John Abley

Who was John Abley?

John Abley was an Australian rules footballer who played with Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League between 1950 and 1961.

Abley spent some of the 1949 VFL season playing reserves football with Hawthorn Football Club and turned his back on a possible career in the seniors when he moved to Adelaide, South Australia. Abley could easily have played for Glenelg instead of Port as after he arrived in Adelaide the area he planned on residing in was part of Glenelg's recruiting zone. Port Adelaide officials, at the suggestion of Bob McLean, hastily arranged alternate accommodation in the hope of acquiring his services and Abley debuted for Port Adelaide in 1950.

A fullback, Abley first played in that position for Port in a "Challenge match" in Broken Hill at the end of his debut season and after impressing was kept there for the remainder of his career. He was a member of the famed Port team which won six premierships in succession from 1954 to 1959, an Australian record.

Abley was a regular South Australian interstate representative and played a total of 23 games for his state.