NFL - 1978 ESCORT CUP

Despite the events of 1977 the NFL remained hopeful of convincing the VFL to return to the fold, enabling a full national competition in 1978. During September and October 1977 a series of meetings were held between Australia's top football bodies and the NFL proposed a knockout series featuring 32 teams:

12 VFL teams
6 SANFL teams
5 WAFL teams
3 Tasmanian teams (1 each from Tasmania's main competitions: the TANFL, NTFA and NWFU)
2 VFA teams
4 State representative teams (ACT, Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Amateurs)

Also, in addition to the usual venues in Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne, some matches would be played in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Darwin to promote Australian football, in the hope the game would develop in those areas to the point they would be able to enter teams in the competition in a few years.
The VFL rejected the NFL's plans and proposed that the last 15 games of the series should be played at VFL Park, Waverley. They refused to participate if the VFA was involved and did not see any need for the Australian Amateurs to be included. NFL General Manager, Keith Webb observed: "The VFL is trying to get all the NFL participants into a VFL-run competition. But the NFL is a national body and as such it should run the national competition, not a state body such as the VFL". [Canberra Times, 20-10-1977, p.22/24]

The SANFL and WAFL rejected the VFL's proposals and the stand-off continued. The competition was delayed and at numerous times looked like being cancelled altogether. It was not until April 17, 1978 that the support of all the competing leagues was finally locked in and a fixture announced.

The 1978 NFL competition continued on a similar basis to the previous season with the VFL again running a rival Night Series at VFL Park. However, the first signs of a breakaway appeared with the Tasmanian Football League choosing to participate in both the NFL and VFL competitions - making them the first non-VFL team to play in the Victorian League's night series.

THE 1978 SERIES
The competition was reduced to 16 teams (down from 22) with teams playing 4 rounds instead of five. Although Norwood Oval in Adelaide remained the primary venue, more games were played at Lake Oval in Melbourne and a match was also played at the Gabba in Brisbane for the first time.

W.D. and H.O. Wills continued as naming rights sponsor and the competition was renamed the NFL-Escort Cup in order to promote one of Wills' leading cigarette brands; prize money remained at $130,000 with the winning team receiving $30,000.


PARTICIPATING TEAMS

The 1978 Escort Cup featured the top teams from three state leagues, all ranked by their placings in the 1977 season, plus four state representative teams:
SANFL

(1st) Port Adelaide
(2nd) Glenelg
(3rd) West Adelaide
(4th) South Adelaide
(5th) Norwood
WAFL

(1st) Perth
(2nd) East Fremantle
(3rd) West Perth
(4th) East Perth
VFA

(1st) Port Melbourne
(2nd) Sandringham
(3rd) Coburg
STATE TEAMS

ACT
New South Wales
Queensland
Tasmania

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

The series consisted of 4 rounds, all played on a knockout basis. Unlike the previous year, there was no longer a qualifying stage, so all teams entered the competition in the first round.


SUMMARY OF RESULTS

Date

Teams

1/4

1/2

3/4

Final

Margin

Venue

Day / Time

Crowd

ROUND 1

Apr-25

Perth

2.1 (13)

3.4 (22)

8.9 (57)

14.10 (94)

18

Subiaco Oval,

Tue

4,678

West Adelaide

4.4 (28)

5.7 (37)

8.9 (57)

11.10 (76)

Perth

(D)

May-02

Norwood

1.4 (10)

7.6 (48)

15.9 (99)

21.12 (138)

51

Norwood Oval,

Tue

-

East Fremantle

2.6 (18)

5.8 (38)

8.9 (57)

13.9 (87)

Adelaide

(7:00pm)

May-07

Queensland

6.2 (38)

9.3 (57)

10.9 (69)

16.9 (105)

22

The Gabba,

Sun

10,000

Tasmania

2.3 (15)

7.6 (48)

10.7 (67)

12.11 (83)

Brisbane

(D)

May-09

Port Melbourne

1.7 (13)

7.8 (50)

11.15 (81)

12.20 (92)

46

Lake Oval,

Tue

3,682

New South Wales

0.1 (1)

2.2 (14)

4.3 (27)

7.4 (46)

South Melbourne

(7:30pm)

May-16

South Adelaide

2.4 (16)

5.5 (35)

10.10 (70)

12.15 (87)

31

Norwood Oval,

Tue

-

Port Adelaide

2.5 (17)

5.8 (38)

6.10 (46)

7.14 (56)

Adelaide

(7:00pm)

May-23

Sandringham

2.2 (14)

5.5 (35)

8.7 (55)

12.10 (82)

4

Lake Oval,

Tue

2,680

A.C.T.

4.3 (27)

6.4 (40)

9.5 (59)

12.6 (78)

South Melbourne

(7:30pm)

May-30

Glenelg

4.2 (26)

6.6 (42)

7.8 (50)

10.11 (71)

2

Norwood Oval,

Tue

-

West Perth

3.2 (20)

6.3 (39)

9.7 (61)

10.9 (69)

Adelaide

(7:00pm)

Jun-06

Coburg

3.3 (21)

6.4 (40)

9.8 (62)

10.11 (71)

22

Lake Oval,

Tue

1,280

East Perth

2.2 (14)

3.4 (22)

6.6 (42)

7.7 (49)

South Melbourne

(7:30pm)

QUARTER FINALS

Jun-13

Perth

5.1 (31)

8.3 (51)

12.9 (81)

16.10 (106)

13

Subiaco Oval,

Tue

2,209

Norwood

5.1 (31)

9.4 (58)

12.6 (78)

14.9 (93)

Perth

(D)

Jun-20

Port Melbourne

1.6 (12)

3.12 (30)

11.14 (80)

13.18 (96)

36

Lake Oval,

Tue

3,000

Queensland

2.3 (15)

4.3 (27)

6.5 (41)

9.6 (60)

South Melbourne

(7:30pm)

Jun-27

Glenelg

5.0 (30)

7.2 (44)

10.8 (68)

15.11 (101)

17

Norwood Oval,

Tue

-

Coburg

2.1 (13)

6.4 (40)

8.4 (52)

13.6 (84)

Adelaide

(7:00pm)

Jul-04

South Adelaide

4.2 (26)

6.6 (42)

10.9 (69)

14.10 (94)

59

Lake Oval,

Tue

1,000

Sandringham

1.2 (8)

2.3 (15)

3.4 (22)

5.5 (35)

South Melbourne

(7:30pm)

SEMI FINALS

Jul-11

Perth

4.1 (25)

6.3 (39)

9.5 (59)

10.10 (70)

22

Norwood Oval,

Tue

-

Glenelg

1.4 (10)

5.7 (37)

10.12 (72)

13.14 (92)

Adelaide

(7:00pm)

Jul-18

Port Melbourne

3.3 (21)

6.4 (40)

8.6 (54)

9.9 (63)

5

Lake Oval,

Tue

2,000

South Adelaide

1.3 (9)

3.6 (24)

7.9 (51)

9.14 (68)

South Melbourne

(7:30pm)

GRAND FINAL

Jul-25

Glenelg

1.3 (9)

2.6 (18)

2.7 (19)

3.8 (26)

37

Norwood Oval,

Tue

9,000

South Adelaide

3.0 (18)

4.2 (26)

5.3 (33)

9.9 (63)

Adelaide

(7:00pm)

 

NOTABLE EVENTS

THE RIVALS CLASH
On two occasions NFL Escort Cup and VFL Amco-Herald Cup matches were played in the same city on the same night:

May 9th - Port Melbourne vs New South Wales at Lake Oval drew a crowd of 3,682; Hawthorn vs Geelong at Waverley drew 8,146.
May 23rd - Sandringham vs ACT at Lake Oval drew a crowd of 2,680; Richmond vs Fitzroy at Waverley drew 8,172.


QUARTER FINALS - PORT MELBOURNE v QUEENSLAND
For the second season in a row, Queensland played both Port Melbourne and the VFA representative team. In 1977 Port Melbourne defeated the Maroons by 31 points, and the Queensland side bounced back to defeat the VFA team a month later by 7 points. In 1978 the pattern continued, but this time the Queensland side faced the VFA representative team first, notching a 30 point victory before losing to Port Melbourne by 36 points a few weeks later.


GRAND FINAL - SOUTH ADELAIDE v NORWOOD
South Adelaide had long been starved of success: since winning the SANFL title in 1938 they had spent most of the following seasons mired at the bottom end of the ladder, the only exception being a single glorious season in 1964 that resulted in a premiership win.

With so much to play for, the Panthers approached the 1978 Escort Cup final with the sort of intensity usually reserved for the Grand Final of the premiership competition and it had the desired effect. South Adelaide stunned Glenelg "with an aggression and determination that was almost frightening" [SANFL Football Budget, 29/30-7-1978, p.27], leading the entire match before breaking away in the final term, kicking 4.6 to 1.1 for a memorable 37 point victory.


MATCH REPORTS

Listed below are match reports for all 15 games played during the series. This is the first time these reports have been collated and published online or in print and they were sourced from the following newspapers:

The Advertiser (Adelaide)
The West Australian (Perth)
The Age and The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne)
The Courier Mail (Brisbane)
The Canberra Times (ACT)
The Mercury (Hobart)

ROUND 1

Match #1 - Tuesday, April 25

PERTH

2.1 (13)

3.4 (22)

8.9 (57)

14.10 (94)

WEST ADELAIDE

4.4 (28)

5.7 (37)

8.9 (57)

11.10 (76)

BEST PLAYERS:

Perth

Wiley, Bosustow, Cook, Johnson, Currie, Fotheringhame

West Adelaide

Hagan, Kuhlmann, Donaldson, Kennedy, Williams

GOALKICKERS:

Perth

Bosustow 5, Fotheringhame 3, Wiley 3, Cooper 2, Hill

West Adelaide

Hagan 5, Morris, Pierson, Meuret, Grimwood, Donaldson, Williams

UMPIRES:

Powell, Phillips (WAFL)

VENUE:

Subiaco Oval, Perth

CROWD:

4,678

NOTES:

Played on the Anzac Day public holiday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #2 - Tuesday, May 2

NORWOOD

1.4 (10)

7.6 (48)

15.9 (99)

21.12 (138)

EAST FREMANTLE

2.6 (18)

5.8 (38)

8.9 (57)

13.9 (87)

BEST PLAYERS:

Norwood

Gallagher, Taylor, Sapwell, Armour, Palm, Woodcock

East Fremantle

Tschirpig, Berry, Sims, Sewell, Dobson, Bentley

GOALKICKERS:

Norwood

Sapwell 3, Turbill 3, Woodcock 2, Gallagher 2, Gregg 2, Michalenney 2, Fienemann 2, Adler, Armour, Colesente,

Palm, Nicholson

East Fremantle

Sewell 5, Judge 2, Sims, Lester-Smith, Clarke, Robinson, Tschirpig, Green

UMPIRES:

Mead, Foster (SANFL)

VENUE:

Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N)

CROWD:

unknown

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #3 - Sunday, May 7

QUEENSLAND

6.2 (38)

9.3 (57)

10.9 (69)

16.9 (105)

TASMANIA

2.3 (15)

7.6 (48)

10.7 (67)

12.11 (83)

BEST PLAYERS:

Queensland

Gillespie, Clarke, Browne, P. Taylor

Tasmania

Dykes, Linton, Thirgood, Lawrence

GOALKICKERS:

Queensland

Clarke 5, Browne 4, Craig 3, Gillespie 2, Omelaniuk, Meystratten

Tasmania

Linton 3, Hudson 2, Thirgood 2, Vanderfeen 2, Marshall, Pilkington, King

UMPIRES:

unknown

VENUE:

Gabba, Brisbane

CROWD:

10,000

NOTES:

Goalkickers listed above are from the Courier Mail, the match report in The Mercury has some variations:

QLD - Clarke 5, Browne 4, Craig 2, Gillespie 2, Cattelini 2, Meystratten (no goals by Omelaniuk)

TAS - Linton 4, Hudson 2, Thirgood 2, Vanderfeen 2, Marshall, King (no goals by Pilkington)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #4 - Tuesday, May 9

PORT MELBOURNE

1.7 (13)

7.8 (50)

11.15 (81)

12.20 (92)

NEW SOUTH WALES

0.1 (1)

2.2 (14)

4.3 (27)

7.4 (46)

BEST PLAYERS:

Port Melbourne

Cook, Rasmussen, Goss, Allen, Profit, Beecroft

New South Wales

Cerato, W. Goss, Claridge, S. Way, Endrick, Foster

GOALKICKERS:

Port Melbourne

Cook 8, Allen 2, P. Goss, Christou

New South Wales

Cerato 3, S. Way 2, Endrick, L. Way

UMPIRES:

unknown

VENUE:

Lake Oval, South Melbourne (N)

CROWD:

3,682

NOTES:

- the VFL's Amco-Herald Cup quarter final (Hawthorn v Geelong) was played the same night at Waverley, crowd 8,146

- the NSW team included 3 non-NSWAFL players from the Sydney, South-West and Farrer leagues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #5 - Tuesday, May 16

SOUTH ADELAIDE

2.4 (16)

5.5 (35)

10.10 (70)

12.15 (87)

PORT ADELAIDE

2.5 (17)

5.8 (38)

6.10 (46)

7.14 (56)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Adelaide

Butler, Cox, Farrer, Minnis, Palmer, Haines

Port Adelaide

Clifford, Nott, Spry

GOALKICKERS:

South Adelaide

Linke 2, Minnis 2, Fuller 2, Hoteley 2, Ruscuklic 2, Butler, Boynes

Port Adelaide

Clifford 2, Granger, Sorell, Bolton, Badmore, Cunningham

UMPIRES:

unknown

VENUE:

Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N)

CROWD:

unknown

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #6 - Tuesday, May 23

SANDRINGHAM

2.2 (14)

5.5 (35)

8.7 (55)

12.10 (82)

AUST. CAPITAL TERRITORY

4.3 (27)

6.4 (40)

9.5 (59)

12.6 (78)

BEST PLAYERS:

Sandringham

Gilmore, Lyons, Hunter, Pledger, Sims

ACT

Bristow, Black, Harrington, Blackaby, Cowell

GOALKICKERS:

Sandringham

Gilmore 5, Hunter 2, Higgs, Kennedy, Deagan, Mannix, Beus

ACT

M. Manson 3, White 2, Black 2, Cowell 2, Neale, Brock, Lesyewck

UMPIRES:

Ledger, Stabb (VFA)

VENUE:

Lake Oval, South Melbourne (N)

CROWD:

2,680

NOTES:

The VFL's Amco-Herald Cup semi final (Richmond v Fitzroy) was played the same night at Waverley, crowd 8,172

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #7 - Tuesday, May 30

GLENELG

4.2 (26)

6.6 (42)

7.8 (50)

10.11 (71)

WEST PERTH

3.2 (20)

6.3 (39)

9.7 (61)

10.9 (69)

BEST PLAYERS:

Glenelg

Carey, Cornes, MacVicar, Whiting, Farquhar, Holst

West Perth

Boyanovich, Valli, Menaglio, Sheridan, Hendricks, Day

GOALKICKERS:

Glenelg

MacVicar 3, Hodgeman, Weston, Carey, Caldwell, Marshall, Holst, Copping

West Perth

Hendricks 3, Sheridan 2, Valli 2, Allen, Watling, Fong

UMPIRES:

Foster, Mead (SANFL)

VENUE:

Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N)

CROWD:

unknown

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #8 - Tuesday, June 6

COBURG

3.3 (21)

6.4 (40)

9.8 (62)

10.11 (71)

EAST PERTH

2.2 (14)

3.4 (22)

6.6 (42)

7.7 (49)

BEST PLAYERS:

Coburg

Breen, Milroy, Burt, Pitt, Lloyd

East Perth

Smith, Hamilton, Robertson, Da-Re

GOALKICKERS:

Coburg

Lloyd 4, Cleary 2, McMillan, Dohnt, Pitt, McDonald

East Perth

Otway 2, Duda, Hamilton, Ray, Thomson, Arnold, Da-Re

UMPIRES:

Wenn, Groom (VFA)

VENUE:

Lake Oval, South Melbourne (N)

CROWD:

1,280

NOTES:

East Perth’s Captain-Coach, Barry Cable was a late withdrawal from the match due to injury

 

QUARTER FINALS

Match #9 - Tuesday, June 13

PERTH

5.1 (31)

8.3 (51)

12.9 (81)

16.10 (106)

NORWOOD

5.1 (31)

9.4 (58)

12.6 (78)

14.9 (93)

BEST PLAYERS:

Perth

Cook, Bosustow, Watt, Rosbender, Johnson, Couper

Norwood

Button, Sapwell, Rosser, Von Bertouch, Woodcock, Gregg

GOALKICKERS:

Perth

Bosustow 4, Couper 3, Mourish 2, Hill 2, Doyle 2, Johnson, MacKean, Rosbender

Norwood

Sapwell 3, Woodcock 2, Michalanney 2, Zubrinich 2, Taylor, Rosser, Gallagher, Gregg, Dunstan

UMPIRES:

Buckley, Gillies (WAFL)

VENUE:

Subiaco Oval, Perth

CROWD:

2,209

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #10 - Tuesday, June 20

PORT MELBOURNE

1.6 (12)

3.12 (30)

11.14 (80)

13.18 (96)

QUEENSLAND

2.3 (15)

4.3 (27)

6.5 (41)

9.6 (60)

BEST PLAYERS:

Port Melbourne

Allen, Beckwith, Harland, Treasure, Cook, Ivanoff

Queensland

Clarke, Dunnell, Z. Taylor, Cattellini, Kimmorley, Wallace

GOALKICKERS:

Port Melbourne

Allen 4, Beckwith 3, Rasmussen 3, Cook 2, Lowe

Queensland

Clarke 6, Backwell, Cattellini, Dunnell

UMPIRES:

unknown

VENUE:

Lake Oval, South Melbourne (N)

CROWD:

3,000

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #11 - Tuesday, June 27

GLENELG

5.0 (30)

7.2 (44)

10.8 (68)

15.11 (101)

COBURG

2.1 (13)

6.4 (40)

8.4 (52)

13.6 (84)

BEST PLAYERS:

Glenelg

Holst, McInerney, Copping, Carey, Johnston, Hercock

Coburg

Pitt, Breen, Cleary, Lloyd, Herbert, Tolley

GOALKICKERS:

Glenelg

Phillis 6, McInerney 3, MacVicar 2, Copping, Carey

Coburg

Smith 5, Mannix 3, Cleary 2, McMillan, Herbert, Noonan

UMPIRES:

Argent, Scholefield (SANFL)

VENUE:

Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N)

CROWD:

unknown

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match #12 - Tuesday, July 4

SOUTH ADELAIDE

4.2 (26)

6.6 (42)

10.9 (69)

14.10 (94)

SANDRINGHAM

1.2 (8)

2.3 (15)

3.4 (22)

5.5 (35)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Adelaide

Minnis, Slattery, Baynes, Fry, Cotter, Haynes

Sandringham

Giampaolo, Coelli, Peters, O’ Brien, Franklin, Wilkins

GOALKICKERS:

South Adelaide

Minnis 5, Cobb 3, Butler 2, Lyons 2, Hateley, Green

Sandringham

Giampaolo 2, Polson, Kennedy, Osborne

UMPIRES:

unknown

VENUE:

Lake Oval, South Melbourne (N)

CROWD:

1,000

NOTES:

-

 

SEMI FINALS

1st Semi Final - Tuesday, July 11

GLENELG

1.4 (10)

5.7 (37)

10.12 (72)

13.14 (92)

PERTH

4.1 (25)

6.3 (39)

9.5 (59)

10.10 (70)

BEST PLAYERS:

Glenelg

Hodgeman, Carey, Copping, Weston, Holst, Lihou

Perth

Wiley, Johnson, Stevenson, Lawrence, Farrant, Bosustow

GOALKICKERS:

Glenelg

Rady 2, Holst 2, Hodgeman 2, Farquhar 2, MacVicar 2, Copping, Davison, McInerney

Perth

Mourish 3, Lawrence 2, Bosustow 2, Wiley, Johnson, Doyle

UMPIRES:

Foster, Scholefield (SANFL)

VENUE:

Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N)

CROWD:

unknown

NOTES:

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Semi Final - Tuesday, July 18

SOUTH ADELAIDE

1.3 (9)

3.6 (24)

7.9 (51)

9.14 (68)

PORT MELBOURNE

3.3 (21)

6.4 (40)

8.6 (54)

9.9 (63)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Adelaide

unknown

Port Melbourne

unknown

GOALKICKERS:

South Adelaide

Haradine 2, Ruscuklic 2, Baynes, Bennett, Hines, McInnes, Schneebichler

Port Melbourne

Cook 5, Rasmussen 2, Bedford, P. Goss

UMPIRES:

Hedger, Groom (VFA)

VENUE:

Lake Oval, South Melbourne (N)

CROWD:

2,000

NOTES:

No mention of best players in Advertiser/Age/Sun/West Australian/Canberra Times

 

1978 NFL-ESCORT CUP - GRAND FINAL

SOUTH ADELAIDE

COACH

Haydn Bunton jnr

 

BACKS

Haines

Palmer

Cotter

HALF-BACKS

Earl

Brooksby

White

CENTRES

Keam

Slattery

Hateley

HALF-FORWARDS

Harradine

Bennett

Minnis

FORWARDS

Keam

Lyons

Schneebichler

FOLLOWERS

Farrer

Baynes (C)

ROVER

Butler

 

RESERVES

Ruscuklic

Green

EMERGENCIES

-

GLENELG

COACH

John Nicholls

 

BACKS

Lihou

Wilcocks

Hercock

HALF-BACKS

Hywood

Whiting

P. Johnston

CENTRES

D. Johnston

Weston

McFarlane

HALF-FORWARDS

Rady

Carey

Holst

FORWARDS

Cornes (C)

Copping

Davison

FOLLOWERS

MacVicar

Caldwell

ROVER

McInerney

 

RESERVES

from Marshall, P. Bradley, Lubcke, Lunnis

EMERGENCIES

 

Match #15 - Tuesday, July 25

SOUTH ADELAIDE

3.0 (18)

4.2 (26)

5.3 (33)

9.9 (63)

GLENELG

1.3 (9)

2.6 (18)

2.7 (19)

3.8 (26)

BEST PLAYERS:

South Adelaide

Baynes, Schneebichler, Butler, Palmer, Slattery, Bennett, Dry, Cotter

Glenelg

Cornes, Carey, Rady, Hywood

GOALKICKERS:

South Adelaide

Ruscuklic 2, Hateley 2, Lyons 2, Harradine, Keam, Schneebichler

Glenelg

Rady, McFarlane, Cornes

UMPIRES:

Mead, Foster (SANFL)

VENUE:

Norwood Oval, Adelaide (N)

CROWD:

9,000

NOTES:

South Adelaide received prizemoney of $30,000

 

Written and researched by David Eastman
First published 27/6/2014
Last updated 21/12/2019