In the Spotlight – Footy Park lights up in 1984

By DION HAYMAN

Port Adelaide came from five goals back to win the first game played under lights for premiership points at Football Park in 1984.

It brought to a close an almost six-year battle that included a Royal Commission as local residents fought doggedly to keep SANFL headquarters in the dark.

“It was wonderful Port Adelaide was chosen for the game,” said Greg Anderson, who was best-afield on that Friday night, still 10 days shy of his 18th birthday.

“I lived at West Lakes so I knew how the residents had tried to block it for years and years. So as a football supporter and lover, to finally be able to play the first game under lights was pretty special knowing how long it took to make that happen. Our whole family were footy freaks, really, they were very much in favour of it. We just loved it.”

Anderson’s feats on the night were even more remarkable given he collided with a roaming TV cameraman standing just a metre outside the boundary line after a Michael Aish tackle.

“I just went head-first into the cameraman’s camera and certainly saw a few stars, that’s for sure. It was a really solid hit, just like a cricket ball on the noggin. I was probably stunned as much as anything. I was certainly wobbly when I got to my feet.”

Anderson received attention on the ground before being assessed in the changerooms but resumed shortly after. It probably inspired Dwayne Russell’s clumsy tackle on Garry McIntosh moments later which prompted reprisal from Tom Warhurst, sparking a heated scuffle. It also shook the unbeaten Magpies to life after they had conceded the first five goals of the evening.

Norwood went into the game with a 1-4 record and, at first, it seemed some surprise tactics would pay off. Coach Neil Balme handed a debut in ruck to brother Craig, sent Jim Michalanney to defence on Tim Evans and picked Rodney Maynard at full forward.

“They really got the jump on us and it looked like it was going to be a long night but it was an amazing turnaround,” Anderson said. “I do remember the ball just bouncing my way straight after that incident, in between opponents’ legs and straight into my hands. So I think I had a bit of lady luck after that.”

Anderson saw off David Dickinson and James Fantasia before finishing with Keith Thomas for company. Centreman Craig Bradley did more damage the longer the game went, while small forward Stephen Knight, who passed away in 2009, was instrumental with six goals. He could have kicked eight but for two handballs over the top to Evans in the goalsquare. Knight was a player who celebrated every goal like he had scored at Wembley, punching the air with fervour. “He had this incredible excitement and enthusiasm and when he was on, it was great to be alongside him. And he was ‘on’ that night,” Anderson remembered.

The dashing wingman also thinks his output secured him a State debut against Victoria. “I was lucky enough to play that first State game under lights a few weeks later so that game really helped me because they obviously thought I could play okay under lights and maybe they thought the style suited me.”

Aish struck again that night with a fierce shepherd on 16-year-old Wayne Mahney the umpires deemed legal but that drew the wrath of the Magpie army.
 Neil Balme was also furious. He approached the men in white at half-time and after the game declared: “In the past five weeks we have been struggling along and every week we have had a hiding from the umps. Weak decisions were made at crucial times. How many frees were paid in front of goal?”

The Magpies won 20.14 (134) to 14.7 (91) but, incredibly, Norwood turned the tables on Port 149 days later to win one of the greatest grand finals of all.

PORT     2.4     10.7    15.13    20.14   (134)

NORWOOD    5.2       7.3    10.5      14.7      (91)

BEST – Port: Anderson, Bradley, Knight, Kinnear, R. Ebert, Russell.

Norwood: McIntosh, Warhurst, Maynard, K. Thomas, M. Aish, Roberts.

SCORERS – Port: Knight 6.0, Evans 5.2, Mahney 2.1, R. Ebert, Russell 2.0, Bradley 1.2, S. Williams 1.1, Leslie 1.0, Giles, Clifford, Belton, Harvey, C. Ebert 0.1, rushed 0.3.

Norwood: Maynard 6.1, Roberts 4.0, McCarthy 2.1, Fantasia, Kelly 1.0, McIntosh, Gallagher, Dickinson, rushed 0.2.

UMPIRES – Bob Scholefield, Neville Thorp.

CROWD – 19,612 at Football Park.