Donald Neil Kerley (Legend)

Donald Neil Kerley spent the majority of his League career (149 out of 265 games) at West and it was there that he rapidly established a reputation as someone not to be trifled with on a football field.  Within 3 years he was club captain, having already won the first of 4 West Adelaide best and fairest awards, and established himself as a key member of the South Australian interstate team.  Kerley's only major disappointment - apart, perhaps, from South Australia's lamentable display at the 1958 Melbourne Carnival - was the Blood 'n Tars' failure to annex a premiership: 3 times in 4 seasons West Adelaide faced Port Adelaide in the grand final only to lose narrowly each time.

It was down to Kerley himself to redress matters when, after being appointed coach in 1961, he enjoyed a dream season, finishing 3rd in the Magarey Medal count, winning the Trabilsie Medal as West's best and fairest player, and - most satisfyingly of all - steering the club to its first premiership since 1947 with a best on ground grand final performance against Norwood.  This gave 'King Kerley' the extraordinary record of 4 flags in each of his first 4 seasons as a senior coach.

Never far from controversy at any stage of his career Kerley's next major dalliance with the headlines came the following year when, after leading West to a heart-stopping 3 point grand final loss against Port Adelaide he was sensationally replaced as senior coach by Doug Thomas.

Gritting his teeth, Kerley continued with the Blood 'n Tars purely as a player in 1963.  However, the 1964 season saw him taking up a fresh challenge as playing coach of 1963 wooden spooners South Adelaide.  In arguably the greatest achievement of an illustrious career he transformed the perennial cellar dwellers into South Australia's premier team by the patented Kerley method of performing with relentless passion, vigour and determination in every game he played and expecting no less of every single one of his teammates.

After helping maintain South Adelaide's position as a League heavyweight for 2 further seasons - a status to which it has only fleetingly aspired since - Kerley moved to Glenelg for his last significant challenge as a player.  The Bays had finished last in 1966 but once again the Kerley formula worked its magic as Glenelg reached the 1967 finals with 'the King' himself securing the club best and fairest award.

Kerley's playing career ended 2 seasons later but his achievements as a coach were far from over.  Those achievements, however, are another story.

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