BIO

Bert Sugars moved around a bit.  He had just turned 21 when he joined Port Adelaide from the Port Natives in 1894.  In the following season he returned to junior ranks, representing a rampaging West Adelaide in the Adelaide and Suburban Football Association.

He was one of 14 recruits tried by Norwood against up-and-coming North Adelaide in the first match of 1896.  'Goalpost' noted in The Evening Journal that while most of the newcomers failed to cut the mustard, Sugars "displayed much better form than I have ever seen him exhibit". Norwood won that match 11.7 to 4.4, mainly on the back of a five-goal haul by 'Bunny' Daly.

Bert was prominent the following week as Norwood hammered the lowly Natives - soon to become West Torrens - 6.12 to one point at Kensington Oval.  On 4 July he helped Norwood thump Port 10.10 to 2.4 at Adelaide Oval.

He developed into a useful follower and defender for Norwood over two seasons Perhaps the highlight of his career occurred at Adelaide Oval on the Monday holiday match of 14 July 1897.  He played at centre half-back as Norwood held off the visiting Collingwood team by one point, 7.9 to 7.8.

In 1899, electorate football took him 'home' to West Torrens, which had evolved from his first team, the Port Natives.

One of 17 children of George Sugars and his wife Mary, née Isbel, Herbert was born at Strathalbyn on 5 May 1873.  He worked as a fitter and married Amy Mary Farr in Broken Hill in 1906.  He died in hospital of pleurisy and pneumonia at Willyama, Broken Hill, on 5 January 1919.  He was survived by his widow and three children

P Robins Sept 2018