Former Penola Footballer Michael ‘The Flash’ Graham (front right) has entered rare air as one of six footballers inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame last week.


The dashing footballer, renowned for his speed on the ground, has fond recollections of his time in Penola.


The SE Voice spoke to Graham, who now lives in Darwin, about how his family came to live in Penola, where his footy career began.


As a proud Kaurna and Nukuna man, the Graham family moved to Penola when Michael was around nine years of age along with his parents and 14 siblings.


Graham said that his mother was the one who opted to move to Penola.


“She was the smart one and it was the best decision she could have ever made for our family,” he said.


“Penola was very happy to accept of us all, and the footy side was better.”


Graham started his footy career with the Penola Junior Colts U14 side in 1964, which went on to win the premiership in the same year.


However, 11-year-old Graham and Ian Jackman were the 19th and 20th men and were quite small, but both eventually went on to have outstanding league football careers including representing South Australia.


Graham loved playing for Penola with his brothers, Brad, Fred, Huey, Douglas, Freddy Jr and cousins Ernie and Eddie.


There is a picture of all the boys playing together which Graham still has tucked away safely.


When asked about his time playing for the Eagles, he recalls lining up alongside some champion footballers including Robin Ey, Dudley and Des Fennell, Mike Woolston, Graeme Robertson Baden Jacobs, Gary and Steven Skeer, Andrew Fuller as well as John McBain and Bob Bussenschutt who coached Graham in the 1968/69 and 1970 seasons respectively.


Graham won the 1970 Western Border Football League’s Best and Fairest as an 18-year-old centreman, polling 31 votes and defeating North Gambier’s Paul Keast.


To cap off a stellar year for the Eagles, Graham also won the club’s Best and Fairest and Footballer of the Year along with the Mildara and Basheer’s Trophy.


Graham’s 1970 season certainly caught the eye of the Sturt Football Club where ‘The Flash’ wowed fans with his electrifying pace, sublime evasive skills and an ability to hit the scoreboard kicking 455 goals in 282 games from 1971 – 1985 winning the 1974 and 1976 premierships with the Double Blues.


His accolades at league level were later recognised by being named in Sturt’s Team of the Century and the Indigenous Team of the Century.


Graham said once it had been established that he would head to the SANFL, there was never any doubt that he would play for Sturt.


“Alan Fenn recruited me after watching me play for Penola to make sure I was coming up to play for the Double Blues in 1971, not that I was going anywhere else because we were all mad Sturt supporters,” he said.


Former Penola footballer, life member and club legend Dean Galpin paid tribute to Graham and said his football talent was obvious early.


“He was just absolutely brilliant. I was stuck in the back pocket, however I marvelled at the work he would do in the centre and up forward,” he said.


“Away from footy, we used to take Michael rabbiting. The poor rabbits had no chance once the bright lights hit their eyes. Before the rabbits even thought where to escape, Michael had already jumped the fence holding a rabbit in each hand. His pace was extraordinary.”


Steven Skeer, a 446 game Penola champion, also recalled his experience playing footy with Graham.


Skeer said “Egg” – as he was known amongst his mates in Penola – was exceptional at any sport he played including cricket and footy.


“It did not matter, he was phenomenal at everything,” he said.


Admired for his blistering pace, Skeer recalls a game at Vansittart where Graham chased a player down, however before the ball could hit his opponents boot while attempting to kick, Egg already had the ball in his hands and was well on his way up the ground kicking the footy into Penola’s forward line.


“He just had this unbelievable speed,” he said.


With a highlights reel that any footy fan would gush over, Michael Graham will always be remembered as one of the Penola Football Club’s greatest ever players.