Australian Football

Ralph Sewer enjoyed a memorable playing career that spanned more than two decades. The feisty left-footer made his senior debut for Woodville in 1969 and twenty-two seasons later was a member of the club’s last ever league combination. His tally of 325 senior games will forever remain a record for the club which was known as the Woodpeckers when he commenced and the Warriors when he finished, and which merged with West Torrens shortly after the conclusion of the 1990 season. 

Between 1981 and 1984 Sewer added 57 games for Glenelg, where he went determined to play in a premiership team, but the closest he came was membership of the Bays’ losing Grand Final team of 1982 against Norwood. A year earlier he had missed the Grand Final clash with Port after suffering an injury while playing mid-week for the Fire Brigade. Ironically, no sooner had Sewer returned ‘home’ to Woodville than the Bays procured back to back senior flags for the first and, to date, only time in their history.

Individual highlights of Sewer’s lengthy career included Woodville’s best and fairest award in 1978, its top goalkicker award with 52 goals in 1972 and with 37 three seasons later, and 10 interstate appearances for South Australia which yielded 5 goals.

Probably best remembered as a rover, Sewer actually played much of his football while at the Bay as a centreman, and later developed into a more than handy small forward. When he finished his career in 1990 he was the only grandfather playing league football and he went out in style with a best afield display as the Warriors overcame the team it was shortly to ‘marry’, West Torrens, by 45 points.

Author - John Devaney