Clem Hill

Australian cricketing great Clem Hill’s South Adelaide Football Club history was formally recognised last week in a ceremony at Adelaide Oval.

The stocky left-handed batsman’s statue which stands in the South plaza at Adelaide Oval now has a plaque acknowledging his South Adelaide history.

A former Australian test cricket captain Hill was a prolific run scorer in Test cricket and held the world record at the time of his retirement in 1912 with 3412 runs after 49 Tests. But his South history was little known.

South Adelaide Historian David Kelly spoke at the ceremony and provided an insight into Hill’s short but impressive South career.

“South Adelaide were the major footballing tenant at Adelaide Oval for over 110 years and it’s great to see that one of our former champions has been appropriately recognised,” said David Kelly.

“There are certainly more that are worthy of such recognition given their history with the Club and the Oval.”

Hill made his South Adelaide Football Club debut in 1893 as a 16 year-old, the same year he made his first class debut for South Australia.

He was a Premiership player in 1893 and 1895 and represented the State in 1894.

A half-forward or rover, Hill was described at the time as “skilful, spirited and effective”, with a journalist further noting after a late Hill goal gave South a win over Norwood “as cool a footballer as he is a cricketer”.

The South Adelaide Football Club thanks David Kelly and the Club’s Heritage Committee, Peter Alexander and the SANFL for their support of this initiative and the recognition of Clem Hill’s contribution to the football club.