CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB - HOME OF THE SEAGULLS

HISTORY OF NFC - 1970 - 1979

1970
The club was on the upward march as they won 10 games, lost 8 and drew 2. Unfortunately, those
2 draws, both in winning positions, were to cost the team a spot in the finals.
Those present at the Parade for the opening match against Port Adelaide will never forget the
stunning debut of Phil Carman.
John McInnes also played that day at age 31 and it was John's first league game since the 1956
first semi against North Adelaide.
Michael Coligan kicked 10 goals against Sturt at Norwood Oval, June 13, one of the few times a
player has kicked 10 goals in a losing team.
The Reserves won the premiership, defeating North Adelaide 14-10 to 8-14.
John Menz won the Reserves Magarey Medal.
Michael Gregg won the McCallum Medal in the SANFL Colts (U17s) competition.
In September, the administration made a decision unparalleled in the club's 92 year history.
They took up the option to purchase a Footballers' Residence at 39 Myall Avenue, Kensington
Gardens, known as Carmel Court. As well as being a tangible asset, it would give the club a
recruiting medium unique to any football club in Australia.
Wally Miller appointed Club Secretary.


1971
Norwood got off to a great start being undefeated after 6 rounds.
Performance fell away after that and the season ended in fifth spot with 10 wins, 11 losses.
Playing coach John McInnes won his second Reserves Magarey Medal, having retired from
League football mid-season.
The Thirds won the premiership, defeating Port Adelaide 11-10 to 11-9.
Neil Craig won the McCallum Medal for the Fairest & Most Brilliant in the SANFL Colts competition.
Norwood v Port Adelaide attracted a crowd of 20,280 on May 22.
The South African Rugby team defeated South Australia 43-0 on Norwood Oval on June 30.
The match was continually disrupted by protestors and approximately 80 people were arrested for
intruding on the field during play.

1972
The team made the finals for the first time in 7 years after a solid performance throughout the season
season with 14 wins, 7 losses and a draw.
Unfortunately, the team were defeated by Central District in the first semi final 12-19 to 19-7 to put
an end to the season in fourth position.
Club President Mr A.W.Baulderstone passed away suddenly, Friday March 24, and there was a
seven month delay in appointing his successor.
Representatives for the Australian Carnival in Perth were Neil Button and John Wynne.
Michael Coligan topped the SANFL goal kicking table with 81 goals.
The Reserves won the premiership, defeating North Adelaide 23-21 to 13-8, Haydn Davey 7 goals.
Playing coach John McInnes won his third Reserves Magarey Medal, the only player to do this.
The Thirds won the premiership, defeating North Adelaide 19-16 to 10-13.
Neil Craig won the Tomkins Medal for the Fairest & Most Brilliant in the SANFL Thirds competition.
East Torrens District Cricket Club left Norwood Oval, setting up a new home at Campbelltown Oval.


1973
After an up and down season winning 11 games and losing 12, Norwood came good in the final
defeating Port Adelaide by 36 points but going down to North Adelaide by 5 points in the first semi
final with a goal on the siren.
This was the first year of the Final Five system and both matches were played at Norwood Oval
due to Football Park not being completed.
Robert Oatey played his 215th game, a new club record, against North Adelaide at Norwood Oval,
April 14.
Greg Turbill won the McCallum Medal for the Fairest & Most Brilliant in the SANFL Colts competition.
Ern Wadham died suddenly on Christmas Day.
Ern had given 51 years service to the club as a player (4 premierships) and administrator and was
Club Secretary from 1950 to 1967.
William Essery who served the club for 50 years on the committee and as Patron (1949 to 1973)
also passed away on August 28.
Eric A Johnson stood down as Treasurer due to illness.
Eric played in the 1929 premiership team, was captain in 1933, Club Secretary in 1935 and
Honorary Treasurer from 1937 to 1973.
Robert Oatey's tenure as coach and player was terminated after six seasons as coach.
Oatey's career at Norwood realised 232 games, 365 goals and 4 Best & Fairest awards.


1974
Under new coach Bob Hammond, the team worked harder on physical fitness and began the season
with 8 wins from 9 matches but ended the year in fourth position with 16 wins and 8 losses.
A record high score of 28-33 (201) was kicked against North Adelaide at Norwood Oval, August 24.
The club won the Stanley H Lewis Memorial Trophy for the second time.
The Reserves won the premiership, defeating Glenelg 16-10 to 10-12.


1975
After a 25 year drought, Norwood won their 23rd premiership, winning 18 games and losing 3,
defeating Glenelg 9-10 to 7-11, the first premiership win at Football Park.
The Team:
Coach: Bob Hammond
F: Michael Poulter, Jim Michalanney, Neil Craig
HF: Graeme Dunstan, Ross Dillon, Roger Woodcock
C: Phil Gallagher, Rodney Seekamp, Glen Rosser
HB: Rodney Pope, Stephen Kerley, Greg Rix
B: Michael Taylor (vc), Jim Thiel, Michael Gregg
Ruck: Neil Button, John Wynne (c), Greg Turbill
Res: Michael Olsen, Greg Nicholson

The club set a new record of 16 consecutive wins, passing the previous record of 11 wins in 1923.
In the Champions of Australia series, the team defeated Glenorchy (Tasmania) 12-20 to 8-11, but
were defeated in the final by North Melbourne 5-11 to 17-15, Malcolm Blight kicking 9 goals.
The Reserves won the premiership, defeating Sturt 16-20 to 7-9.
Representatives for the Australian Carnival in Melbourne were Michael Taylor, Phillip Gallagher,
Rodney Seekamp and Ross Dillon.


1976
An indifferent season where the work load was much higher then the previous season.
Norwood finished in 4th position winning 12 games and losing 11.
However, there were times when the team were at their brilliant best such as round 1 against North
Adelaide at Norwood Oval where they registered a new team scoring record of 32-17 (209).
Another highlight was the thrashing of Carlton 22-14 to 5-10 in the NFL-Wills Cup at Norwood Oval,
June 22.
The Reserves won their third premiership in a row, defeating North Adelaide 23-9 to 13-11.
Greg Parke kicked 7 goals.


1977
Another disappointing season where the team finished 5th, winning 13 games and losing 10.
A new record high score of 33-21 (219) against North Adelaide at Norwood Oval, May 7.
Paul Adler booted 10 goals against West Torrens at Football Park, April 30.
The achievement of the season was defeating East Perth in the Ardath Cup Final 10-9 to 9-7 at
Norwood Oval, July 26.
The Team:
Coach: Bob Hammond
F: Michael Gregg, Paul Adler, Terry Von Bertouch
HF: Phillip Gallagher, Jim Michalanney, Roger Woodcock
C: Chris Fienemann, Neil Craig, Glen Rosser
HB: John Clarke, Stephen Kerley, Graeme Dunstan
B: Grant Zubrinich, Ian Stasinowsky, Michael Olsen
Ruck: Neil Button, John Wynne (c), Michael Taylor (vc)
Res: Trevor Sapwell, Rodney Pope


1978
In their Centenary year, the club won their 24th premiership with a spectacular 1 point win over
Sturt 16-15 to 14-26 after trailing by 29 points at 3/4 time.
Winning 18 games and losing 8 for the season, no other senior club has won a flag in their
Centenary year.
Star recruit Brian Adamson kicked 5 goals.
The Team:
Coach: Bob Hammond
F: Wayne Phillis, Jim Michalanney, Michael Nunan
HF: Chris Fienemann, Brian Adamson, Roger Woodcock
C: Phil Gallagher, Michael Taylor (c), Glen Rosser
HB: David Armour, Stephen Kerley, Danny Jenkins
B: Greg Nicholson, Ian Stasinowsky, Neil Craig
Ruck: Neil Button, John Wynne, Terry Von Bertouch
Res: Greg Turbill, Paul Adler

One of the most significant events in 1978 was the club's identification with the Australian
Guarantee Corporation (A.G.C.) as the official major Norwood Football Club sponsor.
The Reserves won their fourth premiership in 5 seasons, defeating West Adelaide 24-15 to 18-11.


1979
Great expectations turned to disappointment as the club finished fourth with 12 wins, 11 losses.
Roger Woodcock played his 200th game for the season and also kicked his 500th goal, only the
second player at Norwood to do this.
Rodney Pope played his 300th SANFL game, and Michael Nunan his 200th.
Representatives for the Australian Carnival in Perth were Phillip Gallagher, Michael Nunan,
Neil Button and Michael Taylor.
Although contracted to the end of 1981, Bob Hammond retired as coach for business reasons.



A Team of the 1970s:
Coach: Bob Hammond
F: Jim Michalanney, Michael Coligan, Greg Turbill
HF: Phil Carman, Ross Dillon, Roger Woodcock
C: Phil Gallagher, Rodney Seekamp , Glen Rosser
HB: Ross Porritt , Stephen Kerley, Rodney Pope
B: Michael Taylor (vc) , Ian Stasinowsky, Michael Poulter
Ruck: Neil Button, John Wynne (c), Robert Oatey
Res: Jim Thiel, , Neil Craig, Greg Nicholson