West Torrens Football Club

From MedBib.com - Medicine & Nature

Action from a 1949 match between West Torrens and Port Adelaide. The West Torrens player is on the left.

West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) from 1897 to 1990 when it merged with neighbouring Woodville Football Club to form the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.

Based in the western suburbs of Adelaide, the club derived its name from its location around the western reaches of the River Torrens.

Club history

There are references to a West Torrens team dating back to the 1870s but the modern club was formed in 1897 to compete in the SANFL. In its 93 year history, West Torrens won only four premierships and spent much of their existence at the foot of the premiership table.

They reached the finals for the last time in 1980 and by 1982 there were calls for West Torrens to merge with another club. In 1990, with the imminent entry of the South Australian based Adelaide Crows into the national Australian Football League (AFL), it was decided that West Torrens and Woodville would amalgamate. In an apt moment, Woodville and West Torrens were drawn to play each other in their respective final games. The two sides merged after the completion of the 1990 season and have since participated in the SANFL as the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.

Awards

• Premierships 4 (1924, 1933, 1945 & 1953)

West Torrens won an unofficial premiership in 1918 while the SANFL was officially disbanded for the duration of World War I.

During World War II, West Torrens merged with Port Adelaide Football Club and won the 1942 premiership.

• SANFL Reserves Premierships: 17 - 1919, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1941, 1946, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1962, 1968, 1984, 1990
• SANFL Under 19's Premierships: 9 - 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1973, 1989
• SANFL Under 17's Premierships: 3 - 1953, 1954, 1957

Magarey Medallists

• Dave Low (1912)
• John Karney (1921)
• Max Pontifex (1932)
• Bob Hank (1946 & 1947)
• Lindsay Head (1955, 1958 & 1963)

SANFL Leading Goalkickers

• Geoff Kingston: 78 goals (1961)

Club Colours and Emblems

• Blue and Gold (1897 - 1990)

West Torrens was known as the Eagles throughout its existence in the SANFL.

Club Grounds

• Jubilee Oval (1897 – 1904)
• Hindmarsh Oval (1905 – 1921)
• Thebarton Oval (1922 – 1989)
• Football Park 1990 (now AAMI Stadium)

Famous players

• Bob Hank: The dual Magarey Medallist captained West Torrens for nine seasons and was Club Best and Fairest a record nine times. He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1999.
• Neil Hawke: The test cricketer was also a star player with West Torrens following his clearance from Port Adelaide
• Lindsay Head: The three time Magarey Medallist is also club game record holder with 327 games. He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1996.
• Barry Jarman: The former Test cricketer played for West Torrens until injury curtailed his career.
• Bruce Lindsay: Member of the inaugural Adelaide Crows squad in the twilight of his career.
• Michael Long
• Bob Shearman: Went on to captain the Sturt Football Club and play in several of their premiership sides. Challenge trophy between Sturt and Woodville-West Torrens Eagles is named after him.
• Neville Roberts: aka "Rocky" Roberts who wore a protective skull cap after an injury, before transferring to Norwood
• Kym Dillon: Also a breakfat radio announcer and Sports reporter/announcer for Channel 9 Adelaide.
• Steven Stretch: One of the many top level players who went to the VFL prior to the AFL to play for Melbourne

External links

• Full Points Footy History of West Torrens Football Club