Geof Motley

Geof Motley OAM (born 3 January 1935) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who played for South Australian National Football League (SANFL) side Port Adelaide. Motley was born near Alberton Oval, the home ground of the Port Adelaide Football Club, and grew up supporting Port Adelaide. [1]

Geof Motley
Personal information
Date of birth (1935-01-03) 3 January 1935
Place of birth South Australia
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1953–1966 Port Adelaide 258 (156)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1954–1965 South Australia 28
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1959–1961 Port Adelaide 62 (48–14–0) 77.4%
1967–1969 North Adelaide 64 (44–20–0) 68.8%
Total 126 (92–34–0) 73.0%
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1966.
Career highlights

Club

Representative

Coaching

Honours

Source: AustralianFootball.com

Port Adelaide (1954-1966)

For eight seasons (1959–1966) Motley captained the then dominating team of the League, including a stint as captain-coach from 1959 to 1961. He was the only man to appear in all nine of the Magpies premiership teams between 1954 and 1965. Motley played a total of 258 games for Port between 1953 and 1966 and also represented South Australia on 28 occasions. [2]

During his career, Motley was never dropped from the league team and was never reported. During his time in league football, not being reported for foul play was a rare thing for a player as at the time having a certain amount of mongrel or thuggery was seen a common thing.[1]

Motley was named Port Adelaide's best and fairest player in 1958, 1959, 1963, and 1965; and won the Magarey Medal in 1964. [3]

Motley was captain-coach of the Magpies 1959 premiership winning side.

North Adelaide coach (1967-1969)

Geof Motley went on to coach North Adelaide in 1967-1969, taking the club to 3rd, 3rd, and 5th. They won the minor premiership in 1967 but were unable to compete successfully against Sturt and Port Adelaide in the major round. Under Motley's tutelage, Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Barrie Robran debuted and won his first Magarey Medal.

After football

Since retiring, Motley has been bestowed with several honours including life membership of Port Adelaide and the SANFL, and membership of the South Australian Football Hall of Fame and the Australian Football Hall of Fame. In 2001 Motley was named on a half-back flank in Port Adelaide's 'Greatest Team of All Time'.[1]

Personal life

Geof was married to Gaynor who played for Australia in basketball (competing in the first world championships in Rio de Janeiro) and netball, and represented South Australia in softball[4] until her death on 21 February 1999.[5]

Their son, Peter Motley played for rival SANFL club Sturt and Victorian Football League (VFL) club Carlton, while Motley's second cousin is former Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea.

Note: "Geof" is the correct spelling of his name.[2]

References
  1. Phelan, J, "Mots Joins The Greats" afl.com.au, 8 May 2008, accessed 7 June 2008
  2. "Full Points Footy Biography" Archived 10 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine fullpointsfooty.net.au
  3. "Profile: Geof Motley" Archived 6 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine afl.com.au, 8 May 2008, accessed 7 June 2008
  4. Rucci, Michelangelo (15 October 2009). "Geof Motley officially 'great'". news.com.au (Nationwide News Pty Limited). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. "Gaynor Anita Motley". Centennial Park. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
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