Australian Football

Geoff Baynes played league football for three clubs, but it was at South Adelaide, where he won a hat trick of best and fairest awards between 1977 and 1979, that he had far and away the greatest impact. He also skippered the Panthers from 1978 to 1981, and considering the consistent high quality of the football he produced during this period, it is a little surprising to note that he was never selected to represent the state.

Baynes commenced his league football career in 1971 with West Torrens, but over the course of that season and the next managed just 13 senior appearances. In 1975 he was coaxed into a second stab at the big time by South coach Haydn Bunton junior and, playing mainly as a ruck-rover, immediately found his feet. After playing 16 games in his debut season with the Panthers Baynes went on to become a critical component in the Bunton formula that went so close to bringing South its first senior flag since 1964. In the Grand Final of 1979 against Port Adelaide Baynes was one of the Panthers’ best, but could not prevent their going down by 31 points.

In 1983, after 185 games for South, he transferred to Woodville, adding a final four senior appearances - just enough for him to edge past the elusive 200-game barrier.

Author - John Devaney