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FORMER North Adelaide ace David Tiller questions whether the players wearing the Roosters or Glenelg jumpers nowadays understand the history between the clubs.
From 1985 the two powerhouse SANFL identities in the mid-80s contested three successive grand finals. Glenelg claimed glory in the first two before the Roosters gained some revenge in 1987.
This was a golden pre-AFL era and both clubs contained some of the best talent produced in SA with names such as Stephen Kernahan, Chris McDermott and Peter Carey in the Tigers colours and Michael Redden and Jarman brothers Andrew and Darren at North.
"Because that was 20 years ago the guys at the two clubs these days just play footy and don't understand the Glenelg-North bit," Tiller said.
But Glenelg and North always brought out good matches. There was wonderful footy. The rivalry between a lot of clubs was good in those days.
"After we lost the two grand finals in a row we questioned where we fitted into the footy world. It was icing on the cake to beat Glenelg in the 1987 grand final."
Tiller played 290 league games for the Roosters and captained the side in the two losing grand finals.
Any talk of Glenelg's very best must include the name Peter Carey. The ruckman played 448 games for Glenelg and captained the side to the premierships in 1985-86.
Nicknamed Super, Carey's battles with North hero Redden were incredible. Neither backed away from the contest and neither enjoyed a loss.
But once the final siren called a truce to the fierce struggles, the two big men chatted over a beer. "There was a fantastic rivalry back in the 1980s," Carey said. "North Adelaide had some great talent and our '85 side had 14 players who ended up playing AFL.
"There was some of the best talent in Australia. Kernahan, (Tony) McGuinness, McDermott - those guys made a huge mark in Australian Rules footy.
"Mick Redden was my toughest opponent and we had some great clashes - it was always a big challenge. But he was a great bloke off the field."
The Glenelg-North rivalry continues at Brighton Rd on Saturday.
WEST Adelaide on-baller Salim Hassan is available to front Sturt on Saturday after being cleared of a striking charge at last night's SANFL tribunal. Hassan was reported for allegedly striking Port's Matthew Lokan on Saturday.
Courtesy of The Advertiser
Story by Warren Partland