Grand Final 1934

1934 Premiership Team

The Grand Final of 1934 was the first Grand Final contested by Glenelg. Although underdogs, they won a historic victory by 9 points over the more favoured Port Adelaide. The victory was even more memorable considering that Port had thoroughly thrashed Glenelg only a fortnight before in the Second Semi-Final.

Below are details on the Grand Final, including reviews written at the time.

GRAND FINAL Saturday 6 October 1934
Glenelg:	5.4	10.8	15.10	18.15 (123)
Port:	3.4	6.13	11.17	16.18 (114)

Goalkickers

Glenelg - Goldsworthy 4, Owens, Johnston, Colyer 3, Bergin 2, Link, Percy, Leak.

Port - Quinn 5, Hollingsworth, Prideaux 4, Hender 2, Reval.

Best

Glenelg - Sallis, Goldsworthy, Colyer, Link, Johnston, Whittaker, Shakes.

Port - Quinn, Dermody, Reval, Ween, Hooper, Eden, McFarlane.

Crowd: 30,045 at Adelaide Oval.

Match Report from The Sport

GLENELG WIN PREMIERSHIP SUCCESS EXTREMELY POPULAR FITTING REWARD FOR PERSEVERANCE Playing determined football all over the field, Glenelg gained a well-earned victory over the Port team at Adelaide in the Grand Final, before an enthusiastic crowd of spectators on Saturday. Jumping right into their stride, Glenelg soon gave the crowd the impression that ports were not going to have it all their own way. With every man doing his bit, they out-classed the Port team, and ended the first quarter with a handy advantage of three goals. Glenelg kept the pace on in the second term and, with Ports doing their utmost, the football enthusiasts were treated to one of the fastest exhibitions seen in Adelaide for years. The Bay team maintained their early accuracy at the goal front, whereas the magpies lapsed into a period of inaccuracy. During this quarter the Bay team kicked 5-4 to Port's 3-9. The final two quarters were fought out at a terrific pace, and the excitement of both players and spectators was intense. With only ten minutes to go, Ports equalised the score, and moved forward again from the bounce, but "Blue" Johnstone (sic), who had come into the limelight with magnificent marking, took a spectacular one and steaded (sic) the Bays, who went ahead again. "Blue" Johnson's match sealing mark & goal was crucial to the final success. Johnstone(sic) again took another brilliant mark, this time right in the goal-mouth, and scored full points. Towards the end of the game tempers became very frayed, and some of the Port players, in the excitement, allowed their tempers to get out of hand. The final bell found Glenelg nine points in the lead, and a mighty roar went up in the praise of Glenelg's success in their first premiership. Link and Colyer roved brilliantly for Glenelg, and their speed was one of the main factors in Port's defeat. Hill, Shakes and Leak also showed plenty of dash, while Sallis, at centre, put up another grand game. Johnstone (sic), although handicapped with an injured knee, came to light in the last quarter with a brilliant display of high marking and long kicking. Others to shine were the new-comer, R. Birrel, Brock and Whitaker. Bergin played brilliantly on a half-forward wing. Dermody was the outstanding man for Port. His marking was faultless and his speed on the ground amazing. Quinn roved to perfection, and Hollingsworth, at half-forward, did good work, but missed badly when shooting for goals. Reval played his usual strong game, but did not dispose of the ball to advantage on all occasions. McFarlane, who was brought in from the Amateur League for this match, took some beautiful marks in the last quarter, and R. Johnson and Eden did some good work in defence.

Match Reports from The Mail

Fast and Hard Bumping Play Delights the Crowd

GLENELG WIN PREMIERSHIP GAIN VICTORY BY NINE POINTS For the first time since they entered league football in 1921 Glenelg won the premiership today, defeating Port Adelaide by nine points. By setting a cracking pace from the outset Glenelg gained a lead which proved too much for Port. It was inspiring football, which delighted the crowd present at the Adelaide Oval. Glenelg had never previously been higher than sixth on the premiership list, although it had a number of first-class players in its ranks. Their combination today was excellent. Port - Backs - V. Johnson, Eden, R. Johnson Half-backs - Wilkinson, Obst, McFarlane Centres - Whicker, Bampton, Dermody Half-forwards - Wightman, Hollingsworth, Prideaux Forwards - Quinn, Ween, Hender Ruck - Yates, Reval, Hooper       Jacquier (19th). Glenelg - Backs - Griffiths, James, Hale Half-backs - Birrell, Brock, Whitaker Centres - Hill, Sallis, Shakes Half-forwards - Bergin, Goldsworthy, Leak Forwards - Owens, Percy, Colyer Ruck - Johnston, Olliver, Link       Rosewarne (19th). Glenelg received an encouraging cheer as they filed on to the ground. Port, who were wearing white knickers, were given an equally rousing reception when they bounded on to the arena a minute later. Owens (Glenelg) won the toss and took advantage of a fresh breeze that blew diagonally across the ground, slightly favouring the northern goal. Shakes got the ball away from a centre, and a free to Link saw Glenelg hot in attack. An overhead shot by Goldsworthy went out of bounds and Port cleared. A brilliant chain of passes by Reval, Bampton, Hollingsworth, and Hender flashed the ball to the other end, and Quinn goaled from a free. Link was prominent in the Glenelg attack, and when Owens manoeuvred cleverly to outmark R. Johnson, he equalled the score. Outpacing the opposition, Leak and Link raced goalward again. Percy marked safely and goaled. The game was opening in brilliant fashion, and kept the crowd on its toes. Sallis drove into Percy who marked against two opponents. His shot from a long way out brought a point. Reval and Bampton brought Port into attack, and Hollingsworth ran in leisurely to even the scores with a goal. Goldsworthy kicked a goal for Glenelg, and narrowly missed another with a left-foot snap. Percy, who was marking brilliantly, got a point with a long shot. Glenelg were outpacing Port, and were doing practically all the attacking. Hender led out cleverly to receive from Hollingsworth and brought Port within a point of the opposition. From the bounce Leak raced straight down the field and goaled. A free to Bampton put Port in attack but Percy returned the ball. Sallis was getting into his stride at centre and twice drove the ball forward. Dermody was prominent in a Port breakaway, but after marking well Hooper got only a behind from easy range. Dermody eclipsed Hill who had sustained a heavy fall in the early stages of play and was Port's main avenue of attack. But the Port's forwards could make little use of the opportunities provided, being cleverly checked. Goldsworthy added a goal fro Glenelg before the bell. First Quarter   G. B. Pts GLENELG . . 5 4 34 PORT . . . . 3 4 22 Percy and Link attacked when the second quarter opened, but Owens failed to hold the ball. Hill and Goldsworthy drove it in again, and Owens scored a goal from a free on the boundary. Once more Dermody showed his brilliance, but Hollingworth's long shot was not accurate. Port maintained the pressure and success came when Reval found the goal. Glenelg responded with a fierce thrust capped by a goal from Colyer. It was inspiring football. Dermody put Hollingworth in the way of getting his next goal. Goldsworthy retaliated with a goal from a long shot for Glenelg. Obst, who had been consistently beaten by Goldsworthy, was taken from half-back and replaced by McFarlane, a Port recruit. A shot by Owens was touched on the line by Eden, and R. Johnson marked a hot shot from Colyer in the goalmouth a moment later. Weight was now being used freely by Port in an effort to unsettle Glenelg. Both teams temporarily lost their accuracy, Glenelg scoring three behinds and port two before Johnston at the throw-in from the boundary and ran in to goal. James went a long way out of the goal to cover Ween, and a long shot by Hollingworth bounced through for full points.

Dazzling Football and Determination

FACTORS THAT GAVE SUCCESS TO GLENELG (by Percy Fuller) Glenelg well won the 1934 premiership today by a display of dazzling football intermixed with bulldog determination. (lots more to transcribe into here)

Credit Due To Bruce McGregor

Much credit for Glenelg's dashing victory today must be given to their coach (B. McGregor). McGregor came from West Broken Hill, the same club which gave Glenelg their leader, Jack Owens, and he quickly earned a reputation as a player of outstanding ability. His strong and scrupulously fair methods twice earned for him the Magarey Medal. It must have been particularly pleasing for McGregor to see Johnston annex the same honor in the season that Glenelg won the premiership. In his second season as coach of the Bay side McGregor's efforts with his young charges have reared their just reward and there was no prouder man at the conclusion of the match than the former State skipper.

Stars Of Big Game

Johnston gave a sound ruck display. His towering mark on the goal line in the last quarter was the turning point in a game which threatened to slip away from Glenelg. Great credit was due to Sallis for his sterling game at centre. He used every opportunity to best advantage, his clever ground play contributing much towards Glenelg's victory. Tigerish determination and speed by Link and Colyer found them leading many Bay attacks. Goldsworthy was a match-winner for Glenelg. He was at his top right from the outset and gave Glenelg definite strength at centre half-forward by brilliant marking. James showed perfect judgement in goal. His strong play and safe marking repeatedly barred Port's progress. Leak sparkled at half-forward in the opening stages. His fast dashes resulted in the Port backmen often being found out of position. Eden carried out his many duties in characteristic style. Strong kicking and determination found him fighting out the issue on many occasions. McFarlane, the Port recruit, showed strong marking ability. When he becomes accustomed to league ranks he should be a valuable unit to the magpies. Ween played serviceably without ever being an outstanding success Reval bore the brunt of the ruck work for Port. He tried to do too much, however, and consequently nullified much of his good work. Quinn roved with brilliant dash. He went into the packs with determination, and was responsible for a fine exhibition. Dermody showed flashes of brilliance, but was never outstanding in a Port team below top form.

Players Reported

Three Port players were reported by umpires following incidents in the last quarter in the league grand final. Reval was reported by central umpire Thomas for having allegedly hacked Bergin and Hale of Glenelg. The goal umpire, Monten, and boundary umpire, Hill, reported the same player for having allegedly hacked Hale. Central umpire Thomas, Boundary Umpires Russ and Hill, and Goal Umpire Monten reported Wightman for having allegedly thrown the ball away in the last quarter. Obst was reported by Central Umpire Thomas, Boundary Umpires Russ and Hill, and Goal Umpire Monten for having allegedly thrown the ball at the central umpire in the last quarter.

Pictures

See also 1934 Gallery

References

1. The Sport newspaper Thursday 11 October 1934

2. The Mail newspaper Saturday 6 October 1934