IN the next instalment of MG Moments, Port Adelaide premiership ruckman Bob Philp recounts a late night phone call from the legendary Fos Williams on Grand Final eve.
In 1963, Port Adelaide faced off against North Adelaide for the SANFL premiership in what would make it the club’s eighth Grand Final success in 10 years.
Philp was a key figure of the side, manning the ruck and went to bed early in preparation for the big day.
“One night, we were playing a Grand Final, Norths I think it was,” he recalled.
“I went to bed about 9 o’clock and I heard the phone ring.
“My wife came up and said, ‘Fos is on the phone.’
“I thought, ‘Oh no, bloody someone’s injured, what’s going on?’”
Not wanting to ignore a call from his coach, Philp got himself out of bed to take Fos’ call.
“So I went down and said, ‘Yes, Fos how are you?’” he remembered.
“He said, ‘Good. Now, tomorrow, the ruck is important. So you’ve got to give it all you’ve got.’
“‘…and don’t get up to answer the phone again!’”
Port would go on to beat North 11.14 (80) to 6.11 (47) the next day, but Philp will always remember the cheeky line from his hard-nosed mentor the night before.
“Bloody mongrel he was,” he reflected with a chuckle.
“I said, ‘You rang me!’
“He said, ‘It doesn’t matter!’”
Watch the ‘Fos Williams’ episode of MG Moments above and stay tuned to portadelaidefc.com.au for more every Tuesday and Thursday as Port Adelaide celebrates its 150th year.
