The first time Philip Gallagher trained at Norwood, his underage coach told the club he was an embarrassment to the other young players. He was too good for them; he was showing them up. That was to be the pattern for the ensuing 14 years, except it would be Gags’s opponents who would now feel foolish.

When it came to the tricks of the game, Gags had every one in the book. He could dodge, weave, feint, run backwards, mark behind his head, sell a pup anytime, or hide it from everyone. In short Gags could perform acts of football magic. In this context it is often overlooked that he had a strong grasp of the basics as well - he kicked long to position and goal, and disposing to advantage was his credo.

Gags always, but always, produced in the big games, the bigger the better. His vital goals in the winning 1975 and 1978 grand finals were pure Gags, timed to the moment and full of theatre. Since his retirement Phil has put back into the game he enjoyed, first as a Norwood official and more recently as a SANFL director and now Commissioner. Gags is one of the club’s five 20thcentury four-time premiership players, a living legend, and Norwood’s only wizard.

Games: 292
Goals: 216
Premierships: 1975, 1978, 1982, 1984
Captain: 1981-82
Further honours: Norwood Player Life Member, Norwood Team of the Century, NFL Champions of Australia Night Competition 1977, SA games 8

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