William Harold Oliver (12 August 1891 – 15 November 1958) was an
Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
er. Harold Oliver was a key player to some of South Australian football's most successful teams. He starred in
South Australia's victorious
1911 Australian football championship along with Port Adelaide's
1914 "Invincibles" team. After being close to retiring from the game after
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, he returned to captain both Port Adelaide to the
1921 SAFL premiership and
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
in a game against
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
. His reputation as an early exponent of the
spectacular mark
A spectacular mark (also known as a specky, speckie, speccy, screamer or hanger) is a mark (or catch) in Australian rules football that typically involves a player jumping up on the back of another player.
The spectacular mark has become a much ...
—along with his general skill at playing the game—saw him regarded as one of the best players South Australia has produced.
Early life in Waukaringa (1891–1895)
Cornish immigrants James Oliver and Sarah Mill settled in the gold-mining town of
Waukaringa in the late 1870s. It was common for Cornish people, where mining was a key industry, to move to Australia and use their knowledge to attempt a better life as the economy in Cornwall was waning.
In 1887, whilst working on the New Alma and Victoria goldmine, James lost parts of his right hand's fingers and thumb whilst holding a dynamite cap that accidentally detonated.
Waukaringa raised over £20 ($2,334 in 2020 dollars) to help James in his recovery.
On 12 August 1891, Harold Oliver was born. Harold had eleven siblings. During Harold's childhood in the 1890s, Waukaringa was home to around 600 people.
On 23 February 1895, James left Waukaringa, taking his family to Broken Hill.
''
The Adelaide Observer
''The Observer'', previously ''The Adelaide Observer'', was a Saturday newspaper published in Adelaide, South Australia from July 1843 to February 1931. Virtually every issue of the newspaper (under both titles) has been digitised and is availabl ...
'' noted his departure from the town, saying: "Mr Oliver left Waukaringa today. He was one of the oldest residents, and most respected."
Today, Waukaringa is a
ghost town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* Ghost Town (1936 film), ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* Ghost Town (1956 film), ''Ghost Town'' ...
.
Broken Hill years (1895–1908)
When Harold Oliver was five, his family moved to the
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
mining town of
Broken Hill
Broken Hill is an inland mining city in the far west of outback New South Wales, Australia. It is near the border with South Australia on the crossing of the Barrier Highway (A32) and the Silver City Highway (B79), in the Barrier Range. It is ...
.
Oliver started playing football in Broken Hill for a junior team called the South Imperials. In 1908, his last year living in Broken Hill, he debuted for the
South Broken Hill Football Club
South Broken Hill Football Club is an Australian rules football based in Broken Hill in New South Wales, Australia. The club competes in the Broken Hill Football League.
Notable players
*Lindsay Beck (Port Adelaide, Glenelg, Hawthorn)
*Chris Du ...
in the
Broken Hill Football League
The AFL Broken Hill (formerly, Broken Hill Football League) is an Australian rules football competition based in the Broken Hill region of New South Wales, Australia. Although located in the state of New South Wales the league is an affiliated m ...
at the age of 17.
Lyrup Football Club (1909)
In 1909, Harold Oliver moved to
Lyrup, South Australia
Lyrup is a town in South Australia's rural Riverland area. Lyrup is located on the banks of the Murray River. It is 267 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, the capital of the state of South Australia and 25 kilometres from Renmark. At the 200 ...
, and started a farm growing fruit. During this time, he captained the Lyrup football team, which had previously not won a game.
In 1909, with the assistance of his brother, Harold helped the Lyrup football club win the local riverland league premiership.
Oliver was awarded the Lyrup Football Club best-and-fairest award at the end of the riverland season.
After the season, Lyrup traveled to
Mildura
Mildura is a regional city in north-west Victoria, Australia. Located on the Victorian side of the Murray River, Mildura had a population of 34,565 in 2021. When nearby Wentworth, Irymple, Nichols Point and Merbein are included, the area had ...
, where they lost twice to the home team. The ''
Mildura Cultivator
The ''Mildura Cultivator'' (1888–1920) was a weekly newspaper, the second newspaper to be published in Mildura, Victoria.
History
It was first published on Thursday 19 May 1888 as the official organ of Chaffey Brothers, founders of the irrig ...
'' praised Oliver's marking and kicking, reporting that it was as good as anyone who had played at the ground. An umpire at the game from
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
told Harold that he would be welcome in Melbourne to play football if he wanted to. At the end of 1909, Oliver was contemplating moving to Queensland to join his sister in the state; however, two friends, the Musgrave brothers, who played for West Suburbans in Adelaide, suggested he come down and visit.
Port Adelaide Football Club (1910–1922)
When Oliver arrived in Adelaide, he started playing for West Suburbans and immediately began to draw attention from the two largest
South Australian Football League
The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL ( or ''S-A-N-F-L''), is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the state's governing body for the sport.
Originally formed as the ...
(SAFL) clubs,
Norwood and
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a port-side region of Adelaide, approximately northwest of the Adelaide CBD. It is also the namesake of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield council, a suburb, a federal and state electoral division and is the main port for the ...
. South Australian businessman
Edwin T. Smith was sending Oliver letters asking him to come train with Norwood, whilst
John Woolard, then captain of Port Adelaide—who, like Oliver, grew up in Broken Hill—was also enquiring about his services.
Before Oliver made his debut with Port Adelaide, he was lined up with a job shovelling furnace waste. Disgruntled, he spoke to the Musgrave brothers' father, who suggested he approach
West Torrens and train with them, to which Oliver agreed.
Port Adelaide secretary James Hodge prevented this move, however, as Oliver had signed a contract with him shortly beforehand. To placate Oliver, Hodge later took Oliver out on a fishing trip to resolve the feud and found him a better job.
Debut for Port Adelaide
![1911 Port Adelaide State representatives](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/1911_Port_Adelaide_State_representatives.jpg)
Harold Oliver was listed to make his debut for the club in the first round of the
1910 SAFL season. Such was Oliver's enthusiasm to make his debut that he arrived at the Adelaide Train Station in his full playing uniform.
However, due to the death of
King Edward VII
Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910.
The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria a ...
, the first round of SAFL matches were postponed as a sign of respect.
Oliver eventually made his senior debut for Port Adelaide on 25 June 1910 in a win against
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.
History
Surveyor-General Colonel William Light of the colo ...
at
Jubilee Oval
Jubilee Stadium, also known as Kogarah Oval or by its sponsored name Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, is a multipurpose stadium in Carlton, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. The stadium is mainly used for rugby league and the A-League, and is o ...
.
Port Adelaide would win the SAFL premiership in Oliver's debut season and would subsequently contest the
1910 Championship of Australia in a match against Victorian Football League (VFL) premiers
Collingwood. Harold Oliver kicked 5 goals in the match, helping
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide is a port-side region of Adelaide, approximately northwest of the Adelaide CBD. It is also the namesake of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield council, a suburb, a federal and state electoral division and is the main port for the ...
defeat Collingwood and claim national honours. In 1910, Oliver also made the journey with Port Adelaide to
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
to play a series of matches. This was the first trip by an eastern state club to play football in Western Australia.
Harold Oliver was awarded a gold medal by Port Adelaide for being the best junior of the 1910 season for the club.
Harold Oliver was a member of the
South Australian
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest o ...
state team that won the
1911 Interstate Carnival, defeating the
Victorian side 11.11 (77) to 5.4 (34). Players in the 1911 South Australian team included
Bert Renfrey
Ethelbert Luxmore "Bert" Renfrey (5 May 1879 – 29 April 1940) was an Australian rules footballer who played in the South Australian National Football League, South Australian Football Association, Australian Football League, Victorian Football ...
(captain),
Vic Cumberland
Harold Vivian "Vic" Cumberland (4 July 1877 – 15 July 1927), also known as Harry Cumberland, was an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League, Victorian Football League (VFL) and the South Australian National Football Leag ...
,
Richard Head
Richard Head ( 1637 – before June 1686) was an Irish author, playwright and bookselling, bookseller. He became famous with his satirical novel ''The English Rogue'' (1665), one of the earliest novels in English that found a continental transl ...
,
Tom Leahy, and
Dave Low
David Low (6 April 1887 – 4 August 1916) was an Australian rules footballer who played with West Torrens in the South Australian Football League (SAFL).
Originally from Broken Hill, Low was a defender and debuted for West Torrens in 1910. He ...
, along with Port Adelaide players
Sampson Hosking
Sampson Hosking (4 January 1888 – 20 October 1974) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League, South Australian Football League (SAFL). He was twice a re ...
,
Angelo Congear
Angelo Nicholas Goucar Congear (5 May 1885 – 9 August 1986) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League between 1908 and 1922.
Junior football (1902–19 ...
, and
Frank Hansen. During Round 2 of the 1911 SAFL season, Oliver kicked 7 goals against North Adelaide in what was his twelfth game for Port Adelaide. At the end of the
1911 SAFL season, Harold Oliver was awarded his first
Port Adelaide Best and Fairest in just his second year at the club. During an end of year dinner for the Port Adelaide Football Club players and officials, the then vice president of the club, Dr Alexander Benson, declared that "Oliver should have gained the
Magarey Medal
The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), as judged by field umpires. The award was created by Willia ...
", which was instead won by
Harold Cumberland. Dr Benson's position was supported by readers of ''The Sport'', an upstart Adelaide newspaper, whose readers voted more than 6:1 that Oliver had a better season than Cumberland.
He kicked 28 goals in the 1912 SAFL season. During a game against
Norwood at
Norwood Oval, Oliver got into a fight with Ed Edwards of Norwood, with both players reported by umpire Dollman. As a result, both Oliver and Edwards were suspended, thereby meaning the Magarey Medal favourite would be disqualified from winning the award. Despite this, he would be awarded his second consecutive Port Adelaide Best and Fairest at the end of the 1912 SAFL season . Oliver polled first in the club's best and fairest for almost every round and won the award by over 500 votes.
''The Register'', a local Adelaide newspaper, said regarding the Magarey Medal that "While giving full credit to the winner, however, it is only fair to state that had not Oliver (the brilliant young Port Adelaide player) been disqualified through a regrettable occurrence in a match at Norwood he would undoubtedly have been the medallist this time. He stands out conspicuously."
![PortAdelaide1914](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/PortAdelaide1914.jpg)
For the
1913 season, Oliver was appointed vice captain of Port Adelaide alongside the new club captain,
John Londrigan, who had just come from the
Adelaide University Football Club
The Adelaide University Football Club Inc. (AUFC) is a South Australian based amateur Australian rules football club. It is an affiliate of the Adelaide University Sports Assoc. and plays in the Adelaide Footy League (former "South Australian ...
after that club's failed attempt to gain entry into the SAFL. During August, Harold Oliver married Blanche Downer from
Lyrup. Port Adelaide won the 1913 SAFL premiership by defeating
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.
History
Surveyor-General Colonel William Light of the colo ...
in the
1913 SAFL Grand Final in front of 22,000 spectators at
Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide. The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby ...
. Oliver and Port Adelaide went on to win the
1913 Championship of Australia by defeating VFL premier
Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to:
People As a given name
*Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name:
**FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855)
** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...
.
In 1914, Harold Oliver played every game for the year. He was part of Port Adelaide's undefeated 1914 team that held
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.
History
Surveyor-General Colonel William Light of the colo ...
to a single goal in the
1914 SAFL Grand Final and defeated VFL premiers
Carlton
Carlton may refer to:
People
* Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname
* Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy
* Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...
in the
1914 Championship of Australia match at the
Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide. The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby ...
. A game played between Port Adelaide and a composite team of the best SAFL players was held in the post-season, with Port Adelaide coming out as the victors. Harold Oliver captained Port Adelaide that day and was awarded a trophy as best on ground with arguably the best players of the competition taking to the field on that day.
War years in Berri and the Patriotic League
During World War I, Harold Oliver returned to Berri to maintain his farm. One of his close friends, William Powell, sent him a letter during his time serving that included a short paragraph describing how Australian soldiers were discussing his prowess and that others were exclaiming "Oliver!" whilst playing the Australian game.
Due to the war, the SAFA suspended its competition from 1916 through to 1918. Despite this official suspension, a group of South Australian clubs decided to form their own league in 1916, and the money generated would be put toward the war effort. The Railways Football Club was one of the clubs that participated in this competition and managed to attract Harold Oliver to be the club's captain. Unfortunately for the Railways, Oliver would only play one game for the Railways, and he would instead return to Berri to focus on his farm. Later in the season, Oliver returned to Port Adelaide to play a few games for the club, which was also partaking in the Patriotic League. Port Adelaide would end up winning the 1916 South Australian Patriotic League Grand Final by defeating West Torrens 7.11 (53) to 1.13 (19). Harold Oliver played for Port Adelaide during the game and kicked a goal.
After World War I, Harold Oliver had chosen to retire from league football for the upcoming
1919 SAFL season. Towards the close of the 1919 SAFL season, Port Adelaide had successfully qualified for finals, finishing the minor round fourth. In a bid to increase their chances of September success, Port Adelaide put a call out to Oliver to play in the club's final against West Torrens to which he accepted. Unfortunately, Oliver was out of touch due to not having played during the year, and thus Port Adelaide was eliminated from the year's finals.
Return to football, captain of Port Adelaide and South Australia
![Rover 500 cc 1920](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Rover_500_cc_1920.jpg)
In 1920, keen supporters of the
Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, Alberton, South Australia. The club's senior men's team plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), where they are nicknamed ...
, headed by Mr. Swain, collectively raised £77.13.8 ($5,554 in 2020 terms) and bought Harold a
Rover 3.5hp motor-cycle so he could make his commute of over 200 km to and from
Berri, where he eventually settled on his own property as a fruit grower during the 1920 season.
During the 1921 season, Oliver served his sole season as Port Adelaide captain. During August, Oliver would be designated captain of the South Australian state team during a trip to Western Australia for a state football carnival along with Victoria. Oliver would become sick during the trip and would miss the game against Victoria but would manage to play a game as captain of South Australia against Western Australia a few days later.
![Port Adelaide 1921](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Port_Adelaide_1921.jpg)
Upon returning to Adelaide for the remainder of the season, he would lead the club to the 1921 SAFL premiership, defeating Norwood by 8 points in the
1921 SAFL Grand Final in front of 34,800 spectators at the
Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide. The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby ...
. This would be Oliver's fourth and final premiership with Port Adelaide.
In 1922, after playing only 5 league matches for the season, his career at Port Adelaide finally came to an end due to commitments to his farm at Berri and disputes regarding game compensation. His contract termination meant he was paid £76 of £100 pounds for the season.
Return to Riverland football (1923–1932)
![Harold_Oliver_Berri_Coach_1938](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Harold_Oliver_Berri_Coach_1938.png)
When Harold Oliver retired from league football, he returned to his fruit farm to settle with his wife Blanche in the South Australian Riverland town of Berri. He became captain-coach of the
Berri Football Club in 1923.
During a match for Berri-Barmera in 1925, a drunken spectator by the name of John Purcell who, after previously shouting abuse at Oliver, went onto the playing field just before half-time and punched Harold in the jaw with a glancing blow.
Oliver retaliated and punched Purcell in self-defence, as he was intimidated by Purcell, who was a "big" man.
Purcell later died with
meningitis
Meningitis is acute or chronic inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, collectively called the meninges. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Other symptoms include confusion or ...
, and Oliver was subsequently arrested.
At Oliver's court hearing, the Jury retired for only five minutes and returned a verdict of "not guilty".
Berri Football Club replanted a new oval in 1927, and Harold Oliver worked as a groundskeeper. During that year, Oliver recommended Berri footballer
John Wade to his old club Port Adelaide. Wade would successfully go on to play in Port Adelaide's
1928 premiership. In 1929, at the age of 38, Oliver had kicked 21 goals from the opening three games for the Upper Murray Association football team and averaged more than 10 goals at the club's Berri home ground for the season. He played his last-ever football game in 1931 when his club won the Upper Murray Association premiership by defeating
Barmera
Barmera is a town in the Riverland region of South Australia. It is on the Sturt Highway A20, 220 kilometres north-east of Adelaide, the capital of the state of South Australia. It is primarily an agricultural and viticultural town and is l ...
. During the match, he kicked six goals from six shots at goal. Oliver coached Berri to premierships in 1937 and 1938. During the 1938 post-season, Oliver organised an exhibition match between Berri and his old club Port Adelaide.
Personal life
Harold Oliver married Blanche Downer of Lyrup on 19 July 1913. He had three children: Beryl, James and Joyce.
In his retirement, Oliver lived in
Cowandilla. He died on 15 November 1958, aged 67. The only club representatives at his funeral were
Bob McLean and Charles Darwent, leading to the former to say in his book ''100 Years with the Magpies'' that "There is a very true saying, when referring to the champions, that they are peacock's feathers today and feather dusters tomorrow ... How the mighty fall!".
Legacy
![PortAdelaideOval](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/PortAdelaideOval.JPG)
Harold Oliver is often considered one of the best South Australian players never to win the
Magarey Medal
The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), as judged by field umpires. The award was created by Willia ...
.
This is partially the result of the medal not being awarded for several years during World War I while the SAFL competition was suspended, along with being ineligible in 1912.
Spectacular mark
Within South Australia at the time, he was unanimously considered the best exponent of the
spectacular high-flying mark. In 1935, Australian cricket umpire
George Hele
George Alfred Hele (16 July 1891 – 28 August 1982) was an Australian cricket umpire who umpired 16 Test matches between 1928 and 1933. He was most famous for his role in the infamous Bodyline series, played between Australia and England duri ...
, whilst writing for ''
The Sporting Globe
''The Sporting Globe'' was a newspaper published in Melbourne from 1922 until 1996. The first issue was published on 22 July 1922, and for the first four weeks it was published only on Saturday evenings; from 16 August 1922 it introduced a Wednesd ...
'' in Melbourne, described Harold Oliver as the "
Cazaly">oyCazaly of South Australia". When former South Adelaide champion Steve McKee was reminiscing about Oliver's debut in 1910, he wrote that "Harold Oliver, a highflier equal in skill to
Matson">hilMatson, but more certain in his leaping, burst like a meteor into the football firmament in that year."
Interstate reputation
The aforementioned Phil Matson,
East Perth
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sunrise, Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from ...
premiership player and coach, regarded Harold Oliver as the best centreman he had met during his football career.
Tom Outridge Sr, winner of the inaugural
Sandover Medal
The Sandover Medal is an Australian rules football award, given annually since 1921 to the fairest and best player in the West Australian Football League. The award was donated by Alfred Sandover M.B.E., a prominent Perth hardware merchant and be ...
, said that one of his outstanding memories was of Harold Oliver, stating that when he was a boy he was "taken by his father to see Port play at Kalgoorlie in 1913. The memory of Oliver's brilliant game is as vivid in my mind today as it was when I left the ground that day. He was a wonderful player." After the
1911 Adelaide Carnival,
Ralph Robertson praised the performance of Oliver.
When retired Tasmanian footballer Charlie Goddard travelled to watch his son play for Tasmania at the
1914 Sydney Carnival
The 1914 Sydney Carnival was the third edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition. It was held between Wednesday 5 August and Saturday 15 August 1914. Victoria was the winning state, ...
, he stated how he was enraptured by Harold Oliver's play, saying he was "the noblest roman of them all".
Local reputation
Tom Leahy,
Magarey Medal
The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), as judged by field umpires. The award was created by Willia ...
ist and captain of
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.
History
Surveyor-General Colonel William Light of the colo ...
, once stated after a game at
Alberton Oval
Alberton Oval is located in Alberton, a north-western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. The ground is a public park and is exclusively leased to the Port Adelaide Football Club for Australian rules football.
History
With the nearby Queens ...
that "North Adelaide would certainly have won had Port not possessed a superman in Oliver."
Vic Richardson
Victor York Richardson (7 September 189430 October 1969) was a leading Australian sportsman of the 1920s and 1930s, captaining the Australia cricket team and the South Australia Australian rules football team, representing Australia in baseba ...
, captain of the
Sturt Football Club
The Sturt Football Club, nicknamed The Double Blues, is a semi-professional Australian rules football club based in the suburb of Unley, South Australia, which plays in the South Australian National Football League.
Founded in 1901 by the Stur ...
and
Australian cricket team
The Australia men's national cricket team represents Australia in men's international cricket. As the joint oldest team in Test cricket history, playing in the first ever Test match in 1877, the team also plays One-Day International (ODI) an ...
, described Harold Oliver as being "The finest all-round exponent of Australian football in my playing and watching experience of it".
Charlie Checkett, long serving curator of the
Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide. The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby ...
, considered Harold Oliver "The greatest footballer this state
outh Australiahas produced". When
James Matthews, captain of
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.
History
Surveyor-General Colonel William Light of the colo ...
and
South Australian cricketer, was asked in 1951, four decades after he retired, who he thought was the finest all-round Australian rules footballer, he stated Harold Oliver. In 1965, a publication covering 100 years of South Australian football written by Charles Knuckey included the state's all-time team; Harold Oliver was allocated the position of
centre half-forward
In Australian rules football, the centre half-forward is a position on the half-forward line of a football field. The directly opposing player is a centre half-back. Royce Hart of the Richmond Football Club and Wayne Carey of the North Melbourne ...
.
Port Adelaide reputation
Angelo Congear
Angelo Nicholas Goucar Congear (5 May 1885 – 9 August 1986) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League between 1908 and 1922.
Junior football (1902–19 ...
, whose career completely overlapped with Oliver, said that "As an all-round player, Harold Oliver is my pick. In his prime he played a wonderfully clever game anywhere. He is also the fairest player it has been my pleasure to play with." In 1924 after 40 years of involvement with training footballers
Jack McGargill, former Port Adelaide head trainer, described Harold Oliver as "the finest footballer the state has produced". In 1948, Arthur Swain, the club's former chairman who had been associated with the club for 44 years at the time, stated that "Harold Oliver was the greatest footballer I have ever seen in my life", thereby ranking him ahead of the recently retired
Bob Quinn. A section of the 1951 PAFC Annual Report paid tribute to Harold Oliver by stating that he "was a champion in any position on the field, being an outstanding high mark and a magnificent kick. He played with conspicuous brilliance in many interstate matches and will rank amongst the really great players of all time." Albert Tomlin, who played with Port Adelaide from 1888 to 1894, considered Harold Oliver to be Port Adelaide's best-ever player and the best all-rounder anywhere, alongside
Tom MacKenzie
Thomas David MacKenzie (4 October 188228 November 1927) was an Australian rules footballer in the (then) South Australian Football Association (SAFA)/South Australian Football League (SAFL).
MacKenzie was the first man to win three Magarey M ...
.
Honours
Oliver was one of the first 18 inaugural members of Port Adelaide's Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2001, Harold Oliver was named in the
Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, Alberton, South Australia. The club's senior men's team plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), where they are nicknamed ...
's greatest team of all time, placed on the half-forward flank. In 2002, Harold Oliver was inducted into the
South Australian Football Hall of Fame
The South Australian Football Hall of Fame enshrines those who have made a most significant contribution to the game of Australian Football.
The Hall of Fame was established in 2002 when 114 outstanding individuals became inaugural inductees.
S ...
. In 2020, the ''
Adelaide Advertiser
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The demo ...
'' ranked Port Adelaide's best 50 players, with Harold Oliver coming in at number 11.
References
External links
australianfootball.com – Harold Oliver player profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, Harold
Australian rules footballers from South Australia
Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) players
Port Adelaide Football Club players (all competitions)
South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees
1891 births
1958 deaths
South Broken Hill Football Club players