Legendary Australian football coach, Neil Kerley, died in a fatal car accident, 88

Former Australian rules football player and coach Neil Kerley. He is best remembered for participating in 32 state games for South Australia and leading three clubs to four SANFL (South Australian National Football League) championships over the course of three decades. He was 88 years old and was killed in a car accident.

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Neil Kerley, a legend of South African football, died in a car accident.

Neil Kerley’s automobile crashed into a farm on Mallee Road in the Murraylands while towing a trailer. The tragedy occurred just before 5.30 p.m., near the tiny Murray River town of Walker Flat, about 100 kilometers north of Adelaide, according to a statement from the South Australian police.

Just before 5.30 p.m. today, a car carrying a trailer was reportedly off the road and smashed through a fence into a pasture, according to sources. On Mallee Road, police and emergency services were called.

The West Adelaide Football Club expressed their “shock and tremendous sadness” at the development in a statement they issued as soon as the information became known. In this trying time, our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire West Adelaide and SA Football community, the statement continued.

Neil Kerley Age, Family, Early Life

In Barmera, South Australia, on February 29, 1934 (88 years old), Neil Kerley was born. He holds an Australian Citizen. He belongs to the white ethnicity. His Zodiac sign is Pisces.

neil kerley family

The second of the couple’s six children—including his sister Jennifer and brothers Michael, Ronald, James, and Brian—Neil Kerley is the son of Laurie and Lillian Kerley. On February 21, 1945, Neil’s father passed away at Adelaide’s Daw Park Repatriation General Hospital, one day after Neil turned 11.

In addition to serving in the AIF during World War I and II, Laurie also fought in Egypt and Crete. After years of struggle as a single mother, his mother Lillian finally relocated to Adelaide later in life. She passed away in 1992.

Neil Kerley Wife, What about his children?

In 1955, Neil Kerley met local girl Barbara Gordon while coaching North Whyalla. Three children were born to the couple after their marriage on February 25, 1955, at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church in Whyalla (Donald Jr, Robyn, and Gail).

Neil Kerley’s Career, What was his profession?

Between 1952 and 1969, Kerley, who began playing senior football at the age of 14 with Barmera in the Riverland Football League, primarily competed in the SANFL. Growing up on a fruit block in Barmera, South Australia’s Riverland, Kerley was a Norwood supporter as a young child. Less than a year later, he left home and rode north on his motorcycle for two years, working as a Jackeroo on cattle stations.

When Kerley turned 18 in 1952, he was enlisted for National Service and stationed at the Adelaide Hills’ Woodside Barracks. While there, he accepted a friend’s invitation to watch a Norwood game. The Redlegs, as Norwood has been called since 1878, were aware of Kerley’s football prowess, but Neil was unimpressed by the club’s treatment of him and, a week later, when West Adelaide approached him, he agreed to play for them.

When Kerley decided to work as a player coach for Glenelg starting in 1967, the team became his third in the league. He participated in 55 games with the Tigers, was named the team’s Best and Fairest in 1967, and guided the team to the 1969 Grand Final matchup with Sturt. Following the defeat against Jack Oatey’s Sturt, Kerley announced his retirement from league football after playing 276 SANFL games and kicking 123 goals over the course of a 16-season career that started in 1952. Ending his playing career in 1969, Kerley transitioned into coaching full-time in 1970, staying with Glenelg.

Tigers to 1970 Grand Final

He led the Tigers to the 1970 Grand Final, where they once more fell short to Sturt, who was coached by Kerley’s former West Adelaide boss Jack Oatey and had just won their sixth straight premiership. In the Australian Football League (AFL), Kerley was hired as Football Manager for the newly formed Adelaide Crows in 1991. He spent the 1991 AFL season with the Crows before taking over as coach of West Adelaide in 1992, succeeding Kevin Morris, who, like Kerley in 1962, had been fired after leading Wests to the Grand Final in 1991.

SANFL Coach

Unfortunately, injuries and the departure of important players to the Crows prevented West Adelaide from regaining their previous season’s form. The Bloods came in sixth place in 1992 and just escaped receiving the wooden spoon in 1993. After 28 seasons, which started with a championship at West Adelaide in 1961, Kerley was fired for the second time as coach of West Adelaide, ending his SANFL coaching career.

The only SANFL coach with multiple championships over a 30-year span is Neil Kerley. Throughout his league career, Neil Kerley represented South Australia 32 times, leading SA to a memorable victory over Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1963. In 1961, Kerley was again chosen for the All-Australian team. Over the course of 30 years, he also served as a state coach for 10 years; his final season was in 1984, a year in which South Australia lost to Victoria at Football Park by just 4 points and to Western Australia at Footy Park by just 1 point.

In addition, Kerley led the Australian squad in the 1987 International Rules Series, which was held in Ireland. Irish were trounced by the Australians 3 games to 2. Kerley worked as a boundary rider for Channel 7’s AFL telecasts in the 1990s after his final year as a senior coach in 1993, working there until they lost the rights in 2001. He also participated in the AFL’s All-Australian team selection process. While still coaching Glenelg in the early 1970s, Kerley cut a single of “I Was Born Under a Wandering Star.” Radio stations in Australia played it a lot.

How much is Neil Kerley Net worth? 

Neil Kerley has not disclosed his financial details. Thus it is hard to estimate his net worth.

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Which school and college did he go to?

There are no sites that provide information about Neil Kerley’s educational background. The high school he attended and the institution he graduated from are all being investigated. This implies that he finished his education in his hometown.

Is he available on any kind of social media platform?

Neil Kerley is not active on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Physical Appearance of Neil Kerley’s Height, Weight

HeightNot Available
Hair colorWhite
Eye colorBlack
WeightNot Available
Body typeFit
Sexual orientationStraight

Interesting facts about Neil Kerley’s should be knows

NationalityAustralian
EthnicityWhite
Zodiac signPisces
Relationship StatusMarried

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