1974 Premiership

Best Players
R.Davies, M.Nunan, P.Bagshaw, G.Wild, B.Adcock
R.Klomp, J.Murphy, M.Graham, R.Barton
Goal Kickers
K.Whelan 2, M.Graham 2, R.Klomp 2
R.Barton 1, R.Davies 1, T. Burgan 1
Captain
P.Bagshaw
Coach
J.Oatey
Best on Ground
R.Davies/M.Nunan
Attendance
58,113 (Football Park)

Match Report
This was the first Grand Final played at Football Park and as the ground was nowhere near completion it wasn’t protected from the elements and a strong 5 goal wind was blowing towards the golf course end. Paul Bagshaw won the important toss of the coin and elected to kick with the wind in the first quarter. Using the wind to their advantage Sturt led by 40 points at quarter time after kicking 6.5 to Glenelg’s solitary point. The Tigers came back also using the breeze to their advantage by kicking 4.5 and holding the Blues to only 1 point for the quarter to reduce the lead at half time to 12 points. With rain falling and Sturt kicking with still a strong breeze the Tigers applied short kicking and handball out of defence to restrict the Blues to a score of only 6 points for the quarter while adding 2.1 into the breeze themselves. At three quarter time the Blues lead was only 5 points and many thought the game was over with the Tigers to come home with the wind and claim their second flag in a row after winning the 1973 Grand Final, but in the last quarter Sturt went all out attack and held Glenelg to only 2 goals while scoring 3.4 themselves with a telling move in the quarter by Sturt coach Jack Oatey to bring on the fresh legs of reserve player Robert Barton who had an immediate impact. Sturt led by 25 points by midway through the last quarter before Glenelg mounted a come back, but the Blues hung on bravely and ran out winners by 15 points. Better players were ruckman Rick Davies, rover Michael Nunan, skipper Paul Bagshaw, Greg Wild up forward and in the ruck, back pocket Brenton Adcock in his last game while up forward Ken Whelan and Michael Graham both kicked 2 goals.