1961 Articles
With the formation of the club, Mick Cacas was appointed President/Secretary and Jimmy Hall was appointed as coach. On the 29th of April 1961, the dream of Mick Lisgos, Michael Cacas and Nick Nicholas became a reality when the Greek Orthodox Football Club played Cowandilla Church of Christ at the South Parklands in the A3 Division.
The opening game of the season saw the crushing defeat of the Greeks by a margin of 8 goals 1 point. The scores were Cowandilla 11 goals 8 pts to Greeks 3 goals 7 pts. The following week, with a more settled side, Greek outplayed St. Marys/St Mathews with hard vigorous football to win 5 - 5 to 1 - 3.
Gaining in confidence as the season progressed the Greeks won 8 of the next 12 games to finish third. The first semi-final was against Prospect Methodist, a team which had beaten the Greeks at their 2 previous encounters by 12 and 3 goals respectively. By ¾ time, the Greeks had been outplayed by Prospect in almost every position and things looked grim, but after an inspiring speech by coach Jimmy Hall, the team lifted and kicked 5 quick goals to win the game 8 - 9 to 6 - 9. This took the Greeks to the preliminary final against Woodville Lutheran the following week.
Again the team was found wanting and at ¾ time was trailing by 9 points, but recovered booting 5 goals in the final quarter to win 9 - 8 to 5 - 7.
By winning the preliminary final and the right to play Port Adelaide Presbyterian in the Grand Final, the Greeks created history by being the first ethnic club to contest a grand final in their first year of Australian Rules Football. On the big day, both sides match each other with only a few points separating them at half time. The third quarter saw a 7 goal burst by Port Adelaide Presbyterian who ran out winners 12 - 12 to 5 - 10. Although beaten, 1961 was a great year and laid the foundation for bigger and better things to come. Best and fairest for the year was won by captain Tom Frossinakis and the leading goal kicker was Len Brown with 41 goals including 10 out of 14 against Cowandilla Church of Christ.
Back to the 60's Badge
Greek Football Club Life Membership Badge
Greek Football Club Membership Badge
1961 Team Members
REGULARS
Micky Cacas President, Secretary and Organiser - Wingman
Micky Lisgos Co-Organiser and Unofficial Captain for early part of minor round - Forward, Rover
Tom Frossinakis Elected Official Captain of Season, replacing Micky Lisgos - Ruckman, Centre Half Forward, Full Forward
Theo Nicholas Vice Captain, Treasurer - Follower, Back Pocket
Nick Nicholas Chairman - Utility Player, Centre Half Back
Johnny Nicholas Wingman, Rover
Sidney Adinis Full Back, Centre Half Back
Freddy Carrangis Follower, Back Pocket
Johnny Carrangis Back Pocket, Rover
Jimmy Cacas Half Forward, Rover
Philip Galantamos Centre Half Back, Full Back
Billy Gronthos Centre Man, Rover
Johnny Karafatios Rover, Half Forward
Hans Schoppe Ruckman, Half Forward, Half Back
George Fratini Half Back, Rover
Len Brown Full Forward, Centre Half Forward
Barry Easom Half Back, Rover
Johnny Bertram Half Forward, Forward Pocket
THE FOLLOWING PLAYED A FEW GAMES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON
George Prinds (Mostly Reserve) Half Back, Half Forward
Kevin Williams Rover, Half Forward
Andrew Con Half Forward
Johny Stoner Half Forward
Bevan Graetz Rover, Follower
Basil Taliangis Back Pocket
George Carapetis Half Forward
Bill Kotsano Centre Man
Andy Kotsano Follower, Half Forward
1961 Games
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29/04/61 | Greek Orthodox V Cowandilla Church of Christ
The season's opening game saw the crushing defeat of the Greeks by a margin of 8 Goals 1 Point. A contributing factor was the hurried arrangement of the team.
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1. Nicky Nicholas - Second best on ground
2. Theo Nicholas - Follower
3. Micky Lisgos - Rover
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11 - 8 Cowandilla Church of Christ
3 - 7 Greek Orthodox
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06/05/61 Greek Orthodox V St Marys / St Matthews
With a much more settled team, Greek outplayed the opposition with hard, vigorous football. The game was not a spectacle but a feeling of better things to come was felt by all.
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1. Micky Lisgos - Rover
2. Nicky Nicholas - Second best on ground
3. Billy Gronthos - Third best on ground
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5 - 5 Greek Orthodox
1 - 3 St Marys / St Matthews
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13/5/61 Greek Orthodox V Woodville Lutheran
The Greek Orthodox team was very concerned about having to front up to Woodville Lutheran who had won every game by at least 20 goals.
On the morning of the match, most of the players had gone to organize the hall where the first Social was to be held and then there was a great rush to get to the oval on time.
In the first quarter, Woodville rattled on four quick goals and at half time had a clear margin of 4-2 not without the help of an unsettled, self-antagonistic Greek Orthodox. In the third quarter, Greek settled down but could only manage to get within 2-2 of the opposition, in spite of the use of a 4-5 goal wind.
At three quarter time, things looked very dismal for the Greeks, for Woodville had use of the ever-strengthening wind. However, things worked out quite well.
From the first bounce in the fourth quarter, Greek Orthodox did not look to be in much trouble for the rest of the quarter except near the end of the match. Micky Lisgos played a very good last quarter as did Nicky Nicholas hitting a very purple patch kicking three magnificent angled goals for the quarter. With five minutes to go Woodville was still three points ahead when Tom Frossinakis kicked a goal from a scrimmage in front of goals and Greek Orthodox arrested the lead for the first time in the last quarter and in the match. However, Woodville relentlessly attacked and kicked another goal to lead by one point, then, with 45 seconds to go Nicky Nicholas kicked the goal of the match to seal the game for Greek Orthodox by 5 points.
There were many features of the game worth mentioning: the terrible condition of the oval, the sometimes-magnificent kicking of the fullback, Phillip Galantomos (one kick sailing about sixty-five yards down the oval), Nicky Nicholas’s fantastic match-winning last quarter and Micky Lisgos’s consistent game throughout the match.
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1. Micky Lisgos – Second best on ground, roving half forward
2. Nicky Nicholas – Roving three grabs
3. Tom Frossinakis – Rucking
4. Phillip Galantomos – Full Back
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8 - 9 Greek Orthodox
6 - 16 Woodville Lutheran
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27/5/61 Greek Orthodox V Prospect Methodist
After a bye-game Greek Orthodox were soundly thrashed by Prospect who had been beaten easily by all opposition teams previously. The Greeks were a little over-confident, not knowing that Prospect had included six A-Grade Association players in their team.
Nicky Nicholas kicked the only three goals that the Greeks scored for the match.
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1. Johnny Nicholas – Wingman
2. Micky Cacas – Wingman
3. Nicky Nicholas – 3 Goals, Half Forward
4. Tom Frossinakis – Rucking
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13 - 16 Prospect Methodist
3 - 4 Greek Orthodox
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3/6/61 Greek Orthodox V Port Adelaide Presbyterian
The Greeks played very well to win by only three points. All players played well with Johnny Karafatios kicking the winning goal – and how!!
Johnny found himself in possession of the ball, facing the wrong way, about twenty-five to thirty yards from the goals. Hearing hysterical cries of “kick Johnny, kick the B-thing”. He did just that and regardless of all unconventional styles the “B-thing” went straight through the middle to seal the game.
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1. Sid Adinus – Second best on ground
2. Len Brown – Third best on ground
3. Basil Taliangis – Back Pocket
4. Johnny Karafatios – Roving
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6-4 Greek Orthodox
5-7 Port Adelaide Presbyterian
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10/6/61 Greek Orthodox V Clearview Methodist
The Greeks had an effortless win over the “cinderella” team of the league and did as they pleased, especially in the last quarter when they kicked 7-2.
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1. A Kotsano – Second best on ground
2. Sid Adinis – Third best on ground, Full Back
3. Johnny Nicholas – Wingman
4. Barry Easom – Half Back
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12 - 9 Greek Orthodox
3 - 4 Clearview Methodist
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17/6/61 Greek Orthodox V Cowandilla Church of Christ
Greek Orthodox got revenge, returned the compliments of the season to Cowandilla when they thrashed them by 9-2. Features of the game were the magnificent combination of the Greek backlines in conceding only two goals and the “best A-field” decision went to Tom Frossinakis for his work in the ruck and at center half forward.
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1. Tom Frossinakis – Ruck
2. Len Brown – 5 goals, third best on ground
3. Basil Taliangis – Back Pocket
4. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Back
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11-8 Greek Orthodox
2-6 Cowandilla Church of Christ
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1/7/61 Greek Orthodox V St. Mary’s-St Matthew’s United
After a bye-game this was the first bad exhibition of fluctuating temperaments by the Greeks – the main offenders being Nicky and Theo Nicholas who were reported by the Umpire for use of indecent language to the Umpire and their team-mates themselves!!
Nicky got one week and Theo was found not guilty. At three quarter time Tom Frossinakis walked off the field because of his team’s refusal to settle down. This withdrawal of their ruckman made the Greeks settle down and play a very good last quarter.
After the match, Jimmy Cacas requested an official election to select team leaders and the results were:-
Tom Frossinakis – Captain
Theo Nicholas - Vice-Captain
Micky Cacas – Secretary
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1. John Nicholas – Wingman
2. Sid Adinis – Full Back
3. Len Brown – 6 Goals
4. Basil Taliangis – Back Pocket
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13 - 11 Greek Orthodox
6 - 2 St Mary’s-St Matthews United
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8/7/61 Greek Orthodox V Woodville Lutheran
Woodville were stunned in the first quarter when despite the absence of Nicky Nicholas (through suspension) Greek Orthodox turned on an unbelievable first quarter to kick 6-2 to their 2 points!
Micky Lisgos was easily best afield in that first quarter but later “flaked out” as did all the Greeks as the scores showed at half time – scores were 10-2 to 2-9 and Greeks kicked only 1-5 in the last half to Woodville’s 3-10.
The best afield decision went to Andrew Con on half forward position.
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1. Andrew Con - Best Afield
2. Tom Frossinakis – Third Best Afield
3. Sid Adinis – Full back
4. Micky Lisgos- Rover, Forward Pocket
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11 - 7 Greek Orthodox
5 - 19 Woodville Lutheran
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15/7/61 Greek Orthodox V Prospect Methodist
Greek’s string of five consecutive wins was brought to an abrupt end when they suffered another defeat at the hands of Prospect in the hardest game up until then in the minor round.
Prospect led for most of the game (except the first quarter) when the Greeks threw out a challenge at the start of the last quarter to get within five points but tired immensely and Prospect won fairly comfortably by 3-1.
As usual, there were a few incidents – four players were carted off (2 from each team).
Hans Schoppe kicked two freakish goals. Micky Lisgos and Tom Frossinakis combined very well in the last quarter but could not last long enough.
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1. Tom Frossinakis – Rucking
2. Mick Cacas – Wing
3. Sidney Adinis – Full Back
4. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Forward
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10 - 7 Prospect Methodist
7 - 6 Greek Orthodox
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22/7/61 Greek Orthodox V Port Adelaide Presbyterian
As far as excitement, antagonism, deadly passages of play as well as words, wonderful football and strong-arm tactics were concerned in both minor and major rounds, this game won the prize.
Greeks led throughout the game playing in an electrifying atmosphere but in the last half of the last quarter, Port Adelaide, mainly through the magnificent efforts of their star player, Peter MacLennan, who kicked three fantastic goals, nosed out the winners by eight points.
Two players of the Port clan were carted off: one for a crippling blow he received in the pelvis and the other for loss of memory he got from a collision with a mean knee – both mishaps being purely accidental incidents.
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1. Tom Frossinakis – Second Best on Ground, Ruck, Full Forward
2. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Back
3. Johnny Nicholas – Wingman
4. Micky Cacas – Wingman
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7 - 8 Port Adelaide Presbyterian
6 - 6 Greek Orthodox
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29/7/61 Greek Orthodox V Clearview Methodist
Greek Orthodox had a very easy victory over Clearview in a fairly fiery game, two features of which were Len Brown’s six goals and Tom Frossinakis three goals.
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1. Len Brown – 6 Goals, Second Best on Ground
2. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Back
3. Tom Frossinakis – Rucking
4. Micky Cacas- Wingman
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16 - 11 Greek Orthodox
6 - 9 Clearview Methodist
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5/8/61 Greek Orthodox V Cowandilla Church of Christ
The Greeks met with spirited opposition from the “Cows” especially from two of their tall players both of whom had glorious marks and kicks.
However, the Greeks won easily and some noteworthy features of the game were Len Brown’s great effort in kicking ten goals (the two ruckmen getting two each) and the receiving of a nice hard knock on the nose by Tom Frossinakis thus making a bloody mess of his already messy face.
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1. Tom Frossinakis – Second Best on Ground
2. Sid Adinis – Full Back
3. Len Brown – Full Forward – 10 goals
4. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Forward
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14 - 16 Greek Orthodox
4 - 5 Cowandilla Church of Christ
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12/8/61 Greek Orthodox V Woodville Lutheran
Greek lost a hard match to the Lutherans after they had defeated them in their two previous encounters. Woodville won fairly easily and the only consolation the Greeks received was Hans Schoppe receiving the Second Best Afield Award.
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1. Hans Schoppe – Ruckman
2. Freddy Carrangis – Ruckman
3. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Back
4. Sidney Adinis – Full Back
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9 - 10 Woodville Lutherans
5 - 10 Greek Orthodox
MINOR ROUND SUMMARY
At the end of the Minor Round the Greeks had played 14 games, winning 9 and losing 5 and came third.
HOW THE TEAMS FINISHED
1. Port Adelaide Presbyterian
2. Woodville Lutheran
3. Greek Orthodox
4. Prospect Methodist
5. Cowandilla Church of Christ
6. St Mary’s/St. Matthew’s United
7. Clearview Methodist
1961 The Major Round
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26/8/61 Greek Orthodox V Prospect Methodist
Greek Orthodox fielded a fairly strong and not overconfident team to play Prospect Methodist who had a really great psychological advantage over them, for they had defeated the Greeks on their previous encounters by 12 goals and 3 goals respectively.
Moreover, Woodville had defeated the Greeks two weeks ago, but not everyone was that pessimistic, instead, all were very confident.
In the first three quarters, led by their Captain’s brilliant display, Prospect had outplayed the Greeks in almost every position.
However, that’s as far as Prospect got. Jimmy Hall, the Coach for the Greeks gave an immensely inspiring speech which made every Greek grit his teeth – even Hans Schoppe who started the last quarter by giving the ball the whack of his career sending it thirty-five yards down the field where, Billy Gronthos, the robust Rover, grabbed it and sent it flying goalwards where Len Brown picked up and goaled.
The Greeks then just did as they liked and kicked five early goals in the last quarter.
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1. Theo Nicholas – Following
2. Tom Frossinakis – Rucking
3. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half
4. Jimmy Cacas – Wingman
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8 - 9 Greek Orthodox
6 - 9 Prospect Methodist
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2/9/61 Greek Orthodox V Woodville Lutheran
Both teams played determinedly for the winner had the right to contest the Grand Final against Port Adelaide Presbyterian.
From the first bounce, Woodville led and at three quarter time led by nine points.
As in the previous match, Greek won this game in the last quarter.
Hans Schoppe and Billy Gronthos repeated their performances and a goal resulted to Johnny Karafatids.
This made Greek Orthodox three points behind. Woodville attacked but Nicky Nicholas marked, played on and screw punted to just back of centre half forward.
Tom Frossinakis, playing full forward ran out in opposition to two lively Woodville players, jumped and held a strong mark. He made no mistake as did the other four goal kickers that quarter (two goals by Phillip Galantomos).
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1. Tom Frossinakis – Ruckman, Full Forward
2. Nicky Nicholas – Centre Half Back
3. Johnny Nicholas- Wingman
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9 - 8 Greek Orthodox
5 - 7 Woodville Lutheran
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9/9/61 Greek Orthodox V Port Adelaide Presbyterian
On the big day, Port Adelaide crushed Greek Orthodox by a margin of seven goals, the same amount they kicked in a devastating third quarter, the only quarter in which they outscored the Greeks. As was customary this was a tough, hard match and a few barrackers were around from other teams in the same grade, cheering both sides.
Philip Galantomos played a good game and “bagged” four of the five goals kicked by the Greeks. Johnny Bertram getting the fifth one.
A contributing factor would have been the colds which the Captain and Vice-Captain had and also the injury suffered by the other ruckman, Hans Schoppe.
An outstanding feature of this game was the most courageous mark of the year which was taken by the smallest player in the Greek team – Johnny Nicholas.
John’s brother, Nicky, kicked a high screw punt towards Johnny but two burly six-foot Port players had got under the ball and were waiting for it to reach them.
Then to the utter delight of all, diminutive Johnny charged like a bull, jumped right in the middle of the two “bouncers” and took the mark after which he did a 1 1/2 backwards summersault and landed on his bum to the thunderous applause of all.
The Port team fully deserved the win to which their full forward, with six good goals contributed considerably.
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1. Johnny Nicholas
2. Nicky Nicholas
3. Tom Frossinakis
4. Philip Galantomos
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12 - 12 Port Adelaide Presbyterian
5 - 10 Greek Orthodox
MINOR ROUND SUMMARY
1. Port Adelaide Presbyterian
2. Greek Orthodox
3. Woodville Lutheran
4. Prospect Methodist
5. Cowandilla Church of Christ
6. St Mary’s/St. Matthews United
7. Clearview Methodist
1961 Official Programme Cover
1961 United Church Football League