Neil Kerley

Neil Kerley was one of the true characters of South Australian football who was both universally admired and detested for his approach to the game. Despite his involvement with a number of different clubs, Neil displayed unwavering loyalty to each that he represented. Most of all Neil is remembered as a fiercely loyal South Australian who loved nothing more than to serve it up to the Victorians.

Those that worshipped Kerley followed him from club to club and like Neil despised all things Port Adelaide and Victoria. Women adored him, men wanted to be like him and to many young boys he was their hero. What stands out with Neil when it comes to football is his strong desire to win and to take every step to ensure it happened. The values of the Neil Kerley that played and coached in the SANFL can be traced back to his country upbringing and his strong work ethic.

Neil began playing football as a fourteen year old for Barmera in 1948 but chose employment over football when he went to work on the stations in the far north as a Jackeroo. In that harsh environment if you showed any sign of weakness, you were sent straight home to your mother. It was here that he developed the strong work ethic that made him one of the toughest and most durable footballers to play SANFL.

Neil was called up for National Service in 1952 and while stationed at Woodside barracks he received an invitation to play for West Adelaide. Neil played one match for Westies before heading north again to work as a truck driver at Koolymilka. When his workmates discovered he had played for West Adelaide, the nineteen year old Kerley was appointed captain coach. Neil reluctantly accepted and duly won the Mail Medal and led Koolymilka to a flag.

A former West Adelaide player who was coaching North Whyalla encouraged Neil to come to Whyalla and take over from him. Neil coached North Whyalla for the next two seasons to claim another two premierships. At the end of the 1954 season, a near full strength Port Adelaide premiership team came to Whyalla to play a local combined team captained by Neil Kerley. Port Adelaide won the game comfortably but were impressed by the Whyalla captain who was clever and skilful, and who also ruffled a few of the Magpie feathers with his hard attack on the ball and player.

Neil played one game with Westies in 1955 to maintain his registration and was then named coach of South Gambier in 1956. West Adelaide suggested that Neil continue his league career but as he had signed an agreement and was a man of his word, he would only return once West Adelaide had found South Gambier a suitable replacement.

In 1956, Neil played in the first of four losing grand finals to Port Adelaide which now fully manifested his hatred for all things black & white. He won the first of his four West Adelaide best & fairest awards in 1958 and was appointed West captain in 1959. Neil took over from Jack Oatey as coach in 1961 and led West Adelaide to their first flag since 1947 in the infamous ‘Turkish Bath’ grand final where temperatures reached the old century mark. Neil was sacked as West Adelaide coach after losing the 1962 grand final and only continued as a player to fulfil his contract. Doug Thomas was given the job and after initially refusing the appointment and only did so when Neil urged him to accept.

In 1964 Neil was appointed coach of South Adelaide and took them from bottom to top in a memorable victory over Port Adelaide. Neil was named playing coach of Glenelg in 1967 and retired as a player after the 1969 grand final loss to Sturt, finishing with 273 games over sixteen seasons. He had led them to two grand final losses before the Bays won the 1973 premiership in possibly the greatest SANFL grand final of all time. West Torrens appointed Neil as their coach in 1977 and despite two finals appearances, not even the great Neil Kerley could help the perennial under performers. In 1981, West Adelaide announced with much fanfare that Neil Kerley would be their new coach, with Neil immediately changing the West Adelaide strip back to the traditional black with red sash of 1961. West Adelaide steadily improved under Neil, causing an upset in the 1983 grand final by beating red hot favourites Sturt.

Following the 1984 season, Neil opted for a change of pace by accepting a job as Fitness Director and Tender Captain for South Australia’s Americas Cup campaign. When that contract ended, Neil was appointed coach of Central Districts in 1988 leading them to two finals series in 1988 and 1989. Neil was then recruited as Football Manager for the newly formed Adelaide Crows in 1991. The opportunity arose once more to coach West Adelaide in 1992 but after two unproductive seasons, Neil was sacked by West Adelaide for the second time.

After ending his coaching career, Neil spent some time working in the media and as an All Australian selector. Neil still host’s sportsman’s night and makes guest appearances for charity events.