORT 13.14 d Glenelg 10.10 (Football Park)

1995 PORT 18.15 d Eagles 10.14 (Football Park)

1998 Port 11.10 d NORWOOD 8.13 (Adelaide)

1999 PORT 16.7 d Sturt 12.13 (Adelaide)

2001 CENTRAL 13.16 d Eagles 11.12 (Adelaide)

2002 CENTRAL 16.11 d Eagles 5.7 (Adelaide)

2003 Central 11.12 d STURT 6.9 (Adelaide)

2004 CENTRAL 19.9 d West 10.8 (Adelaide)

2005 Eagles 16.22 d CENTRAL 6.8 (Adelaide)

2006 Eagles 16.15 d CENTRAL 13.10 (Adelaide)

2007 Central 23.13 d EAGLES 11.3 (Thebarton)

2008 CENTRAL 12.12 d North 9.11 (Adelaide)

2009 CENTRAL 21.8 d Glenelg 7.8 (Adelaide)

2010 Sturt 19.9 d CENTRAL 8.8 (Elizabeth)

2011 CENTRAL 16.11 d Norwood 9.10 (Adelaide)

2012 Central 13.6 d EAGLES 12.6 (Woodville)

2013 NORWOOD 9.13 d West 6.5 (Norwood)

2014 North 14.7 d NORWOOD 9.16 (Adelaide)

2015 NORWOOD 7.14 d Port 5.5 (Adelaide)

2016 Eagles 15.13 d WEST 4.6 (Adelaide)

2017 Eagles 9.8 d STURT 5.18 (Unley)

2018 STURT 12.11 d Port 8.10 (Unley)

2019 Norwood 15.11  d NORTH 12.15 (Prospect)

2002 James Gowans (Central)

2003 Paul Thomas (Central)

2004 Paul Thomas (Central)

2005 Luke Powell (Eagles)

2006 Mark Passador (Eagles)

2007 Chris Gowans (Central)

2008 Paul Thomas (Central)

2009 Chad O’Sullivan (Central)

2010 Jade Sheedy (Sturt)

2011 Paul Thomas (Central)

2012 Ryan Williams (Central)

2013 Mat Suckling (Norwood)

2014 Jay Shannon (North)

2015 Peter Persinos (Norwood)

2016 Jared Petrenko (Eagles)

2017 Angus Poole (Eagles)

2018 Fraser Evans (Sturt)

2019 Matthew Panos (Norwood)