1949

Background

North were minor premiers again in 1932 but were beaten in the Grand Final.  They also played in the finals in 1933, finishing fourth.  In 1936 they won the first semi-final but lost the preliminary final.  In all of the other years up to and including 1941, they finished fifth (four times), sixth (twice) and seventh (once).  Considering the amazing goal-kicking feats of Ken Farmer during the period 1929 - 1941, these were disappointing results.  In the years 1942 - 1944 inclusive, there was a combined competition because of the Second World War.  North combined with Norwood and played against West-Glenelg, Sturt-South and Port-Torrens, winning premierships in 1943 & 1944.

North finished fourth in 1945, though were desperately unlucky.  They played West Torrens in the first semi-final and the game should have been drawn.  However, the umpire (Ken Aplin) didn't hear the bell and Torrens scored a goal to win the game.  Torrens went on to win the Premiership.

Three more lean years followed without making the finals, but in 1948 a policy was adopted to base the future on youth.  Ken Farmer was appointed senior coach in 1949 and the new policies bore immediate fruit.  North were minor premiers, and thrashed Norwood 23.14 to 11.13 in the second semi-final.  Torrens defeated Norwood in the preliminary final, thus becoming North's opponents in the grand final.

Premiership Team

(Coach : K. Farmer ;  Captain : I. McKay)

The Grand Final

Farmer wins in first year as coach

Conditions were very difficult in the grand final.  It was hot and humid, and a blustery northerly wind swept into goal from the right pocket.  Jeff Pash lead North out for what was his last game for the Club and Torrens appeared 4 minutes after the scheduled starting time.  Captain Ian McKay won the toss for North, breaking a long sequence of losing tosses, and kicked with the breeze to the Southern end.

Torrens started better and scored the first goal, using good pace and bustling North into error.  Cox received a knock-on from Arbon and brought up North's first goal, and a sequence of 3 points saw North hit the front for the first time.  North were beginning to assert an ascendency when Cox goaled again after marking a stray kick from defence.  Stringer then added North's third goal before Hank scored for Torrens.  Late in the quarter Stringer marked a poor kick-in and goaled to give North a 13 point advantage at the first break.  Coach Ken Farmer said after the game that he thought North may have lost the game in this quarter by not taking greater advantage of the wind.

With the wind at their backs, it seemed that Farmer's fears would be realised when Torrens goaled in the first minute of the second quarter.  However, North rallied with a goal to Pedler and then resolute defence prevented Torrens from breaking away.  Both sides were inaccurate, with North scoring 4 consecutive points.  Finally Torrens scored their 4th and 5th goals to draw almost level before Kennett produced a clever left-foot goal.  North lead by 8 points at the long break.

As had happened in each of the first two quarters, Torrens scored the first goal of the third term.  Cox kicked his third goal for North before Hank levelled the scores when he kicked his third goal.  Pash for North and Coverlid for Torrens both goaled and again the scores were locked away at 8.13 each.  A point from Mehaffey put Torrens in front, but goals from Stringer and Arbon steadied things for North and gave them a 10 point lead at the last break.  McKay rucked for North for 15 minutes in this quarter; it was easily the best ruckwork for the day and it was telling that North kicked 4 straight goals during that period.

The slender advantage to North appeared to be inadequate, and most expected Torrens to run over North in the final term.  However, showing superior stamina and fighting qualities, North played like a new team.  For the first time, they played with system and attacked repeatedly.  Pedler gave North a 3-goal lead and they were in complete control when Phillips kicked the second goal of the quarter.  This was judged to be the best goal of the day - Hank ran over the mark and Phillips neatly side-stepped, gained an additional 10 yards and sent a soaring 50 yard screw punt through.  Torrens scored another goal, but Stringer replied for North to ensure that they went on to victory.  The premiership ended an 18 year drought for North and there were wild celebrations afterwards.

Scores

Goals : Stringer 4.6, Cox 3.0, Pedler 2.2, Arbon 1.2, Kennett 1.2, Pash 1.0, Phillips 1.0, Aamodt 0.2, O'Leary 0.1, Gilbourne 0.1, rushed 0.1

Attendance : 42,490

Team Photo

Back row, L to R : P. Kennett, L Tuckey, F. Crouch, H. Beaton, G. Donnisthorpe, R. Phillips
Second row, L to R : J. Hall, A. Galloway, J. Tidswell, L. Pedler, K. Carroll, D. Stringer, D. Gilbourne
Third row, L to R : J. Pash, T. MacKenzie, B. Coulls, I. McKay (Captain), J. Blunden, C. Aamodt, S. Hancock
Front row, L to R : A. Odgers, J. Russell, O. Arbon, D. Cox
Absent : F. O'Leary (Vice-Captain), L. Griffin, J. Beeching, A. Aldenhoven