HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-07-06 Daily Xml
Contents
Xml

Ministerial Statement

Kerley, Mr D.N.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I rise to pay tribute to one of South Australia's most legendary sportsmen, Neil Kerley AM, following his tragic and unexpected death in a car accident last week on 29 June at the age of 88. AFL chief executive, Gillon McLachlan, has described Neil as the embodiment of football in South Australia, and I think that is the perfect summation of the man's influence on our great game.

The man they called 'Knuckles' was a larger than life character who did not suffer fools and who very much charted his own path both on and off the field. However, the thing that everyone whose life he touched agrees upon is that he always brought out the absolute best in the teams and the players he captained and coached.

His career numbers are outstanding. He played 275 games in the SANFL, between 1957 and his retirement in 1969, and captain-coached three teams to premiership wins. He first led West Adelaide to a comprehensive victory over Norwood in 1969, on what remains the hottest grand final day on record, at 35°, and led the Panthers from the bottom of the league to the top in a single year in an infamous victory in 1964.

He won the Best and Fairest as the captain-coach of the Glenelg Tigers in 1967 before leading them to their premiership victory in 1969, which he did again as their coach in 1973. In all, he coached five teams to four premierships, which is an extraordinary record in itself. On Saturday, SANFL games paused for a minute in silent tribute to Neil Kerley's lifelong contribution to South Australian football. Kerley's name is also woven through the story of South Australian football's growth and development on the national stage.

He played 32 games for South Australia, six times as captain, and coached the state team seven times and was the inaugural football manager for the Crows when they became South Australia's first team in 1991—and I could talk a little bit more about that. I would be remiss in not also celebrating his musical career and his release of his unique version of Lee Marvin's I was Born Under a Wandering Star in 1971, a track that delighted fans, took the South Australian radio waves by storm and demonstrated that as a singer he truly was an outstanding footballer.

I want to thank the Kerley family for allowing the people of South Australia to pay tribute to Neil's life and legacy by permitting a state funeral. I particularly would like to thank Barb Kerley for making that decision at such a difficult time and thank her for her cooperation, and the family's cooperation, with DPC as those arrangements are currently in train. At this stage, on behalf of the South Australian government, I would like to pass on our sympathies to Barb, their children and the entire Kerley family for their sudden loss.

Neil Kerley was a proud and passionate South Australian, and we honour him for everything he did to excel and promote the sport and our state in a way that we all hold dear. Vale, Neil 'Knuckles', and thank you so much.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:04): Mr Speaker, on indulgence, eight months ago South Australia mourned the passing of one of our football legends, Russell Ebert. Today, we recognise the passing of another of those legends, Neil Kerley. Both made contributions to our state well beyond their prowess on the field. They inspired us. They made South Australians proud of our state.

The word 'legend' may be overused today, but it most definitely applies to both Russell and Neil, even if they were legends for very different reasons: Ebert had magnificent skills, which won him four Magarey medals; Kerley did not win a Magarey, but he was not known as 'Knuckles' for nothing. As Ken Cunningham has said, 'Kerls wanted to be captain, coach and umpire all in the same game.'

He played 265 SANFL games, every one of them with fierce passion, grit and determination. He played the same way in 32 games for South Australia, never more so than in that epic win over the VFL at the MCG in 1963. He coached five clubs in 628 SANFL games, winning 365 of them. Kerley's playing career came to an end in 1969 just as Ebert was really getting into his stride. They dominated different playing eras but ensured that our state's major contribution to our national sport endured.

After his playing career ended, Kerley continued to demonstrate his great abilities as a coach. He had captain-coached West Adelaide to the SANFL premiership in 1961 and South Adelaide three years later in his first season with the Panthers. While also coaching Westies to the 1983 premiership, his greatest triumph was perhaps taking Glenelg top in 1973 to end a 39-year premiership drought at the Bay.

Kerley then continued his contribution to football long after his successes as a player and a coach. He was the Adelaide Crows team manager in their inaugural season, then Channel 7's boundary rider for their AFL footy coverage. Right to the last, Neil was inspiring others around him, as his mates at the Swan Reach Golf Club have recounted by his drive over recent years to rebuild the club and attract new members.

To Neil's wife, Barb; daughter, Gail; grandson, Campbell; and brother, Ted, we offer our condolences and appreciation for supporting Neil in his remarkable lifelong contribution to football and to our State of South Australia. Vale, Neil Kerley.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT