John Abley
Encyclopedia
John Abley was an Australian rules football
er who played with Port Adelaide
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) between 1950 and 1961.
Abley spent some of the 1949 season playing reserves football with Hawthorn and turned his back on a possible career in the seniors when he moved to Adelaide. He could easily have played for Glenelg (as his younger brother Kevin
did) instead of Port as after he arrived in Adelaide the area he planned on residing in was part of Glenelg's recruiting zone. Port Adelaide officials, at the suggestion of Bob McLean
, hastily arranged alternate accommodation in the hope of acquiring his services and he debuted for them in 1950.
A fullback, Abley first played in that position for Port in a "Challenge match" in Broken Hill
at the end of his debut season and after impressing was kept there for the remainder of his career. He was a member of the famed Port team which won six premierships in succession from 1954 to 1959, an Australian record.
He was a regular South Australian interstate representative and played a total of 23 games for his state. On three occasions he was selected as an All-Australian for his performances at the carnivals, in 1956, 1958 and 1961.
In 1959, John was named as a life member of the Port Adelaide Football Club because of his talent, his warmth off the field and being one of only six players to play in all of Port Adelaide's premierships in the 1950s (1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959).
In 1998, John was inducted to the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
.
In 2001 Abley was named as the fullback in Port Adelaide's official "Greatest Team", taking into account all players to have represented the club since 1870.
Abley died on the 19 August 2011, aged 81, after a short illness.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) between 1950 and 1961.
Abley spent some of the 1949 season playing reserves football with Hawthorn and turned his back on a possible career in the seniors when he moved to Adelaide. He could easily have played for Glenelg (as his younger brother Kevin
Kevin Abley
Kevin Abley was an Australian rules footballer who played in the South Australian National Football League with the Glenelg Football Club.Kevin Abley was born on the 24th of March, 1935, in Box Hill, Victoria, Australia. He came to Adelaide in the early stages of 1950 when he was 15 years of age...
did) instead of Port as after he arrived in Adelaide the area he planned on residing in was part of Glenelg's recruiting zone. Port Adelaide officials, at the suggestion of Bob McLean
Bob McLean (footballer)
Allan Robert Charles 'Bob' McLean was an Australian rules footballer who played for Port Adelaide and Norwood in the South Australian National Football League and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League . Affectionately referred to as 'Big Bob' McLean, he later became a long serving football...
, hastily arranged alternate accommodation in the hope of acquiring his services and he debuted for them in 1950.
A fullback, Abley first played in that position for Port in a "Challenge match" in Broken Hill
Broken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
at the end of his debut season and after impressing was kept there for the remainder of his career. He was a member of the famed Port team which won six premierships in succession from 1954 to 1959, an Australian record.
He was a regular South Australian interstate representative and played a total of 23 games for his state. On three occasions he was selected as an All-Australian for his performances at the carnivals, in 1956, 1958 and 1961.
In 1959, John was named as a life member of the Port Adelaide Football Club because of his talent, his warmth off the field and being one of only six players to play in all of Port Adelaide's premierships in the 1950s (1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959).
In 1998, John was inducted to the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
South Australian Football Hall of Fame
The South Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise the players, coaches, umpires, administrators and journalists who had made a significant contribution in the South Australian National Football League...
.
In 2001 Abley was named as the fullback in Port Adelaide's official "Greatest Team", taking into account all players to have represented the club since 1870.
Abley died on the 19 August 2011, aged 81, after a short illness.