Paul “Mr Magic” Bagshaw: The Maestro of Unley Oval
Few players capture the imagination of South Australian football fans the way Paul Lynton Bagshaw did. From the moment he debuted for Sturt in 1964 until his farewell match in 1980, Bagshaw dazzled crowds with creativity, courage, and an uncanny knack for producing the improbable. Over 360 games—and a club-record eight seasons as captain—he became the beating heart of the Double Blues and one of the most decorated champions the SANFL has ever seen.
A Football Pedigree
Born 22 August 1946 at McLaren Flat, Bagshaw grew up steeped in Double Blue tradition. His father, Hartley, was a member of Sturt’s 1940 premiership side; younger brothers Bill and John and later his son Guy all pulled on the famous No. 8 guernsey. It was little wonder that Paul, blessed with athleticism and a quick football brain, gravitated to Unley Oval.
Catalyst of a Dynasty
Under visionary coach Jack Oatey, Bagshaw helped ignite the greatest era in Sturt history. Between 1966 and 1970 the Double Blues reeled off five straight flags, with further premierships in 1974 and 1976. Bagshaw played—and often starred—in all seven triumphs, roaming as a ruck-rover, key forward or even loose man in defence depending on the moment.
Why They Called Him “Mr Magic”
Bagshaw’s style defied coaching manuals. He was one of the last elite players to use the drop-kick regularly, and his no-look handpasses and one-hand pickups were years ahead of their time. Opposition defenders swore he could thread a goal from the proverbial phone box; commentator Wally May coined the moniker “Mr Magic” and it stuck.
Captain, Champion, MBE
Elected captain in 1973, Bagshaw led by daring example until retirement. Along the way he collected Sturt’s best-and-fairest five times (1966, ’69, ’70, ’71, ’77) and even topped the club’s goal-kicking in 1978—all while accumulating 258 career majors. In the 1979 New Year Honours he was appointed MBE for services to football, a rare accolade for a still-active player.
Wearing the State Colours
Bagshaw’s brilliance translated seamlessly to interstate clashes: he played 14 games for South Australia, often as a play-making ruck-rover who could swing forward when goals were required. His performances helped fuel SA’s famous 1960s-70s rivalry with Victoria
Hall-of-Fame Immortal
Retirement did little to dim the glow. Bagshaw was an inaugural inductee of the SANFL Hall of Fame (2002), named ruck-rover in Sturt’s Team of the Century, and enshrined in the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2016. His No. 8 locker at Peter Motley Oval remains a shrine for aspiring Double Blues.
Enduring Legacy
More than four decades after his final game, Paul Bagshaw’s highlights still roll on stadium scoreboards and social feeds—reminders of a player who could turn chaos into choreography. For Sturt supporters he is the benchmark; for the broader game he is proof that artistry and courage can coexist, producing football that lives forever in the memory.
From premiership glories to late-match heroics, “Mr Magic” remains a beacon of what makes Australian football unique—and why the legend of Paul Bagshaw will never fade.
Inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame: 2016
Playing career: 1964-80
Games: 360. Goals: 258
Player honours: best & fairest 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1977; leading goalkicker 1978; premierships 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1976; captain 1973-80; SA representative (14 games); Sturt Team of the Century; SA Football Hall of Fame.