Australian Football

North Adelaide’s ‘games played’ record holder with 378 senior appearances between 1978 and 1993, ruckman Mick Redden almost certainly racked up more kilometres travelling to and from Adelaide for matches than any other SANFL player of his, or indeed arguably any, generation. Being based on a farming property near Orroroo, 300 kilometres north of the city, Redden was rarely able to attend club training sessions, but over the course of his 16-season playing career, travelled an estimated 260,000 kilometres just to get to matches.

Everyone at Prospect was no doubt delighted that he did because for much of that time he was the cornerstone of the team. Neither quick nor particularly athletic, he more than compensated with his great energy, determination, indefatigable good humour, and refusal to succumb. North’s best and fairest player in 1983, he was a key member of two premiership teams, and was a regular state representative (11 games). His departure at the end of the 1993 season left a hole that the club would have considerable difficulty filling.

The value of Mick Redden’s contribution to North was officially recognised in 2001 with his inclusion in the club’s ‘Team of the Century’.

Author - John Devaney