HARRY Kernahan, who died in Adelaide this week aged 74, has been described as the man behind the most successful era in Glenelg's history.

Kernahan played 176 games with Glenelg as a stout-hearted ruckman from 1959-65 and again from 1969-71.

He was captain in 1964 and 1965 and played 10 games for South Australia, including the match at the MCG in 1963 when the Croweaters scored their first win in Victoria since 1926.

After his playing career had ended, Kernahan served as Glenelg's general manager from 1973-87. The Bays won three of their four premierships in this era, in 1973, 1985 and 1986.

Tony Symonds, who played with Glenelg from 1981-92, said Kernahan had a large presence and in effect ruled the club. He was on most committees and he made sure the club was well run.

"If Harry didn't like it, it didn't get done," Symonds said.

As general manager, Kernahan was involved in talks over playing contracts, and Symonds described him as an intimidating character during discussions.

At the end of 1982, Symonds was approached by Port Adelaide and Norwood to consider a transfer. When Kernahan found out, he summoned Symonds to his office and asked what he thought he was doing.

"He looked at me and said, 'Here's your contract. Sign it.' I just did as I was told," Symonds said.

After Glenelg had won the night premiership in 1982, Symonds and teammates Tony McGuinness, Chris McDermott and Stephen Kernahan went to the club disco until 1am and then returned to Stephen's home to continue the revelry.

Harry Kernahan had tipped this series of events. When the young turks turned up he was waiting out of the front of the house. In his gruff voice, he reminded the players that it was Wednesday and they had to play on Saturday.

Symonds, McGuinness and McDermott fled, leaving Stephen to deal with his father, as happened more than once before Stephen joined Carlton in 1986.

"Poor Steve had to deal with a lot because of us," Symonds said.

Ross Gibbs, also the father of a Carlton star, in his case Bryce, was a West Perth player when Harry Kernahan and Glenelg coach Graham Campbell flew to Perth to sign him to the Bays before the 1984 season.

Gibbs said Glenelg people described Kernahan as 'The Big Henchman'. "You didn't mess with Harry," said Gibbs, who played with the Bays until 1994.

During the mid-1980s, the players damaged a houseboat when they ran on to a sandbank in the Murray River during a footy trip to the Riverland region. Kernahan fined the players and gave them a blast to remember.

"He was just an imposing sort of bloke," Gibbs said.

Kernahan was also considered a wonderful host. Often he invited the players over for one of the regular Sunday barbecues at the family home in the Glenelg area.

"They were a great family," said Gibbs, adding that everyone at Glenelg had enormous respect for the man who underpinned the Bays' success in the 1970s and 1980s.

Stephen's brothers David and Gary also began their footy careers at Glenelg. David was a dependable backman and teammate of Stephen's at Carlton.