1995 Sturt Football Club season

Australian rules football club season December 2017 December 2017 The 1995 Sturt Football Club season was remarkable for a number of unwanted South Australian National Football League records: The first (and to date only) team in the VFL/AFL, SANFL or WA(N)FL to finish with a 0–22 record The first team in the VFL/AFL, SANFL or WA(N)FL since and in 1964 to finish with a winless season The furthest a team in the VFL/AFL, SANFL or WAFL/WANFL/Westar Rules has ever been from winning a game: not once did the Double Blues come within four goals of their opponents at the final siren A seventh consecutive wooden spoon, beating 's VFL record from 1897–1902 and Woodville's SANFL record from 1980–85 Finished seven games behind second-last placed ,https://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/sanfl/107/men%2527s%2Bpremiership%2Bseason/3/3/1995/advanced SANFL Ladder, 1995 Australian Football equaling 's VFL record from 1902. Background The Sturt Football Club experienced a long-term decline following a record 1978 season that saw the team win a SANFL record 21 of 22 games,See Nicholls Barry Triple blue: Jack Oatey, John Wynne and the whole damned thing 2002 0908065493 but then lose the 1978 Grand Final by the narrowest of margins to . The Double Blues fell from minor premiers to ninth of ten clubs in 1979,https://australianfootball.com/clubs/bio/Sturt/322 Club Bio Sturt Australian FootballLysikatos John True blue: the history of the Sturt Football Club 1995 337 0959268715 and although they recovered to make the Grand Final in 1983 with Rick Davies kicking a then-SANFL record 151 goals,Australian Football Rick Davies https://australianfootball.com/players/player/rick+davies/115 after the controversial sacking of Mervyn Keane at the end of a 1988 season that had seen the club rise from second last to finalists and apparently to potential premiership contenders, the club went into free-fall under the coaching of Davies in 1989. That season the Double Blues won only four games and towards the end as their on-field performances deteriorated the off-field strife that had seen Keane sacked recurred, with Davies resigning after beat them by 132 points in the final match. A succession of coaches failed to lift the Double Blues off the bottom of the table: the team won only sixteen of 106 games between 1990 and 1994, and following the sacking of legendary coach Haydn Bunton junior who guided the Double Blues to only nine wins in 42 games, Sturt entered a serious crisis as many experienced players departed, notably skipper Jay Viney to North Adelaide, Damian Kitschke to study abroad, Stuart Wigney to Glenelg and ultimately Richmond plus Chris Williams and spearhead Jody Arnol to Darwin.1995 Lysikatos True blue 320 Former coach John Reid and former mentor and Double Blues player Darryl Hicks were offered the coaching job but both refused,Watson Matt Sturt: 1993 to 1995 Fabulous Phil: The Phil Carman Story 2017 Brolga Publishing Pty Ltd. Melbourne 9781925367850 307-309 as did successful coach and former Sturt star Mick Nunan.1995 Lysikatos True blue 321 After an attempt to merge with Norwood and enter the AFL was rejected, Phil Carman, a former VFL star originally from Edenhope, took the reins on a three-year contract for 1995 after having been Sturt's fitness coordinator. Nevertheless, the Double Blues’ inexperienced list almost never threatened any of its opponents and by mid-season it was clear that a win was unlikelyThe Advertiser 22 May 1995 26 Schlink Leo Unchecked West shows up Blues and results became even worse later on; for instance, in a game against West Adelaide regarded the previous week as Sturt's "best chance for a win this season",The Advertiser 17 July 1995 19 Dowling Paul Warrior gives Port reason for cheer West Adelaide, two goals ahead at quarter time, set a goal of keeping the Double Blues goalless on a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval in the last three quarters and succeeded.The Advertiser 24 July 1995 16 Amalgamation 'imperative' for ailing Blues Leo Schlink Schedule and results Round 1 Round 1: West Adelaide v Sturt Saturday, 18 March 1995 4.6 (30) 7.9 (51) 12.14 (86) 16.17 (113) H 1.1 (7) 5.2 (32) 7.2 (44) 8.5 (53) Richmond Oval Round 2 Round 2: Sturt v South Adelaide Saturday, 25 March 1995 5.1 (31) 7.2 (44) 10.3 (63) 11.5 (71) Burton 4.1, Sutherland 2.1, Waltham, Barker 2.0, Judd 1.0, Lennon 0.2, Johns 0.1 Johns, Sutherland, Geddes, Judd A 6.2 (38) 20.6 (126) 27.6 (168) 30.15 (195) Del-Re 10.2, Osborn 6.2, Cameron 4.2. Lamb 2.0, Mills, Kean 1.2, Mcintyre, Jackson 1.1. Stoeckel, Battams, Trevena, Threadgold 1.0, Aulich, Polkinghorme, Lade 0.1 Cameron, Del-Re, Osborn, Jackson, McIntyre, Battams, Lamb, Polkinghorne, Trevena Football Park The Sunday Mail Adelaide Football Park Football 26 March 1995 GFC History https://gfchistory.com/pdfs/1990s/1995-round2.pdf Michael Abbott and Kevin Chambers Round 3: Bye Round 4 Round 4: Sturt v Woodville–West Torrens Saturday, 8 April 1995 3.0 (18) 5.1 (31) 11.4 (70) 13.8 (86) Packer 2.2, Burton, Sutherland 2.0, Nash, DeRon 1.1, Gray, Rowley, Lennon, Richter, Barker 1.0, Hicks 0.1 Sutherland, Waltham, Richter, Hicks, Judd A 5.2 (32) 15.5 (95) 18.8 (116) 24.11 (155) Taylor 6.3, Walker 4.0, Pesch 2.1, Morphett, Payze, Sheldrick, Niemann, Nichol 2.0, Lukosius 1.1, Sziller 1.0, Weidemann, S. Hannan 0.1 Morphett, Sheldrick, Weidemann, walker, Sziller, Chapman, Taylor, Woods Adelaide Oval The Advertiser 10 April 1995 19 Sheldrick answers Eagles' call David Burtenshaw Round 5 (SANFL Foundation Cup) Round 5: Norwood v Sturt Saturday 15 April 1995 5.4 (34) 9.8 (62) 12.14 (86) 16.17 (113) Pascoe 4.4, Maynard 4.1, Theissen 3.2, Pierri 2.3, Balme 2.1, Davey 1.0, Rowe 0.3, Primus, R. James 0.1 McIntosh, Rowe, Pittman, D'Antiochia, Turnes, Cowham, M. James H 5.1 (31) 7.2 (44) 13.3 (81) 14.4 (88) Sutherland 5.0, Packer, Kennett 2.0, Richter 1.1, DeRon, Nelson, Feast, Obst 1.0 Sutherland, Richter, Geddes, Waltham, Obst, Lennon Gray (foot)DeRon (shoulder) Johnstone Park, Murray Bridge The Advertiser 17 April 1995 26 Plucky Sturt pushes 'Legs to limit Doug Robertson John Abbott, Richard Williams Round 6 Round 6: Sturt v North Adelaide Monday, 25 April 1995 4.3 (27) 8.5 (53) 16.8 (104) 16.10 (106) Packer 6.3, Sutherland 2.1, Obst, Kennett 2.0, Nelson 1.2, Barker 1.1, Burton, D. Thomas 1.0, Feast, Pelling 0.1 Barker, Packer, Obst, Sutherland, Waltham, Lennon A 2.1 (13) 12.6 (78) 16.10 (106) 21.15 (141) Mancini 5.0, Squire 3.1, Bamford 3.0, Atkinson 2.3, Griffith 2.0, Parker 1.5, Rosenboom 1.1, Nunan, Gray, Viney, Allen 1.0, McCarthy 0.1 Perkins, Nunan, Mancini, Atkinson, Bamford, Rosenboom, Gerke. Adelaide Oval 4,278 The Advertiser 26 April 1995 33 Paul Dowling Injuries and lapses costly for unlucky Blues Ron Bettridge, Kevin Chambers Round 7 Round 7: Glenelg v Sturt Saturday, 29 April 1995 5.8 (38) 11.15 (81) 18.17 (125) 28.23 (191) Liptak 6.4, Kretschmer 4.3, Symonds 3.2, Mansell 2.4, McGuinness 2.3, Chigwidden 2.1, Hallahan, Strooper 2.0, Bailey, Scripps, Caldow 1.1, Rouvray, Bow 1.0 Bailey, Symonds, Bartlett, Liptak, Strooper, West, Viska, Chigwidden, Kretschmer, Mansell H 2.2 (14) 4.2 (26) 6.5 (41) 7.6 (48) Burton 2.2, White, Packer, Nash, Barker, Irvine 1.0, Richter 0.2, Sutherland 0.1 Thredgold, Geddes, Sutherland Glenelg Oval 3,164 The Advertiser 1 May 1995 23 Small Tigers on the ball Andrew Capel Michael Abbott, Craig Doddridge Round 8 Round 8: Sturt v Central District at Clare Oval Saturday, 6 May 1995 5.4 (34) 7.5 (47) 11.6 (72) 11.10 (76) Barker 3.0, Irvine 2.3, Nelson 2.0, Judd, Sutherland, Schultz, Obst 1.0, Richter 0.3, Lennon, Hicks 0.1 Richter, Sutherland, Geddes, Judd, Lennon Kennett (corked thigh)Packer (stomach ulcer; withdrew before game) A 2.4 (16) 5.8 (38) 9.9 (63) 14.16 (100) Coffee 7.4, Wynd 3.2, Cotter 2.0, Lee, Macgowan 1.0, Luhrs 0.3, Cook, Arnold, Schwerdt, Cotton 0.1 Girdham, Luhrs, Haraida, Coffee, Macgowan, Wynd Clare Oval, Clare 2,166 The Advertiser 8 May 1995 19 Paul Dowling Bulldogs belatedly stamp class Michael Abbott, Craig Doddridge, Andrew Vickers Round 9 Round 9: Port Adelaide v Sturt Saturday, 13 May 1995 6.4 (40) 13.8 (86) 19.13 (127) 24.20 (164) Olsen, Tylor, Ryan 4.2, Borlase 3.1, Darcy 2.3, Settre 2.1, West 1.2, Wilson 1.1, Rohan Smith, Waterhouse, Darren Smith 1.0, Ginever, Foster, Fiacchi 0.1 West, Olsen, Borlase, Giever, Ryan, Settre, Angive, Rohan Smith, Delaney, Fiacchi H 3.1 (19) 6.2 (38) 7.7 (49) 12.10 (82) Sutherland 2.2, Obst 2.1, Burton 2.0, Judd, Irvine, Richter 1.1, Lennon, W. Thomas, Raidis 1.0, Warton, Kennett 0.1 Obst, Sutherland, Barker, D. Thomas, Feast Football Park 6,167 The Advertiser 16 May 1995 21 Cahill praises committed 'Pies David Burtenshaw Ron Bettridge, Kevin Chambers, Greg Inge Round 10 Round 10: Sturt v West Adelaide Saturday, 20 May 1995 3.5 (23) 4.8 (32) 8.10 (58) 10.13 (73) Sutherland 2.0, Irvine, Burton 1.2, Lennon, Judd, Barker, Richter 1.1, Geddes, Trimboli 1.0 Thredgold, Feast, Sutherland, Irvine A 6.4 (40) 11.8 (74) 17.12 (114) 22.17 (149) Woosnam 8.2, Simister 4.4, Kilpatrick 3.1, Wheildon, Fielke 2.0, Thomas 1.2, Godden, Barrett 1.1, Andriske 0.2 Kilpatrick, Banik, Woosnam, Symes, Barrett, Fogden, Morris, Edwards Adelaide Oval David Elliott, Jeff Jeanes, Tim Slaven Round 11 Round 11: Sturt v South Adelaide Saturday, 27 May 1995 2.3 (15) 3.7 (25) 6.8 (44) 10.10 (70) Burton 3.0, Raidis 2.0, Sutherland 1.2, McEvoy 1.1, Schultz, Geddes, Johns 1.0, Lennon, Feast, Thredgold 0.1 Geddes, Sutherland, Johns, Lennon, Richter A 4.4 (28) 8.7 (55) 12.13 (85) 19.16 (130) Del-Re 7.4, Stoeckel 5.1, Harris 2.4, Porter 2.1, Osborn, Cameron 1.1, Jackson 1.0, Mitton 0.2 Harris, Stoeckel, Cameron, Del-Re, Grummett, Lade Osborne, Porter Lamb (calf)Polkinghorne (stitches above eye) Adelaide Oval 1,912 The Advertiser 29 May 1995 19 Doug Robertson South's strength to come from within Round 12 – Bye Round 13 Round 13: Woodville-West Torrens v Sturt Saturday 10 June 1995 4.6 (30) 13.8 (86) 15.12 (102) 16.16 (112) Cichowski 6.1, Robins 3.3, Higgins, Hannam 2.1, Totham 1.3, Lukosuis 1.1, Morphett 1.0, Axon 0.2, Payze 0.1 Ugrinic, Thorne, Totham, Higgins, Cichowski, Hannam, Lukosuis, Neimann Taylor (ankle; withdred from selected side)Niemann (ankle) H 1.3 (9) 3.5 (23) 5.8 (38) 7.11 (53) Lennon, Burton 2.1, D. Thomas 1.2, Sutherland, Johns 1.0, W. Thomas, Barker, Obst 0.1 Richter, Lennon, Thredgold, Johns, Nelson Football Park 36,955Played as the curtain-raiser to the Round 11 AFL game between and . The Advertiser 12 June 1995 19 Thaw in Eagles' winter of discontent Doug Robertson Craig Doddridge, Tim Slaven, Richard Williams Round 14 Round 14: Sturt v Norwood Saturday, 17 June 1995 2.1 (13) 4.2 (26) 6.3 (39) 7.8 (50) Geddes, Barker 2.1, Burton, Sutherland, Feast 1.0, Trimboli, Warton 0.2, Beecroft 0.1 Geddes, Burton, Thredgold, Barker A 5.3 (33) 11.9 (75) 21.12 (138) 30.18 (198) Robran 4.4, Prime 3.4, Russell 3.1, Harvey 3.0, Growden, Primus 2.2, Reade, Cowham 2.1, Schoell, Clements, Maynard 2.0, R. James 1.1, Thiessen, McIntosh 1.0 Fleming, Russell, R. James, Robran, Primus, Clements, Schoell, Prime, Growden Adelaide Oval 2,879 The Advertiser 19 June 1995 23 Norwood exposes Blues' weaknesses David Valenti Jeff Jeanes, Tim, Pfeiffer, Andrew Vickers Round 15 Round 15: North Adelaide v Sturt Saturday, 24 June 1995 3.6 (24) 6.9 (45) 11.14 (80) 15.18 (108) Parker 4.4, Mancini 3.1, Garke 2.1, Francou, Walsh 2.0, Squire 1.3, Jeffries 1.0, Atkinson 0.4, McCarthy, Bamford 0.1 Perkins, Sanders, Parker, Francou, Mancini, Atkinson, Walsh Parker (thumb) H 1.2 (8) 3.5 (23) 7.6 (48) 11.11 (77) Richter 2.2, Obst 2.1, Sutherland 1.2, McEvoy, Beecroft 1.1, Lennon, Raidis, Barker, Irvine 1.0, Geddes, Warton 0.1 Richter, Geddes, Sutherland, Lennon, Feast, Barker Johns (hamstring)Short (hip) Richter for allegedly tripping Atkinson in the eigth minute of the second quarter by field umpire Williams Prospect Oval 2,000 The Advertiser 26 June 1995 16 Michelangelo Rucci Sturt Hart-stopper Craig Doddridge, Tim Slaven, Richard Williams Round 16 Round 16: Sturt v Glenelg Saturday, 1 July 1995 1.4 (10) 3.7 (25) 11.10 (76) 14.12 (96) Burton 3.0, Pascoe 2.2, Beecroft 2.1, Hicks, Sutherland 2.0, Raidis 1.2, Kennett, Thomas 1.0, McEvoy, Richter, Feast 0.1 Feast, Richter, Geddes, Obst, Sutherland, Thredgold A 8.4 (52) 15.8 (98) 19.13 (127) 26.15 (171) West 8.3, Scripps 6.3, Hall 3.3, Symonds 2.1, Hallahan 2.0, Bartlett 1.2, McGuinness, Kretschmer, Liptak, Strooper 1.0 West, Scripps, Hallahan, McGuinness, Viska, Chigwidden, Liptak, Angove, Hall Symonds (knee)Bailey (corked thigh) Adelaide Oval 2,403 The Advertiser 3 July 1995 19 Concentration lapse 'a worry' Andrew Capel Mark Barnett, Kevin, Chambers, Greg Inge Round 17 Round 17: Central District v Sturt Saturday, 8 July 1995 9.4 (58) 12.8 (80) 21.11 (137) 28.16 (184) Wakelin 7.4, Cook 5.3, Wynd 5.1, Healy 3.1, Luhrs 3.0, Conway 1.2, Cotton 1.1, Lee, Green, Arnold 1.0, Schwerdt, Pyman 0.1 Wakelin, Healy, Macgowan, Green, Fotter, Wynd, Cook, Windsor, Lee Girdham (slight concussion)Haralda (groin) H 1.1 (7) 3.5 (23) 7.6 (48) 7.9 (51) Richter, Nash 1.1, Pascoe, Geddes, Beecroft, Short, Hicks 1.0, Feast 0.3, Lennon, Raymond 0.1 Feast, Richter, Sutherland, Turner, Short, Johns, Lennon Raidis (bruised calf) Elizabeth Oval 2,510 The Advertiser 10 July 1995 16 Doug Robertson Stewart pushes team plan Craig Doddridge, Tim Pfeiffer, Tim Slaven Round 18 Round 18: Port Adelaide v Sturt Saturday, 15 July 1995 8.4 (52) 14.10 (94) 17.12 (114) 22.17 (149) Malakellis, Ginever, Warrior, West, Poole, Borlase, Delaney Thredgold, Lennon, McEvoy, Feast, Richter H 3.1 (19) 3.3 (21) 8.5 (53) 9.6 (60) McEvoy 3.0, Nash 2.0, Geddes, Richter 1.1, Pascoe, Feast 1.0, Kennett 0.2, White, Raymond 0.1 Thredgold, Lennon, McEvoy, Feast, Richter Alberton Oval 4,242 David Elliott, Jeff Jeanes, Garry Wyld Round 19 Round 19: Sturt v West Adelaide Saturday, 22 July 1995 2.3 (15) 2.4 (16) 2.7 (19) 2.8 (20) Burton 1.1, Richter 1.0, Short 0.2, McEvoy, Lennon, Obst 0.1 Feast, Richter, Geddes A 4.6 (30) 8.8 (56) 14.14 (98) 21.22 (148) Simister 4.4, Godden 3.3, Barrett 2.3, Wheildon, Chandler 2.2, Symes, Morris 2.0, Carlson 1.2, Fielke, Banik, Mansell 1.0, McLuckie 0.3, Kilpatrick 0.1 Kilpatrick, Carlson, Morris, Barrett, Fogden, Godden, Watkins, Symes, Mellor Wheildon (leg) Adelaide Oval Michael Avon, Troy Burton, Richard Williams Round 20 Round 20, South Adelaide v Sturt Saturday, 29 July 1995 7.4 (46) 10.5 (65) 17.5 (107) 23.7 (145) Del-Re 12.1, Cameron 2.1, Grummett 2.0, T. Powell 1.1, West, Lade, Battams, Mills, Trevana, Polkinghorne 1.0, Sholl .2, Stoeckel 0.1 Del-Re, Battams, Polkinghorne, M. Powell, T. Powell, West, Jackson, Mills, Sholl H 0.0 (0) 2.4 (16) 3.5 (23) 8.9 (57) Obst 2.2, Feast, Lennon 2.1, Nash 2.0, Hicks 0.2, Burton, McEvoy 0.1 Sutherland, Feast, Lennin, Thredgold, Geddes, Weatherald, Richter Hickinbotham Oval 1,737 The Advertiser 31 July 1995 19 Don't give up on us, says Sturt skipper Doug Robertson Ron Bettridge, Tim Slaven, Garry Wyld Del-Re's 12 goals equalled the club record of "Diddy" Munro against from 1936. Round 21 – Bye Round 22 Round 22: Sturt v Woodville-West Torrens Saturday, 12 August 1995 3.3 (21) 6.8 (44) 8.11 (59) 12.13 (85) Irvine 3.2, Beecroft 2.2, McEvoy 1.3, Lennon, Waltham, Sutherland 1.1, Feast, Burton, Geddes 1.0, D. Thomas, W. Thomas 0.1 Feast, Weatherald, Lennon, Irvine, Geddes, Sutherland, Richter Damian Obst (replaced in selected side by Wayne Thomas) A 10.3 (63) 15.6 (96) 18.13 (121) 25.15 (165) Morphett 5.2, Thorne 3.2, Payze 2.1, Colville, Browning, Nichol, Ugrinic 2.0, Spehr, Sziller 1.1, Totham, King, Niemann, Rogers, Lukosius 1.0, Phillipou 0.2, Chapman, Higgins 0.1 Spehr, Ugrinic, Phillipou, King, Chapman, Sheldrick, Rogers Weidemann (hip, replaced in selected side by Shaun Hannam) Adelaide Oval 2,248 The Advertiser 14 August 1995 17 Eagles coach leaves behind winter of discontent Doug Robertson Ron Bettridge, Daniel Kowal, Gary Wyld Round 23 Round 23: Glenelg v Sturt Saturday, 19 August 1995 2.6 (18) 11.7 (73) 15.11 (101) 20.22 (142) Chigwidden, McGuinness 3.3, West 3.2, Hall, Scripps 2.3, Brooks 2.2, Moore 2.0, McNamara 1.2, Bartless 1.1, Hallahan 1.0, Strooper, Roehrich, Ottens 0.1 Chigwidden, McGuinness, Hall, Hele, Hamilton, Strooper, Angove H 3.3 (21) 7.5 (47) 11.12 (78) 12.17 (89) Burton 3.3, Irvine 3.1, D. Thomas 2.2, McEvoy 1.1, Sutherland, Obst, Beecroft 1.0, Feast 0.3, Richter 0.2, Lennon, Geddes 0.1 Thredgold, Lennon, Richter, Irvine, Feast, Geddes, Sutherland Glenelg Oval The Advertiser 21 August 1995 19 There is future here: Carman Capel Andrew Michael Abbott, Jeff Jeanes, Andrew Swaffer Round 24 Round 24: Norwood v Sturt Saturday, 26 August 1995 7.6 (48) 11.10 (76) 16.17 (113) 21.21 (147) Reade 8.3, Irvine 4.5, Prime 4.4, Rowe, Harvey, Primus 1.1, Russell, Clements, James 0.2, Rowe, Smart, Growdell 0.1 Primus, Reade, Harvey, McIntosh, Irvine, Prime, James McCormack, H 3.3 (21) 7.5 (47) 7.7 (49) 9.7 (61) Irvine 3.1, Beecroft 2.0, Burton 1.2, Richter 1.1, McEvoy, Nash 1.0, Kennett, Obst 0.1 Lennon, Nash, Richter Sutherland (concussion, sent to hospital)Feast (hip, replaced in selected side by Kennett) Norwood Oval 4,143 The Advertiser 28 August 1995 19 Norwood Still Has the Hard Work To Do Rucci Michelangelo Michael Avon, Daniel Kowal, Andrew Swaffer Round 25 Round 25: Sturt v North Adelaide Saturday 2 September 1995 5.2 (32) 8.2 (50) 14.3 (87) 17.4 (106) Burton 6.0, Beecroft 4.0, Obst 2.1, Turner, Lennon 1.1, Feast, Irvine, McEvoy 1.0, Warton 0.1 Lennon, Burton, Nash, Feast, Beecroft Burton for allegedly charging in the second quarter A 5.0 (30) 11.6 (72) 17.10 (112) 24.14 (158) Parker 8.3, Squire 3.0, Atkinson, Rosenbloom, Bennett 2.1, Robertson 1.2, Sanders, Gerke, Allan, Bamford 1.1, Jeffries, Viney 1.0, Francou 0.1 Nunan, Parker, Squiare, Robertson, Tasker, Francou, Bennett Adelaide Oval No Sugar-Coated End to Horror Year The Advertiser 4 September 1995 28 Leo Schlink Ron Bettridge, Greg Inge, Garry Wyld Aftermath Following the 1995 season, it appeared certain that Sturt would not be able to survive for 1996 – indeed the 1995 players began training as soon as the horrific season finished, under uncertainty as to where they would be playing in 1996. On 9 October 1995, a merger plan with North Adelaide was officially launched and the general public expected it to go through quietly,Burtenshaw David Finals-Bound Blues Reborn Two Years after Being Winless, Broke The Advertiser 25 August 1997 24 but a major membership drivehttp://www.sturtfc.com.au/history/sturt-football-club-history Official Sturt history 26 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120825150516/http://www.sturtfc.com.au/history/sturt-football-club-history 25 August 2012 dead dmy-all to raise the $250,000 needed to keep the club afloat was a surprising success: in the following two months, the Double Blues’ membership rose from seven hundred to two thousand, and as Unley councillor Phil Sanders had feared, the merger with North did collapse. Sturt were also able to engage in significant recruiting for the first time since the off-field strife of 1988 and 1989, acquiring twice Magarey Medal runner-up Brodie Atkinson and a number of lesser players. Carman, as promised when he began coaching the Double Blues, retained the coaching job for 1996 despite being on a 24-game losing streak. Sturt broke their 27 games losing streak against West Adelaide in Round 3 of 1996, but four wins and an eighth successive wooden spoonhttps://australianfootball.com/seasons/season/sanfl/107/men%2527s%2Bpremiership%2Bseason/3/3/1996/advanced SANFL Ladder, 1996 Australian Football was seen as disappointing after the off-season off-field efforts. It was only in 1997, after further changes to the club's administrative personnel, that the Double Blues improved seriously, rising from perpetual wooden spooners to fourth place. In 1998, Sturt played in the grand final against rival Port Adelaide but went down by nine points. The Double Blues continued to be competitive on the field and club finances improved with the ultimate success achieved in 2002, beating by 47 points to win its first flag since 1976. Steady finals performances and strong financials kept Sturt afloat for a while, but another exodus of players led to two consecutive wooden spoons, and further heavy losses left the SANFL recommending that Sturt relocate or shut its doors in the 2011 off-season. Strong executive leadership, key changes to the football and business departments and targeted recruitment, including signing premiership player Marty Mattner as coach in 2016, saw Sturt go back to back for 2016–2017 with a 27 point win over favourite in 2016, and another underdog win over by one point in 2017. Notes References 3 Sturt Football Club season 1995 Sturt Football Club season