Arabic version: نهائي ستورت ونوروود يعيد الجدل حول عام 1978
According to ABC News, Sturt and Norwood will meet in Sunday’s SANFL Grand Final with memories of their contentious 1978 decider again drawing attention. Sturt will seek to defend its 2025 premiership, while Norwood enters as the warm favourite after claiming the minor premiership and beating Sturt by 19 points in the second semi-final earlier this month.
Norwood’s one-point 1978 victory remains closely associated with a late decision involving Redlegs player Phil Gallagher. SANFL senior media producer Zac Millbank said Gallagher collected the ball from a ruck contest, kicked it towards Sturt fullback Colin Casey, then dropped Casey’s return kick while attempting to mark it. Field umpire Des Foster awarded Gallagher what commentators assumed was a weak free kick, but later said he had called a mark and acknowledged the decision was wrong because players had obscured his view.
Gallagher kicked the goal to put Norwood ahead in front of more than 50,000 spectators and a live television audience. Sturt had about three minutes to respond and made several further 50-metre entries, but managed only a point. Millbank said Sturt’s inaccurate kicking meant the loss could not be attributed solely to what he called the “Des Foster blunder”. The moment remains one of Football Park’s most contentious decisions, and Millbank said social-media discussion showed it was still on people’s minds.
The 1978 match also featured a third-quarter scuffle after Norwood’s John Wynne overran the ball on the boundary and entered the Sturt dug-out. Players and Redlegs officials became involved before umpires separated them. Sturt captain Tom Lewis said a pedestrian reminded him of the 1978 grand final on Monday morning, while Norwood captain Jacob Kennerley said he had heard much about the famous Gallagher mark.
Sturt finished third and has played three finals to reach Adelaide Oval, but faces injury concerns involving Jared Dakin, Casey Voss and Amos Doyle. Coach Marty Mattner said Doyle may still play depending on Wednesday training, while Voss’s inclusion was considered unlikely. The 2026 SANFL Grand Final starts at 2:30pm on Sunday, with The Superjesus set to provide pre-game entertainment.
