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Don't forget Ken Armstrong whom re-built the club twice -- all the premiership side played under him; in addition to that, he had them in the correct positions

Brown at full forward
Keene first ruck
Dean centre half forward

He also made players earn their spots, including D Lamb

I also remember the long seasons under Jack Ensor, Peter Daniels and then Brian Fairclough, Peter Burton and then Armstrong where we won 1 game in 1982. We were broke and a joke before Merifield and Carlisle started the turn around off field. A South supporter asked me after this years grand final if I was sick of Subi winning premierships and I had to laugh and say” no way”

ArkRoyal wrote:

Don't forget Ken Armstrong whom re-built the club twice -- all the premiership side played under him; in addition to that, he had them in the correct positions

Brown at full forward
Keene first ruck
Dean centre half forward

He also made players earn their spots, including D Lamb

Twice Ark?

DD yep -- first time 1980 Clint Brown, Mick Lee, b Taylor, Gerry Cotter, jon bengough, Brad Loahar, d Lamb, Peter Thomas
1981 was a good, finishing fifth
1982- we lost half a side and all of our key position players; he replaced them

Paul Ross
Phil Scott
Michael Mort
Bevan Warner
Dean Wilson
Paul Wilson
Warren Dean

he booted

bucknell
polsen
Bennett
Kelly was made to play cols

Terrific posts guys. It's bringing back memories and really enjoying everyone's contributions. Jjim I agree with you mate. We sometimes almost get apologetic on here for our recent success but it's these sorts of recollections of just how bad things were back then which puts it into perspective.

At the start of that year 1979, things did look on the up on paper but true to form our luck was dog shit to say the least. The dilemma of who to play at ff, the returning vfl star George Young fresh off his 70 goals from ff for the saints or '77 champ Gary Fathers making a steady recovery from an ankle injury sustained in a traffic accident in 78. The return of Blair from the vfl along with the recruitment of Hamilton and cook to compliment the great Featherby, Schultz, Randall, Douge, Dimmer, Gepp, Lamb and Taylor. Then there was the supposed great bargaining power with carlton for Cattogio and Ironmonger, which all led to fa. Terrible season 3 wins 61%. Young did his knee and played half a game I think, Fathers never returned, Blair was ordinary at best, Feathers left to the vfl after round 9, cook was as useless as ever. Hamilton was terrific, but the great man, a young first year recruit from the ammos who didn't crack a mention at the start of that season, was really all that came from that year - Buck, probably our best player ever and the man who probably played the biggest role in getting us out of the shit with his transfer fee to the hawks

Went back to read about those days after this discussion and saw Kevin Merrifield negotiatied a fee of $260,000 paid over 3 years for the transfer of Gary Buckenara to Hawthorn. That was probably the start of getting us out of the financial sh*t we were in along with the obtaining of sponsorships especially Western Underwriters.

Went to the launch on Ray Wilson's new history of south freo last night. Last 61 years. The Southies love their club and think they've had a great 60 years. I said to one of their supporters,, Subi can't afford to take the foot off the gas because you guys won't. 

Interesting bit about the attendance