Without doubt, Mick Daly was one of the most influential figures of the modern Lions. In 1973, his appointment as senior Coach was to see many changes in attitude and performance of the football organisation sector of the club. Certainly, he was one of our first great imports, but he understood and embraced the local culture - while becoming the man who would bring professionalism to South Gawler.

Daly, originally born in Gawler, had played 139 league gemes for Central Districts and as a former captain had been honoured with life membership there. He was one of the Bulldogs' early great players, the leading goalkicker in 1965 with 47 goals and 1966 with 37 goals.

When he came to South as a playing coach, he immediately dominated the GDFL as an on-baller and key forward, winning the 1975 Mail Medal. During this time at the helm he also reprseented the GDFL and led us to a premiership in 1974 and a losing grand final in 1975 as Captain-Coach. A serious scholar of the game, he was responsible for the arrival of legends such as Kym Stoddard and Brendan Dempsey, and for mentoring local-bred champions such as Anton Noack and Rodney Day.

Under Mick many changes occured. The most significant was the installation of the bank of four flood lights on a single pole on the southern side of our then home ground, the Gawler Oval. During 1974 Daly also started a weight lifting course for the younger players, a new innovation to what was fast becoming a very efficient club. This certainly improved our game in what was evolving as a fierce GDFL renaissance.

With such an impressive playing and coaching record, Daly returned as a caretaker coach again in 1989, long after he had retired, but still had the same impact, especially upon some of the younger players. Almost a Barassi-like identity, no doubt - even in only that single season, Daly prepared what was to become a stoic premiership menatlity for his successor Malcolm McGrath.

Today Mick Daly remains a part of the Lions folklore.