13/5/61 Greek Orthodox V Woodville Lutheran

The Greek Orthodox team was very concerned about having to front up to Woodville Lutheran who had won every game by at least 20 goals.

On the morning of the match, most of the players had gone to organize the hall where the first Social was to be held and then there was a great rush to get to the oval on time.

In the first quarter, Woodville rattled on four quick goals and at half time had a clear margin of 4-2 not without the help of an unsettled, self-antagonistic Greek Orthodox. In the third quarter, Greek settled down but could only manage to get within 2-2 of the opposition, in spite of the use of a 4-5 goal wind.

At three quarter time, things looked very dismal for the Greeks, for Woodville had use of the ever-strengthening wind. However, things worked out quite well.

From the first bounce in the fourth quarter, Greek Orthodox did not look to be in much trouble for the rest of the quarter except near the end of the match. Micky Lisgos played a very good last quarter as did Nicky Nicholas hitting a very purple patch kicking three magnificent angled goals for the quarter. With five minutes to go Woodville was still three points ahead when Tom Frossinakis kicked a goal from a scrimmage in front of goals and Greek Orthodox arrested the lead for the first time in the last quarter and in the match. However, Woodville relentlessly attacked and kicked another goal to lead by one point, then, with 45 seconds to go Nicky Nicholas kicked the goal of the match to seal the game for Greek Orthodox by 5 points.

There were many features of the game worth mentioning: the terrible condition of the oval, the sometimes-magnificent kicking of the fullback, Phillip Galantomos (one kick sailing about sixty-five yards down the oval), Nicky Nicholas’s fantastic match-winning last quarter and Micky Lisgos’s consistent game throughout the match.

1. Micky Lisgos – Second best on ground, roving half forward

2. Nicky Nicholas – Roving three grabs

3. Tom Frossinakis – Rucking

4. Phillip Galantomos – Full Back

8 - 9 Greek Orthodox

6 - 16 Woodville Lutheran

17/6/61 Greek Orthodox V Cowandilla Church of Christ

Greek Orthodox got revenge, returned the compliments of the season to Cowandilla when they thrashed them by 9-2. Features of the game were the magnificent combination of the Greek backlines in conceding only two goals and the “best A-field” decision went to Tom Frossinakis for his work in the ruck and at center half forward.

1. Tom Frossinakis – Ruck

2. Len Brown – 5 goals, third best on ground

3. Basil Taliangis – Back Pocket

4. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Back

11-8 Greek Orthodox

2-6 Cowandilla Church of Christ

22/7/61 Greek Orthodox V Port Adelaide Presbyterian

As far as excitement, antagonism, deadly passages of play as well as words, wonderful football and strong-arm tactics were concerned in both minor and major rounds, this game won the prize.

Greeks led throughout the game playing in an electrifying atmosphere but in the last half of the last quarter, Port Adelaide, mainly through the magnificent efforts of their star player, Peter MacLennan, who kicked three fantastic goals, nosed out the winners by eight points.

Two players of the Port clan were carted off: one for a crippling blow he received in the pelvis and the other for loss of memory he got from a collision with a mean knee – both mishaps being purely accidental incidents.

1. Tom Frossinakis – Second Best on Ground, Ruck, Full Forward

2. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Back

3. Johnny Nicholas – Wingman

4. Micky Cacas – Wingman

7 - 8 Port Adelaide Presbyterian

6 - 6 Greek Orthodox

12/8/61 Greek Orthodox V Woodville Lutheran

Greek lost a hard match to the Lutherans after they had defeated them in their two previous encounters. Woodville won fairly easily and the only consolation the Greeks received was Hans Schoppe receiving the Second Best Afield Award.

1. Hans Schoppe – Ruckman

2. Freddy Carrangis – Ruckman

3. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Back

4. Sidney Adinis – Full Back

9 - 10 Woodville Lutherans

5 - 10 Greek Orthodox

9/9/61 Greek Orthodox V Port Adelaide Presbyterian

On the big day, Port Adelaide crushed Greek Orthodox by a margin of seven goals, the same amount they kicked in a devastating third quarter, the only quarter in which they outscored the Greeks. As was customary this was a tough, hard match and a few barrackers were around from other teams in the same grade, cheering both sides.

Philip Galantomos played a good game and “bagged” four of the five goals kicked by the Greeks. Johnny Bertram getting the fifth one.

A contributing factor would have been the colds which the Captain and Vice-Captain had and also the injury suffered by the other ruckman, Hans Schoppe.

An outstanding feature of this game was the most courageous mark of the year which was taken by the smallest player in the Greek team – Johnny Nicholas.

John’s brother, Nicky, kicked a high screw punt towards Johnny but two burly six-foot Port players had got under the ball and were waiting for it to reach them.

Then to the utter delight of all, diminutive Johnny charged like a bull, jumped right in the middle of the two “bouncers” and took the mark after which he did a 1 1/2 backwards summersault and landed on his bum to the thunderous applause of all.

The Port team fully deserved the win to which their full forward, with six good goals contributed considerably.

1. Johnny Nicholas

2. Nicky Nicholas

3. Tom Frossinakis

4. Philip Galantomos

12 - 12 Port Adelaide Presbyterian

5 - 10 Greek Orthodox