Central District launches its inaugural Hall of Fame

By PETER ARGENT

Held at the Goodman Road home of the Central District Bulldogs on Saturday evening, October 26, upwards of 300 guests celebrates the club’s inaugural Hall of Fame celebration, with the first 20 inductees announced.

Heart and soul Bulldog John Platten, the lad that grew up in a trust home at Elizabeth, had each of his eight siblings in attendance and was given the honour of being the first Bulldogs Legend announced.

“This accolade is right at the top of the tree,” Platten smiled.

“To be given Legend status at the club I grew up barracking for is the pinnacle.

“I’m moved and so honoured to have this bestowed on me.”

Fittingly the initial inductee was the gregarious Gary Window, the man who led the players onto the ground as captain, in the club’s opening League game back in 1964.

He would become the club’s first League Magarey Medallist the following year, after winning this individual accolade at Reserves level in 1963.

With an equal SANFL best (with Port Adelaide’s Geof Motley) of nine league premierships, “The Twins”, James and Chris Gowans were obvious choices.

Chris was the second inductee announced, while James was the eighth.

“It was special to have dad (Peter) and especially mum (Alison) across for the event,” James Gowans told SANFL.com.au

“Central District will always have a special place in our family history.

“There was a bit of luck involved and as in all sports it is all about timing.

“We have always said, we couldn’t achieve anything without our teammates.

“Thomo, Sladey and coaches, Jonah and Roy were inducted as well, and I reckon you will see a number of others added in the years to come.”

Along with Window, there were five further people who coached the Central District league team inducted.

They included former Sturt footballer and Bulldogs innovative senior coach from 1978 and 1983, Darryl Hicks; a person who played and coached in every grade at the club, Alan Stewart, inaugural league premiership winning mentor Peter Jonas and Roy Laird.

“It was an impressive night and well presented,” seven-time flag winning coach Roy Laird said.

“There were many wonderful stories told and naturally I’m humbled by being in that initial group.

“I’m pleased to be among this number and the club acknowledged those men that did much of the heavy lifted along our club’s journey.

“Having met a number of them it was great to see them recognized.

“I had fellow inductee Dean Mobbs’ number on my duffle-coat and he would go on to be a my reserves coach at the club.”

Second generation of his family, heart of his sleeve Bulldog Paul Thomas, the current League coach, was inductee number 17.

His playing career include six flags (four as skipper), 269 games and the 2004 Magarey Medal, winning by one vote from Matt Slade.

A number of Central District icons inducted have strong ties with the Barossa, Light and Gawler area, the club’s country zone.

The Window clan with the Willaston Football Club, as Gary’s father and a number of uncles were Donnybrooks people, while inductee number five Alan Stewart is a Mail Medallist and a premiership player in the early 1970s with the same club.

Inductee number six, Peter ‘Milky’ Vivian started his football and was an A-grade premiership player with Pleasant Valley, before coming back after being the first and to this stage on Bulldogs 300-game footballer to coach Angaston at the start of the BLG era, before leading Gawler Central to the ultimate success in 2001.

Loved by everyone at the Ponderosa, Williamstown resident Sonny Morey culminated a big year with his CDFC Hall of Fame induction at number seven.

He captain-coached the Eudunda Roosters to the 1978 Barossa and Light flag, before influencing a generation of local footballers as a junior coach at Elizabeth.

Sonny was announced at the 2024 AFL Season Launch, as this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree.

Hall of Famer number 11, Matthew Slade, is among the most decorated players in the Bulldogs’ history, having played upwards of 200 games and won eight flags, three as captain in a career from 1998 and 2009.

He had played senior footy at Gawler Central travelling down to Elizabeth and to the SANFL.

Robin “Irish” Mulholland, the boy from Belfast was inducted at number 18.

Mulholland first played our national football code with the South Gawler Lions in his late teens before he ventured to the Bulldogs.

After his SANFL days, Mulholland coached the Nuriootpa Tigers to flags in 1975 and 1976, along with winning a Mail Medal.

He also co-wrote with Robert Laidlaw two important publications, Poms to Premiers – the first 50 years of the Central District Football Club along with Sonny Morey’s biography.

Naturally with 44 years-service in administration and as CEO of the club (and over 50 years since he first donned a CDFC jumper) the man the grandstand is named after, Kris Grant, was among the 20 people heralded.

“The crowd showed respect right to the end of a long evening in a fully packed-out room,” Grant confirmed.

“The difference stories were fantastic to hear.

“The speeches showed what the club meant to all the inductees.

“It was great to have Taylor Walker at the event to celebrate Alan Stewart’s induction.”

Club founding member Norm Russell was second legend announced on the night, and a third administrator, Bob Zerella, the man the CDFC’s academy is named after, was also honoured.

The late Peter Beythein and current board member, club captain in the 1990s, Roger Girdham, were also in the initial 20.

“The event was significant, one of the best, if not the best event held at the club,” current CEO Greg Edwards explained.

“Each of the 20 interviews were great, lots of emotion and a plethora of memories.

“Our MC Mark Soderstrom did a great job again, he is a professional.

“At the end of the evening, we unveiled our Hall of Fame display in the Sonny Morey Lounge, which was a huge success.”

Gary Window, 1964-66, 1969-70                  82 games, 74 goals

Member of SA Football Hall of Fame

Best and Fairest 1965

Club coach, 1976-77

Club captain in first 4 games of 1964

Coached reserves to 1971 premiership

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Two state games, 1964

Reserves Magarey Medal, 1963

Magarey Medal, 1965

Sonny Morey, 1964-77                          213 games, 28 goals.

Member of SA Football Hall of Fame

First kick in league football for Central in first game.

First Central player to 200 games, 1976.

First playing Life Member CDFC, 1973

First Central player Life Membership with SANFL

Best and Fairest, 1970

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Central’s reserves premiership team, 1971

Runner up CDFC B&F 1972

Runner-up to Malcolm Blight for the 1972 Magarey Medal.

Four state games for South Australia.

Sonny Morey Lounge named in 1975, and recently resurrected.

Coached CDFC under 17s, 1981-88, winning 1985 flag.

Named coach and in the back pocket for the SANFL indigenous team of the ages, in 2011.

Tony Casserly, 1970-75                        101 games, 60 goals

Club captain, 1971-74

Club coach, 1972-75

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Two state games, 1974 (10 state games with Western Australia)

Played 152 league games with East Fremantle

Peter Jonas, 1977-80, 1988-90             93 games, 109 goals

Best and Fairest 1979

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Club coach, 1998-2000 (first premiership, 2000)

Six state games, 1980-81

Played 82 VFL games with North Melbourne

First League Premiership Coach – 2000

Dean Mobbs, 1970-83                                     206 games, 176 goals

Club captain, 1978-83

Player life member 1979

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Two state games 1974

SANFL player life member, 1979

Robin Mulholland, 1968-74                           112 games, 146 goals

Best and Fairest 1968, 1972

Leading goalkicker, 1972, 46 goals

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Three state games, 1972

10-plus years as President CDFC Past Players Association.

Co-author of ‘Poms to Premiers’, and ‘Sonny’ books.

John Platten – LEGEND, 1981-85, 1998,                113 games, 262 goals

Member of SA Football Hall of Fame

Member of Australian Football Hall of Fame

Club Captain, 1998

Best and Fairest 1984, 1985

Leading goalkicker, 1981, 51 goals; 1985, 65 goals

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Magarey Medal, 1984

15 state games, 1982-85 (plus State of Origin after joining Hawthorn)

Played 258 VFL/AFL games (4 flags) with Hawthorn

Brownlow Medal 1987

Peter Vivian, 1969-85                                     308 games, 102 goals

Member of SA Football Hall of Fame

Best and Fairest 1978

Player Life Member 1978

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Two state games, 1972

SANFL player Life Member, 1978

Roger Girdham, 1986-97                     255 games, 101 goals.

Club captain, 1992-97

Under 17 McCallum Medal, 1983

Player Life Member 1995

CDFC Life Member, 2019 (only player Life Member)

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

One state game, 1996 (VC)

SANFL player Life Member, 1996

President CDFC Past Players Association

Peter Beythien, 1975-87                        285 games, 201 goals.

Best and Fairest 1977

Player Life Member 1984

SANFL player Life Member, 1986

Chris Gowans, 2000-2012                     246 games, 326 goals

Member of SA Football Hall of Fame

Premiership player, 2000-01, 2003-05, 2007-10

Leading goalkicker, 2003, 41 goals

Player Life Member 2009

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Jack Oatey Medal 2003, 2007

Bob Quinn Medal 2007

Four state games 2001-03, 05.

SANFL player Life Member, 2009

James Gowans, 2000-2012                    245 games, 273 goals

Member of SA Football Hall of Fame

Premiership player, 2000-01, 2003-05, 2007-10

Best and Fairest 2003

Player Life Member 2009

Member of CDFC 40-year team of champions

Jack Oatey Medal, 2000.

Bob Quinn Medal, 2002

Five state games 2001-03, 06, 08.

SANFL player Life Member, 2009

Played 4 AFL games with St Kilda

Matthew Slade, 1998-2009                             223 games, 156 goals

Best and Fairest 2006

Runner-up Magarey Medal 2004

Two state games 2002-03

Player Life Member 2007

SANFL player Life Member 2008

Co-club captain, 2007-09

Premiership player (including 3 as captain), 2000-01, 2003-05, 2007-09

SANFL player Life Member, 2008

Paul Thomas, 2001-04, 2006-15           269 games, 67 goals

Club captain, 2007-15

Best and Fairest 2004, 2009

Player Life Member 2011

Premiership player (including 4 as captain), 2003-04, 2007-10

Club coach, 2021-present

Eight state games, (including 4 as captain) 2003, 06, 07, 08, 2012-2015

Magarey Medal, 2004

Bob Quinn Medals, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2011

SANFL player Life Member 2012

Played 8 AFL games with Essendon

Daryl Hicks

Member of SA Football Hall of Fame

Club coach, 1978-83 (first minor premiership, 1979)

CDFC Life Member, 2006

SANFL player Life Member, 1973

Reserves coach and league selector

Champion player with Sturt

Roy Laird, 1989-97                                         87 games, 5 goals

Member of SA Football Hall of Fame

Club coach, 2003-19 (longest tenure, 17 seasons, 7 flags)

Reserves premiership coach in 2002

CDFC Life member, 2019

SANFL player/coach life member 2019

Alan Stewart, 1969                                           2 games, 0 goals

50 years of Coaching

CDFC Underage Coach 1975 to 1980

Teal Cup (State Under 17’s) Head Coach

AFLCA Lifetime Achievement Award – 2018

National Recruiting Manager at Port Adelaide – 1997 to 2003

Recruiting Manager at Adelaide Crows – 2004 to 2017

CDFC League Coach 1991-95 (2 Grand Finals)

CDFC Life Member, 2002

Kris Grant

Secretary/CEO, 1977-2021

CDFC Life Member, 2005

Played juniors and reserves for the club in the early years.

Elizabeth Oval Grand Stand named in his honour

Norm Russell – LEGEND

Foundation Member of CDFC in 1959

Recruiting 1959 to 1963

CDFC Management Committee 1961 to 1974

CDFC Club President 1976 to 1982

Club Patron 1985 to 1998

CDFC Inaugural Life Member 1969

OAM for contribution to Australian Rules Football 1985

Club League Best & Fairest named after – Norm Russell Medal

President 1976-82

Patron 1985-1998

CDFC Life Member, 1969 (the first)

Robert Zerella

President 1986-90

Patron 1977-1984, 1999-2013

CDFC Life Member, 1990

Founded Robert Zerella CDFC Junior Academy