Full back in this game Harvey Chenoweth remembered that his team was in front for the majority of the contest in a close and tight affair, before they were over run late in the game, with WA taking the game late in the third quarter on a large Subiaco ground.

South Broken Hill ruckman/defender Peter Johns collected the best player honours for South Australia in this game, presented by then-SANFL president Max Basheer. Johns proved to be an outstanding performer.

“The Thursday before the game was the first time I met most of the blokes at our initial training,” Johns recalls in a recent interview.

“It was a definite highlight of my career and nice to perform on a big stage.

“The team was captained by Port Pirie footballer (Roger) Harris who played at full forward and kicked five goals in that game, and the vice-captain was Tony Proud from up in the Riverland.

“It was nice to think I was able to compete at this level.

“I do remember getting best player in the first game in ‘83.

“I had done my ankle a week before I went, but nothing was going to stop me from playing – so got it strapped and got through it.”

Both Proud and Dean Dunhill kicked a pair of majors.

Chenoweth, on the last line of defence, and the strong bodied Joey Burgoyne, who started in the back pocket before moving onto the ball in the last term, were also significant performers against the ‘Sandgropers’.

Burgoyne’s mate, Harry Miller Snr, explained that he ripped his hamstring during the contest, but he confirmed the strong bodied defence was outstanding in this game as a rebounding defender.

Other strong performers mentioned in dispatches included Port Augusta centreman Paul Cummins and the Whyalla-based Allan Gardiner.

This was the start of an annual event over the next few years, only reinvigorated at the start of this decade.

Another traditional annual interstate clash between SA Country and WA Country will be played for the first time at Optus Stadium in Perth on July 27.

Main picture:

Back row: N. Haren, P. Kerr, D. Bradley, D. Short, P. Osborne, P. Cummins

Middle row: A. Gardiner, P. Sheehan, P. Johns, R. Harris (Capt), A. Proud (V. Capt), L. Warner, H. Chenoweth, S. Davis, M. Saunders

Front row: H Miller, K. Smith, D. Dunhill, H. Bunton (Coach), J. Burgoyne, P. Hughes, C. Matthews.