By the time that season rolled around, Port Adelaide had already claimed 18 premierships and was gunning for its sixth in a row.
After the first five being fought and won under the stewardship of captain/coach Fos Williams, Motley would be tasked with helming the black and white for the all-important 1959 campaign.
Losses were unacceptable at Alberton.
It was no surprise then that Port Adelaide fared extremely well that year, despite a shaky start.
It dropped its first game by four points to West Adelaide at Richmond Oval, a result which would have rallied supporters of the other seven clubs - perhaps Port’s golden era was at an end?
Their hopes would’ve been dashed swiftly and decisively, as Motley’s Magpies marched on, overcame that initial hiccup, and won each remaining game of the minor round.
But the shock of the season was yet to come.
On a late September afternoon at the Adelaide Oval, the Bloods would stun football regulation by defeating Port by 25 points and sending the infallible Magpies into a preliminary final.
That meeting, against Glenelg, restored the football balance with a resounding 59-point win in favour of Port and a ticket to the first Saturday of October.
But having lost two matches to West during the year (including that shock semi final defeat), Port Adelaide's favouritism would have been debated by the pundits.
Was Port still worthy of the number one tag? Could West topple the Mighty Magpies?
Donning the regulation famous prison bar lace up and jumper, Port Adelaide ran onto the Oval to the onslaught of jeers and taunts from the masses at the ground.
That meeting, against Glenelg, restored the football balance with a resounding 59-point win in favour of Port and a ticket to the first Saturday of October.
But having lost two matches to West during the year (including that shock semi final defeat), Port Adelaide's favouritism would have been debated by the pundits.
Was Port still worthy of the number one tag? Could West topple the Mighty Magpies?
Donning the regulation famous prison bar lace up and jumper, Port Adelaide ran onto the Oval to the onslaught of jeers and taunts from the masses at the ground.
West on the other hand, led by their legend Neil Kerley, ran on ground boosted by raucous applause.
Port Adelaide people are used to having the football world against them; the fifties were the first shoots of that enmity.
Port Adelaide people are used to having the football world against them; the fifties were the first shoots of that enmity.
It was the typical workmanlike Port Adelaide that ran out in the first quarter with its fitness and ferocity helping it to a convincing 26-point lead at quarter time.
That blossomed into a sizeable six-goal advantage at the half – a significant lead for the times.
But all classic grand finals need a great story and that was in the comeback mounted by West.
The skilled blood and tars chipped away in the second half to close within nine points in the final term, but the Magpies’ composure and experience counted for it in the pressure moments to save a 10-point victory, and a new Australian record.
Rampant through the middle and as a loose man in defence, the Magpies’ captain/coach Geof Motley was best afield for his team and ably helped by Lloyd Zucker, Trevor Obst, Norm Tull, Don Thompson and Dave Gill.
Wally Dittmar booted four crucial goals and Peter Obst three in strong performances up forward, while Tull (two goals), Jeff Potter, Tom Williams, Boyd and John Cahill all managed one.
Is this Port Adelaide’s most greatest premiership?
That blossomed into a sizeable six-goal advantage at the half – a significant lead for the times.
But all classic grand finals need a great story and that was in the comeback mounted by West.
The skilled blood and tars chipped away in the second half to close within nine points in the final term, but the Magpies’ composure and experience counted for it in the pressure moments to save a 10-point victory, and a new Australian record.
Rampant through the middle and as a loose man in defence, the Magpies’ captain/coach Geof Motley was best afield for his team and ably helped by Lloyd Zucker, Trevor Obst, Norm Tull, Don Thompson and Dave Gill.
Wally Dittmar booted four crucial goals and Peter Obst three in strong performances up forward, while Tull (two goals), Jeff Potter, Tom Williams, Boyd and John Cahill all managed one.
Is this Port Adelaide’s most greatest premiership?
Six premierships in a row are simply unheard of at the highest level of the game, which the SANFL, along with the respective Victorian and West Australian state leagues, shared the mantle of being at the time.
Undoubtedly it was the most significant premiership won at the Adelaide Oval, and competes with the 1994 flag won at Football Park - the one credited with sealing the club's elevation to the AFL - for the most important flag in Port Adelaide history.
Few teams have come close to matching the form and consistency produced by that 'golden era' squad and, ultimately, theirs is a record that is unlikely to be matched.
No wonder it sits at the pointy end of the club's long list of great achievements, in the eyes of players, coaches and supporters alike.
1959 SANFL Grand Final
PORT ADELAIDE 13.9 (87) def
WEST ADELAIDE 11.11 (77)
Best: Motley, Zucker, T. Obst, Tull, Thompson, Gill
Goals: Dittmar 4, P. Obst 3, Tull 2, Potter, T. Williams, Boyd, Cahill
Coach: Geof Motley
Captain: Geof Motley
Adelaide Oval
Attendance: 48,884
Few teams have come close to matching the form and consistency produced by that 'golden era' squad and, ultimately, theirs is a record that is unlikely to be matched.
No wonder it sits at the pointy end of the club's long list of great achievements, in the eyes of players, coaches and supporters alike.
1959 SANFL Grand Final
PORT ADELAIDE 13.9 (87) def
WEST ADELAIDE 11.11 (77)
Best: Motley, Zucker, T. Obst, Tull, Thompson, Gill
Goals: Dittmar 4, P. Obst 3, Tull 2, Potter, T. Williams, Boyd, Cahill
Coach: Geof Motley
Captain: Geof Motley
Adelaide Oval
Attendance: 48,884
