Australian Football

Slightly built but boasting immense courage, grit and perseverance, Frank Tully was one of the finest South Australian rovers of the between-the-wars period. Hailing from Gawler, he commenced his senior career with South Adelaide in 1927 and went on to play a club record 168 league games in succession before retiring in 1936. 

During that time he played 13 interstate matches with South Australia, including four games as captain, and won South Adelaide’s best and fairest award, the Knuckey Cup, in 1929-30, 1933 and 1935. When South went from bottom in 1934 to the following year’s premiership it was under Frank Tully’s captaincy. Tully’s importance in the history of the club was recognised with his selection as first rover in South Adelaide’s official ‘Greatest Team’.

Author - John Devaney