Australian Football

In his autobiography, Lethal, Leigh Matthews recounts how Port Adelaide defender Ivan Eckermann was the only opponent who ever ‘put him to sleep’ during the course of his illustrious 17-season top level football career. The incident in question occurred just after half time of the state of origin match between South Australia and Victoria at Football Park in 1982 - which, quite ironically, was the only interstate appearance of Eckermann’s career. “The ball was kicked towards our half forward flank and I can remember doing the logical thing and going after it from the forward pocket,” Matthews recalled. “My next memory was being steered around the boundary line by a couple of trainers ....... For the only time in my career, I had ‘lost’ a few minutes.”¹

Although the incident was scarcely the highlight of Eckermann’s playing career - albeit that it may have been the nadir of Matthews’ - it is useful in highlighting the tough back pocket player’s approach to the game. Put simply, Eckermann was a footballer in the traditional Port Adelaide mould: rugged, gutsy, and relentlessly hard at both opponents and the ball. There was nothing flashy or elegant about his style, but it served him admirably throughout an 11-season, 150-game league career that ran from 1974 to 1983, and included participation in the premiership teams of 1977, 1979, 1980 and 1981. Recruited from Blyth, Eckermann never came within spitting distance of claiming a best and fairest award, but his value to the club was nevertheless considerable, and there can be no doubt that he left his mark on the game - just ask Leigh Matthews.

Author - John Devaney