ASK Port Adelaide people who the club's greatest player is and you're sure to get a myriad of responses.
If pure records come down to it, then Geof Motley is hard to match.
Motley has won it all in footy.
Be it the nine premiership teams he played for during a career that spanned at least 250 season games for Port Adelaide, or the Magarey Medal he won in 1964, there was little Motley didn’t achieve in football.
His self-described “greatest achievement” in the game is both captaining and coaching Port Adelaide’s record-breaking 1959 premiership team.
The thing that matches it was Wednesday’s unveiling of the new Port Adelaide players’ race at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval, now aptly named the Geof Motley Race.
Port Adelaide acknowledges great Motley on players' race
The entrance to Port Adelaide’s rooms at the Riverbank End of the club’s new AFL home proudly bears the name of its great champion - a player who epitomised the characteristics supporters expect of Port players: hard work, dedication and an unrelenting desire to win the ball.
Motley was never dropped from Port Adelaide’s League side, and never reported.
No team which featured him ever finished lower than third.
It was a 'no-brainer for the club to name its players’ race at the Adelaide Oval after Motley.
The man himself was humbled as chief executive Keith Thomas confirmed his latest accolade before members of the Motley family, Geof’s friends and a smattering of former teammates inside the club's new Oval change rooms.
“I rate this right up there,” Motley told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“I played in a lot of grand finals and a lot of premierships, there’s no question there, but the most significant one to me was when I was appointed coach in ’59 and we won it [the premiership].
“I’ll always say that was my greatest achievement ahead of anything else I might have been lucky enough to win, but this here, this rates with that.
“Everything else I’ve been involved in – the SANFL Hall of Fame, the Team of the Century for Port Adelaide – are a distance away.
“This is as good as it gets; the finish of my lifetime as such, I’d be more than happy to go out with that.”
To play for a club that only knew success, a club he had himself grown up supporting, is a rare privilege extended to few people in Australian sporting society.
To be remembered almost fifty years after retiring as a great of the club is something Motley cherishes.
It is difficult to dispute his status as a champion of the club.
A champion among champions: (L-R) Neville Hayes, Dave Gill, Ken Tierney, captain/coach Fos Williams and Geof Motley do it again at Adelaide Oval in 1958
With four best and fairest trophies to his name (1958,1959,1963 and 1965) and a member of the Port Adelaide, South Australian and Australian Football Halls of Fame, Motley comfortably sits alongside names like Fos Williams, Bob Quinn, Russell Ebert and Jack Cahill.
He represented South Australia in 28 matches – a feat matched or beaten by very few.
Now his place among some of Port Adelaide’s biggest names is assured – Williams, Quinn, Cahill, Wanganeen and Ebert all have facilities named for them at the recrowned home of South Australian football.
The Adelaide Oval connection is part of the reason why the club chose Motley for the race.
His record notwithstanding, the fact he accomplished his merits playing on the hallowed turf of the Memorial Drive ground is reason enough to put Motley’s name in black and white on the wall of the new field entrance.
“To me this has always been our home and I’m glad it will become the home of South Australian football again,” Motley said.
“It surely rates as one of the best sports facilities in Australia, if not the world.
“I’ve always believed the game should be played here and I think it will be very warmly received.”
Just as warmly received as Motley is at the club nowadays.
He has recently worked as a key bridge between the club and efforts to reengage members of that successful 'Golden Era', which was recently reunited at a function at Alberton Oval.
There is no denying his passion for the club, even at the age of 79, still burns as brightly as ever.
Visit portadelaidefc.com.au on Thursday when we profile John Cahill...
Geof Motley record
SANFL Games played: 250 (1953-1966)
SANFL Games coached: 62 (1959-1961)
SANFL Goals: 156
Captain: 1959-1966
Club coach: 1959-1961
Captain/coach: 1959-1961
South Australian Representative Matches: 28 games
SANFL Premierships: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965
Port Adelaide best and fairest: 1958, 1959, 1963, 1965
Magarey Medallist: 1964
Member of Port Adelaide Football Club's Greatest Ever Team (Right half-back)
Port Adelaide Life Member: 1962
SANFL Player Life Member
Medal of the Order of Australia (1992)
Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame (2002)
Australian Football Hall of Fame (2008)
