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Video: Motley: a SANFL legend
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As a legend of South Australian football his name sits comfortably among the nation's elite footballers, but such a scenario was beyond Motley's wildest dreams when he first arrived at the club he idolised as a child.
"I was born not far from Alberton Oval, which is Port Adelaide's headquarters, and everyone who lives in that district generally barracks for the Magpies or they get rocks thrown on their roof," Motley says.
"We had a reputation similar to Collingwood I suppose; you either love us or you hate us.
"I've always been proud to have been given the opportunity to play for Port Adelaide and I was very fortunate to be involved with them at the commencement of a very successful era."
Motley was never dropped during a playing career which began in 1953. He had amassed 258 games by the time he hung up his boots in 1966 having captained the club for eight years and taken out the club's best and fairest award four times.
He holds the rare distinction of being the only player to take part in all nine of the club's premierships during its golden era between 1954 and 1965. Each holds special significance for Motley but he nominates the 1959 flag, the last in a sequence of six straight Grand Final wins, as one he holds dear.
"I was very fortunate because Fos Williams was coaching for the first five, but he retired and they appointed me as playing coach," he says.
"I found his shoes pretty big to fill, but we were fortunate enough to win the premiership; we lost our first minor round game and then won the rest. It was probably the most important moment of my football life, I would suggest, because if you coach and captain and do all that sort of stuff it adds more significance to it.
Although he was an undeniably fierce competitor and hard as nails at the contest, Motley was never reported in 14 years of senior football.
Widely respected in the football community and a consummate team man, he becomes more reticent when the conversation turns to the individual achievements of his stellar career.
"Someone else should describe how I was as a player because I'm not good at it," he says.
"I did have my own way of playing and I don't think I held off on things, but I never got reported and I wasn't disappointed about that.
"It's no good going crook at umpires and doing stupid things because I never, ever in my association with the game for over 60-odd years saw any umpire change a decision. It didn't make any sense; just to get on with it was the important thing."
That approach, coupled with his unquestioned talent, often saw him figure prominently in the SANFL's highest individual honour for the fairest and best player, the Magarey Medal. But it took until the tail end of his career before he finally broke through.
"I was favourite many times, but never got up and the year that I was fortunate enough to win it I didn't expect it," he recalls of his 1964 triumph.
"I didn't have any high hopes as such because of previous disappointments, but I wasn't disappointed when I was able to get up and win it.
"Individual awards are wonderful things and they are real bonuses, but our game is a team game and the whole exercise of a team game is to play in Grand Finals and win premierships; that's what it's all about."
Motley proudly represented South Australia on 28 occasions and remains a staunch supporter of state of origin football. In fact, he lists the Croweaters' famous win against the Victorians on their home patch in 1963 as one of the high points of his decorated career.
"That was one of my highlights that I've never forgotten because we didn't win very often against Victoria back then," he says.
"We were all of the view that the ultimate was to beat Victoria; to beat them on the MCG is even better again.
"They claimed this was the greatest side that was ever picked by Victoria; the decision as to who was going to win wasn't an issue [according to them], it was just the margin that needed to be decided and we were fortunate enough to knock them off.
"We went around to Lou Richards' pub after and I'll never forget he got up on the table with all of his guests there and said that the umpires had cheated them, which was typical Lou."
Motley's contribution to football as a player and coach has seen him awarded life membership of both Port Adelaide and the SANFL. He was named on a half-back flank in Port's 'Greatest Team of All Time' and is a member of the South Australian Hall of Fame.
He is still an avid football watcher, but is attempting to take a step back from his last active involvement in the sport as a player manager and consultant. Motley admits to being excited and humbled by his induction to the AFL Hall of Fame which comes "towards the end of his football journey".
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Video: Motley: a SANFL legend
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