Vale Alf. Skuse

[blueandwhite]

South Adelaide Football Club is mourning the loss of 1964 Premiership Player Alf Skuse.

For those who had the pleasure of seeing him play, Skuse was a tenacious and talented half forward flanker/rover, who made played 139 games for the Panthers between 1962 and 1970.

A member of the 1964 Premiership side that defeated Port Adelaide by 27 points, Skuse played on a half forward flank that day and was one of the best players on the field and instrumental in South beating the Magpies.

Hailing from Gawler, Skuse was the eldest son of 9 children.

Working for Mr Leo Odea in his racing stables while attending Gawler High School, Skuse would be up at 5am every day to work the horses before going to school.

Two years before joining South Adelaide, in 1960 he would play in the Elizabeth and District Premiership side and also won the Best and Fairest and Mail Medal in 1961 playing for Willaston.

Described as a natural footballer, Skuse topped the Panthers goal kicking in 1966 with 38 goals and finished his career 195 goals.

This goal total could have been higher where through 6 matches in 1966 Skuse kicked 6.25.

Blessed with blistering speed and widely considered to be the quickest half forward in the SANFL for much of his career, Skuse also won the Bay Sheffield in 1964 and was once described by Jeff Pash as "a ready made rover from the beginning, with all the required virtues, including pace".
Skuse played for Gawler and District Football Club in the Under-17s in the 1950s, winning a Best and Fairest.
To show Skuse class as a footballer, he did not play any Reserves football for South Adelaide, and was the first player to wear Adidas Football Boots.

Alf also played 9 times for South Australia, including matches at the 1966 Hobart carnival.
SAFC 1964 Premiership player, SAFC Hall of fame, SAFC Life member.

[blueandwhite]

Alf retired from league footy in 1970 because of a heart condition. he underwent surgery for a aorta valve replacement- a procedure which was very new in those times. His specialist gave him 10 years to live post surgery......
Alf finally succumbed after a battle with cancer...
An extraordinary man- one of the nicest men Ive had the pleasure of meeting.
Condolences to his family..

[DOC]

A regular at most games until last year. Just one of lives great blokes.

When he stopped being able to bring himself to the footy his daughter used to bring him. Always accepted an invite to come to a Kingstonian pre match function or present a new player with their guernsey and say a few words.

A dashing player and a dashing dresser!

Farewell ALF.

[Jimmy_041]

How did he play for South if he was from Gawler?
I know Centrals didn't come in until 1964
Was it part of their country zone?
Long way to training

[heater31]

How did he play for South if he was from Gawler?
I know Centrals didn't come in until 1964
Was it part of their country zone?
Long way to training

Don't think there were any country zones back then?

[am Bays]

How did he play for South if he was from Gawler?
I know Centrals didn't come in until 1964
Was it part of their country zone?
Long way to training

South would've been training at Adelaide Oval then, just jump on the train at North Gawler, Gawler or Evanston Gardens.

[Brendan M]

Remember Alf very well as a player, in particular the game when SA beat Victoria in the rain in 1965. Alf took a chest mark and slid for about 20 metres on his knees. He was very fast, was he number 7 for South? Happy to be proved wrong, and as they say he was an ornament to the game.

[robranisgod]

How did he play for South if he was from Gawler?
I know Centrals didn't come in until 1964
Was it part of their country zone?
Long way to training

Don't think there were any country zones back then?

Country Zones never came in until the 1970s and Gawler was very much a country town in those days hence Alf could play for South.
My memory is that he was South's second best player in the 1964 premiership. South attacked through his half forward flank at every opportunity.

[DOC]

Remember Alf very well as a player, in particular the game when SA beat Victoria in the rain in 1965. Alf took a chest mark and slid for about 20 metres on his knees. He was very fast, was he number 7 for South? Happy to be proved wrong, and as they say he was an ornament to the game.

Correct