1984 Articles

After a stabilizing season in 1983 the feeling was 1984 was going to be better.

Michael Varvounis (President) Gary Richardson (A Grade Coach) and Randell Gerlach (Assistant Coach) resumed their previous positions and Bob Gertig was appointed Coach of the B Grade.

The Club continued their recruiting drive and showed promise in the preseason trial games and looked well prepared for 1984.

This year also saw the realization of a long-held ambition to form a junior club for the long-term future development of the Greek Football Club. Thanks to John Svigos and his Committee the Club was able to field two teams, the under 9’s and under 13’s in the Woodville Junior Football League.

The first A Grade game of the season against Seaton Ramblers saw the Greeks humiliated by 83 points but the following week that form was reversed and the Greeks defeated St Peters by 58 points.

Unfortunately, the side could not string together two wins in a row and midway through the season, were sitting in eighth position, having registered 4 wins and 5 losses.  

The first game of the second round saw the Greeks avenge their defeat against Seaton Ramblers and win the match by 56 points.

One interested spectator that day was Peter Phillipou who had been approached by both Seaton and Greek to play for them.  The following week saw Peter Phillipou resume his playing career with Greek against St Peters and, for the first time for the year, the side won 2 games on end.

In the following weeks, Greeks defeated Prince Alfred, Adelaide College, Kilburn, Adelaide University, Broadview, Sacred Heart Old Scholars and lost only 1 game to Riverside along the way.

So, in a dramatic turn around in the second half of the season, the Greeks won 8 of their 9 games and finished the minor round in third position.

Unfortunately, the B Grade had a bad year and finished bottom of the ladder.

In the first Semi Final the Greeks played University at Prospect Oval. The game was played in wet overcast conditions and in a close hard-fought match the Greeks were victorious by a mere 2 points.

First Semi Final A1 Greek defeated University 10-11 (71) to 10-9 (69).

Goalkickers were Don Amess 4, Gary Richardson 2, Harry Stoubos 1, Michael Morgan 1, Chris Dimatrakopoulos 1, Sotis Kasalouris 1.

Adelaide Oval was the venue for the Preliminary Final against Sacred Heart and Greeks ran out easy winners by 45 points, 19-16 (130) to 12-13 (85), thereby earning the right to play Riverside for the flag.

Goalkickers were Harry Stoubos 4, Don Amess 3, Ken Crane 3, John Economou 2, Sotis Kaselouris 2, Gary Richardson 2, Michael Morgan 2 and Mick Kenny 1.

On the big day (Grand Final) after leading by 23 points at half time, Greeks faltered and were overrun by a strong finals experienced Riverside.  

Grand Final Riverside defeated Greek 14-15 (99) to 11-14 (80). 

Goalkickers were Gary Richardson 2, Sotis Kaselouris 2, Dragan Tankosic 2, Mick Kenny 2, Michael Morgan 1, Ken Crane 1, and Harry Stoubos 1.

It was disappointing to lose but on a more positive side the Club had come of age in Amateur League.

Highlights of the year were Dragan Tankosic winning the A Grade Best and Fairest and also equaling the Club record of kicking 11 goals in a match.

The B Grade Best and Fairest was won by Brian Jefferies.

Gary Richardson, Ken Crane, Clinton Giles, Harry Stoubos and Dragan Tankosic were selected in the 1984 Football Times Team of the Year and Ken Crane, Mick Kenny and Harry Stoubos were equal second in the Eric Pfitzner Medal.

All in all …. A Good Year.