SANFL History Interview - Port Adelaide's John Cahill

[@Paisly17]

He was my first football autograph I was 6 in 1966 he shook my hand at the same time. I’m now 64 and it’s a memory I’ll never forget to this day. Thanks Jack

[@wilburgraham6260]

Interesting proggoprong 🤣

[@AlecJohn-c5o]

"Gentleman Jack"....aptly named. His style of coaching at Port Magpies in my opinion was more entertaining than the modern form of the game. He had the players kick long and as he mentioned they didn't over use hand ball which produced a great looking down the corridor type of footy. His years at Port Power in 1997/1998 were excellent considering he had to put together a side which was so inexperienced that many Melbourne commentators did not think they would win a game in their first year. As it turned out they came close to playing finals in those years and much to the Crows disappointment managed to win the first Showdown. The highlight of this interview for me was at 32:18 where he disobeyed Club Management and took the team away for a couple days fishing at Port Broughton. You can tell by the way he relates the story how much he cared for his players morale and welfare...even going against management if he thought the players weren't being treated well. Also interesting for me was his account of coaching at Collingwood in 1983/1984 and finding the Collingwood Club was less organized off field than the Port Magpies. He also said the players had more EGO in Melbourne and that some of the Collingwood side would not of been picked in the Port SANFL team. I wonder what Jack thinks of Port's SANFL premierships not being counted like the VFL teams are? Based on his experience at Collingwood the difference in standard wasn't as large as what many Victorians claimed it to be. Great interview of a Champion player, coach and person. Awesome stuff. 👍👍

[@philmcguinness8583]

John Cahill saved my life. Thanks Jack

[@DeanGilkinson]

How did he save your life ?

[@wilburgraham6260]

Yes, how did he save your life 🤣

[@kevinhisee4265]

A top bloke off the field too. Always made time for the fans and the bond he forged with his players was unbreakable. That's how you win ten flags

[@igavehimadollar3354]

met Jack over the years at Port training as a boy and with my kids and got to speak to him briefly on those occasions. The man has a way about him thats for sure probably one of the warmest realest people ive met. One session the season before AFL entry i took my kids to watch the lads train which is about an hour from home. The kids had autograph books and port had already released scarves etc so my kids had the new scarfs and he spotted that and came off the oval and straight to them they where in awe and so was i he had a bit of chat to them and as he went back on the ground he told the boys to make sure they sign the kids autograph books . Hes a ripper and an incredible player and coach

[@julieissom]

This is fantastic. The memories are coming back. I have followed Sturt Football Club under Jack Oatey since the early 1960's during John's era as a player and then later on as a coach. Sorry that I am reminiscing about another very good footy club during that era but if you know and still remember the late 1950's through to early 1970's those were the days.

[@AlecJohn-c5o]

As a Port Supporter I saw the last few years of Oatey's coaching career and I have nothing but respect for him and Sturt. Despite Port's success in 77-81 with 4 out of 5 flags I think Sturt had the best foot and hand skills in that era. Port had more grunt but Sturt had more skill. In fact Peter Marker and Lou Richards whilst calling a Sturt v VFL club (can't remember the VFL club...I think it was Footscray) night game in 1983 said that Sturt was possibly the most skillful side in Australia....even more skillful than VFL sides. Graham in particular....the best foot skills I have ever seen.....his stab passing could kill!!!

[@grantadam7674]

All the Sturt supporters having a say. I'm another and have to say that in my lifetime Port v Sturt clashes have been the ultimate contests. Cahill has the humility to admit that '76 was somewhat a failure on his part and admits to being outcoached. I saw all the 60's grand finals except '66 and it was the Oatey style and game plan. When Cornes was outcoached in 2017 he whinged, and so did his brother, which doesn't sit well with me. It wasn't a true Port way of accepting defeat. That's tarnished my respect for Port a bit.

[@wilburgraham6260]

Got 'em going here proggo,Natter natter natter 😉🤣

[@timothywinter2412]

What an absolute legend. Loved Jack at Port Adelaide and Collingwood. May he go on for years to come.

[@mrbrztrd9844]

Legend , i remember the bumper stickers in the 70's ,,, JACKS BACK

[@brettbrett9973]

Many look forward to Max Bssheers story . PORT wont be able to stop that and their whinging.

[@brettbrett9973]

No gentleman as a coach at port.Why would the SANFL interview him when they backstabbed the SANFL and all the clubs?

[@Paisly17]

Stupid comment

[@JohnPereira-nl7hu]

Hey?

[@AlecJohn-c5o]

As he mentioned in the interview, Port's bid was engineered by the board and he tried to stay out of it and focus on coaching the Magpies. 11 SANFL premierships as Coach ....I think that entitles him to be interviewed. He is reaching the end of the line so to have this interview captured for posterity is a great move in my opinion.

[@brettbrett9973]

@@AlecJohn-c5o I agree with that and meant Port, not him. Yes, you are right on that point. However, he was no gentleman as a coach. Instructing players to opposition players and take them out is woeful. Hindsight is great, but how Port was introduced to the AFL was a joke. Tried to stay out of it? They demanded he was successful, his words. Mate , it's a long time ago but you Port people seem to think the footy world owes you. They had one bad year in the SANFL in the 80s and nearly went broke. The AFL has lost so much money propping them up. Always whining.

[@AlecJohn-c5o]

@@brettbrett9973 I actually thought it should of been Port and Norwood at the same time rather than the Crows. But now I am in my fifties I miss the old SANFL and kind of wish it could of stayed the same. Great clubs like Glenelg, Sturt etc are disappearing into obscurity. The VFL swallowed up the SANFL and WAFL. I guess it would happened regardless but some of those great SANFL moments are disappearing into the past and soon no one under the age of 40 will even know it existed.