North Adelaide Football Club

History

In 1880 a group of schoolboys from Prince Alfred College and the now defunct Whinham College got together and played football on a section of the Park Lands, previously known as Hawker's Paddock. It was so called locally because it was leased from the City of Adelaide by George Hawker, a well known citizen of the suburb of Medindie. The schoolboys dubbed their football team the Medindie Football Club. They wore the red and white colours of Prince Alfred College and played other football teams on the site. One of those schoolboys was Charles Nitschke who would become Captain of the Medindie Club and would be known as the founding Father of North Adelaide Football Club.

One of the club's first reported games were in May 1882 against Prince Alfred and St Peters Colleges Second Twenties both on Medindie's home ground.

Medindie was a foundation member in 1885 of the South Australian Junior Football Association, before being admitted to the Adelaide and Suburban Football Association in 1886.

At the Annual General Meeting on 16 March 1888, held at the Red Lion Hotel, the Secretary Charles Nitschke was elected a Life Member for his valuable services to the club.

At the start of 1888, during a split of the SAFA, the Medindie Club was invited to join with 3 senior clubs, Port Adelaide, South Adelaide and the Adelaide (1885), into forming a new Senior South Australia Football Association. Once the dispute was settled the club was still invited to join the senior Association for the 1888 SAFA season.

On 14 March 1893, at a meeting held at Temperance Hall, Tynte Street, North Adelaide it was unanimously decided to renamed itself from Medindie to North Adelaide. Although several other early clubs, including Victorians and Hothams which used the name of "North Adelaide" prior to 1893, none of them bore ties to the current club.

North Adelaide started playing at Prospect Oval from 1922 with the first game of the season on Monday 8 May 1922 against Glenelg and it has remained their home ground ever since.

North Adelaide competed in the first match played at Football Park (now known as AAMI Stadium) in round 5, 1974. Their opponent was Central District. The match was won by Central District.

The longest serving coach for the club is Michael Nunan – 12 seasons from 1981 to 1992.

The Captain's record is held by Ian McKay, captaining the team for 8 years from 1948 to 1955.

The North Adelaide Football Club officially renamed both ends of Prospect Oval in 2012 after the two official Icons of the club. The northern end around the goals was named the "Ken Farmer End", while the southern end was named the "Barrie Robran End".

South Australian Football Hall of Fame and Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Jack 'Dinny' Reedman and future North Adelaide Premiership Captain began his career at Medindie in 1884.

North Adelaide was a foundation member of the SANFL Women's competition in 2017. The Roosters lost two grand finals in the league before eventually claiming their maiden women's premiership in 2020.

Club Icons

The North Adelaide Football Club has named two of their past champions as Icons. They are:

• Ken Farmer – All-time leading SANFL goal kicker with 1,419 from 1929 to 1941. Premiership player in 1930 and 1931. Premiership coach in 1949 and 1952. Since 1981 the leading goalkicker in each SANFL season has been awarded the "Ken Farmer Medal". He kicked 105 goals in 1930 to become the first SA League player to kick 100 goals in a season. He was a prolific goalkicker, kicking 100 goals in a season in 11 consecutive seasons (1930–1940). Farmer also holds the record for the most goals in an SANFL match – 23 against West Torrens at Prospect on 6 July 1940. Farmer scored ten or more goals in thirty-seven matches, and 1,419 goals in total over his career, at an astounding average of 6.3 per match.
• Barrie Robran – Triple Magarey Medallist (1968, 1970, 1973). Premiership player in 1971 and 1972, is North Adelaide's other iconic player, Barrie Robran, played 201 League games for the Roosters and 10 State games, and won 3 Magarey Medals (1968, 1970 and 1973). He was the first SANFL player to be made a "Legend" in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and the only "Legend" not to have played VFL or AFL.

Club song

North Adelaide have had many versions of their club song in the past. All versions have contained the same lyrics, but have been changed rhythm wise to keep up with the times. The lyrics and tune, by well known Australian singer/songwriter Johnny Mac, are the only completely original written in the league, as all the other clubs have written lyrics to well known tunes. The most recent version was brought in during the early 2000s, but all versions can still be found on the club song CD.

It's a great, great club,

And the club we love,

We're the good old red and whites!

The mighty Roosters we're called,

All for one, one for all,

If we're down we fight, fight, fight!

We always play as a team,

And we play it clean,

We're never out of sight,

Be it wet, be it dry,

We try, try, try,

We're the good old red and whites!

Current playing list

• (C)

Club achievements

Club records

• Home Ground: Prospect Oval (1922–present)
• Previous Home Grounds: Kensington Oval (1888–94), Adelaide Oval (1895–98, 1902–03, 1905–21), Jubilee Oval (1899–1901, 1904)
• Record Attendance at Prospect Oval: 19,120 v Port Adelaide in Round 5, 1958
• Record Attendance: 56,525 v Glenelg at Adelaide Oval, 1973 SANFL Grand Final
• Record Attendance at AAMI Stadium: 50,617 v Glenelg, 1987 SANFL Grand Final
• Record Attendance since Adelaide Crows (AFL) formation (1991): 40,355 v Norwood at Adelaide Oval, 2018 SANFL Grand Final
• Record Attendance since Port Adelaide (AFL) entry (1997): 40,355 v Norwood at Adelaide Oval, 2018 SANFL Grand Final
• Most Games: 378 by Michael Redden (1978–93) plus 11 state games
• Most Goals in a Season: 134 by Ken Farmer in 1936
• Most Goals for the club: 1419 by Ken Farmer (1929–41, 224 games)
• First player to kick 100 goals in an SANFL season: Ken Farmer (1930 – 105 goals)
• Most Years as Coach: 12 by Michael Nunan (1981–92)
• Most Premierships as Coach: 2 by P. Lewis (1930, 1931), Ken Farmer (1949, 1952), Mike Patterson (1971, 1972) and Michael Nunan (1987, 1991)
• Most Years as Captain: 8 by Ian McKay (1948–55)
• Most Premierships as Captain: 2 by John Reedman (1902, 1905), Percy Furler (1930, 1931), Ian McKay (1949, 1952) and Mike Patterson (1971, 1972)
• Most Best & Fairest Awards: 7 by Barrie Robran (1967–73)
• Highest Score: 34.22 (226) v South Adelaide 6.12 (48) at Adelaide Oval in Round 5, 1972

Premiership sides

2018 Premiership Side

Main article: 2018 SANFL season, 2018 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 19.10 (124) defeated Norwood 15.15 (105)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: 40,355

Date: 23 September 2018

Umpires: Bowen, Medlin, Harris

Jack Oatey Medallist: Mitch Grigg (Norwood) Best: Schwarz Allmond Barns Tropiano Woodcock Castree

Goals:

4 – Barns

3 – Harvey, Woodcock, McInerney

2 – Hender

1 – Ramsey, Sweet, Wilkie, Young

1991 Premiership Side

Main article: 1991 SANFL season, 1991 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 21.22 (148) defeated West Adelaide 11.7 (73)

Venue: Football Park

Attendance: 39,276

Date: 5 October 1991

Umpires: Laurie Argent and Mick Abbott

Jack Oatey Medallist: Darel Hart Best: Hart, Perkins, Sanders, Krieg, Redden, Parsons, Sims

Goals:

7 – Hart

4 – Burton

2 – Hamilton, Parsons

1 – Atkinson, Clisby, Krieg, Nunan, Perkins, Sanders

1987 Premiership Side

Main article: 1987 SANFL season, 1987 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 23.7 (145) defeated Glenelg 9.9 (63)

Venue: Football Park

Attendance: 50,617

Date: 3 October 1987

Umpires: Neville Thorpe, Rick Kinnear

Jack Oatey Medallist: Michael Parsons Best:

Goals:

6 – Parsons

5 – Roberts

4 – Sims

3 – Burton, D. Jarman

2 – A. Jarman

1972 Premiership Side

Main article: 1972 SANFL season, 1972 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 19.14 (128) defeated Port Adelaide 10.12 (72)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: 55,709

Date: 30 September 1972

Umpires:

Best:

Goals:

6 – Sachse

3 – Hearl

2 – Marsh, R. Robran, von Bertouch

1 – Phillips, Plummer, Rebbeck, B. Robran, Webb

1971 Premiership Side

Main article: 1971 SANFL season, 1971 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 10.19 (79) defeated Port Adelaide 9.5 (59)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: 52,228

Date: 25 September 1971

Umpires:

Best:

Goals:

4 – Rebbeck

3 – Webb

2 – Sachse

1 – Collins

1960 Premiership Side

Main article: 1960 SANFL season, 1960 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 14.11 (95) defeated Norwood 13.12 (90)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: 54,162

Date: 1 October 1960

Umpire:

Best: Potts, Gilbourne, Hammond, Gambling

Goals:

7 – Potts

1 – Barbary, Hughes, Kent, D. Lindner, Thomas, Trenorden, Whitford

1952 Premiership Side

Main article: 1952 SANFL season, 1952 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 23.15 (153) defeated Norwood 6.9 (45)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: 50,105

Date: 4 October 1952

Umpire:

Best:

Goals:

4 – Kennett, McKenzie, Phillips

3 – Cox

2 – Proud

1 – Aldenhoven, Gilbourne, Griffin, Fuller, McKay, Renner

1949 Premiership Side

Main article: 1949 SANFL season, 1949 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 13.17 (95) defeated West Torrens 9.18 (72)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: 42,490

Date: 1 October 1949

Umpire:

Best:

Goals:

4 – Stringer

3 – Cox

2 – Peddler

1 – Arbon, Kennett, Pash, Phillips

1931 Premiership Side

Main article: 1931 SANFL season, 1931 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 17.13 (115) defeated Sturt 11.11 (77)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: 34,202

Date: 3 October 1931

Umpire:

Best:

Goals:

6 – Farmer

4 – Proud

2 – Furler, Willshire

1 – Burns, Hawke, Lock

1930 Premiership Side

Main article: 1930 SANFL season, 1930 SANFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 9.13 (67) defeated Port Adelaide 9.9 (63)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: 23,609

Date: 4 October 1930

Umpire:

Best:

Goals:

4 – Farmer

2 – Barrett

1 – Burton, Furler, Hawke

1920 Premiership Side

Main article: 1920 SAFL season, 1920 SAFL Grand Final

North Adelaide 9.15 (69) defeated Norwood 3.3 (21)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: Approximately 31,000

Date: 18 September 1920

Umpire:

Best:

Goals:

2 – Frost, Leahy

1 – Curnow, Lewis, Maloney, Sprigg, Trescowthick

1905 Premiership Side

Main article: 1905 SAFA season, 1905 SAFA Grand Final

North Adelaide 6.8 (44) defeated Port Adelaide 1.6 (12)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: Approximately 11,000

Date: 9 September 1905

Umpire:

Best:

Goals:

4 – Jessop

1 – Fleet, Johns

1902 Premiership Side

Main article: 1902 SAFA season, 1902 SAFA Grand Final

North Adelaide 9.14 (68) defeated South Adelaide 4.7 (31)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: not recorded

Date: 6 September 1902

Umpire:

Best:

Goals:

4 – Jessop

2 – Dickenson, Johns

1 – Daly

1900 Premiership Side

Main article: 1900 SAFA season, 1900 SAFA Grand Final

North Adelaide 4.3 (27) defeated South Adelaide 1.8 (14)

Venue: Adelaide Oval

Attendance: approximately 7,000

Date: 8 September 1900

Umpire:

Best:

Goals:

2 – McNamara

1 – Matthews, Shaw

Team of the Century (1901–2000)

Selected by a committee composed of Colin Walsh (chairman), Don Lindner, Tom McKenzie, Jeff Pash, Barrie Robran and Gordon Schwartz. Each member provided a list of candidates for each position and the Committee then set about the arduous task of selecting the final team. The selected team was formally announced at a gala dinner held on 7 October 2000.

Individual

Magarey Medallists

• Phil Sandland 1901
• Tom MacKenzie 1905, 1906
• Tom Leahy 1913
• Harold 'Dribbler' Hawke 1937
• Jeff Pash 1939
• H.Ron Phillips 1948, 1949
• Ian McKay 1950
• Barrie Barbary 1960
• Don Lindner 1967^
• Barrie Robran 1968, 1970, 1973
• Tony Antrobus 1983
• Andrew Jarman 1987
• Brenton Phillips 1993
• Josh Francou 1996
• James Allan 2007, 2010, 2011
• Rhys Archard 2009
• Campbell Combe 2020
• Aaron Young 2022 ^ – awarded retrospectively

All-Australians

• Haydn Bunton 1956
• Don Lindner 1961
• Andrew Jarman 1986, 1987

League Leading Goalkickers

• Anthony "Bos" Daly (54) 1903, (30) 1905
• Perc Lewis (58) 1923
• Ken Farmer (105) 1930, (126) 1931, (102) 1932, (112) 1933, (106) 1934, (128) 1935, (134) 1936, (108) 1937, (112) 1938, (113) 1939, (123) 1940
• W. McKenzie (67) 1954
• Dennis Sachse (90) 1967
• John Roberts (111) 1987
• Daniel Hargraves (68) 2002
• Mitch Harvey (45) 2024

References

References

1. (12 May 1888). "Football". Express and Telegraph.
2. (August 1908). "North Adelaide in Football". Advertiser.
3. "Hall of Fame - Charles Nitschke".
4. (6 May 1882). "Medindie v. Prince Alfred CoL(Secon LEge Twenty.)". Adelaide Observer.
5. (23 May 1882). "Football". Evening Journal.
6. "Australian Football - a brief history of the medindie football club".
7. (17 March 1888). "Football". South Australian Register.
8. (May 1888). "Amusements". Express and Telegraph.
9. (15 March 1893). "Football". Advertiser.
10. (15 March 1893). "Football". Evening Journal.
11. (9 May 1922). "North Adelaide Beat Glenelg". Register.
12. (7 September 2006). "North Adelaide Football Club Icons".
13. "2025 Hosplus SANFLW Stats Guide". sanfl.com.au.
14. Club, NAFC-North Adelaide Football. "Player - NAFC History Database".
15. Club, NAFC-North Adelaide Football. "History - The Official North Adelaide Football Club Website - The Roosters - SANFL Macca's League 2017 Season".
16. Club, NAFC-North Adelaide Football. "Senior Football - The Official North Adelaide Football Club Website - The Roosters - SANFL Statewide Super League 2019 Season".