Print this pageFormer West Adelaide champion Grantley Fielke had many questions put to him during his lengthy and illustrious career. When someone plays 362 league games for the Bloods, spends two seasons with the Adelaide Crows and a year with Collingwood, there are sure to be many dilemmas to ponder.
But for Fielke, there would have been no more crucial question than that asked of him by then Bloods coach Neil Kerley late in the 1983 season.
It had been a shocking year for the 1985 Magarey Medallist injury wise. He "busted my arm" and missed six games, only to have his season again hit by a repeat of the injury. The second blow cost him another five games and he did not return until the last minor round.
The Bloods were the stand-out team that year and the choice Kerley gave Fielke was to sit on the bench for the league match or play in the seconds.
If he sat on the bench he risked not getting on the field and putting his spot in jeopardy for the finals. If he played reserves he risked performing below his expectations and missing promotion for the big games.
His decision was to play in the early game. Fielke impressed selectors while the league side had a rare loss. He was rushed back into the league outfit and became a Bloods hero as West Adelaide charged to premiership glory.
The club has not won the flag since.
Reflecting on the 1983 triumph while celebrating the 25th anniversary of the victory at Broadspectrum Oval on Saturday, Fielke has a warning for players who get to feel the thrill of success on the SANFL's biggest day.
"You have got to enjoy the moment,' he said. "I never appreciated it at the time.
"I'd been in the under-19 premiership side with the club in 1979, so had two at West Adelaide in four years. I was thinking, 'this is fantastic, this is what football is all about. I've got about 15 years left playing and this is going to continue'.
"Another 15 years playing and we won nothing.
"There is nothing to equate to a premiership. There have been players a lot better than me who have never won a premiership - it is special."
Memories of the 1983 title march were revived on Saturday with many of the players from that golden season celebrating at Richmond. Craig Williams and Tony Burgess were among those who joined in the celebrations.
Former star ruckman Mark Mickan, who missed the grand final because of injury, was not at the ground for the game between West Adelaide and Sturt - he was at Glenelg coaching the Tigers against South Adelaide. Premiership defender John Kantilaftas was also missing - he was at Prospect in his duties as chief executive of Woodville-West Torrens. The memories of 1983 will be much better than Saturday for the pair, with Glenelg and the Eagles being beaten.
The Bloods came close to ending the premiership drought when they qualified for the 2003 grand final. Central District reigned supreme that day, however, and the Bloods have not been a threat since. Among the modern-day Bloods is Fielke's second cousin Aaron.
"The club is going rough at the minute," Grantley said. "I feel sorry for them but I never bag the club.
"We have to stick with the coach (Andrew Collins) and he will bring success. We just need to recruit and be smart about who we get."
Courtesy of The Advertiser
Story by Warren Partland