Club Representative Honours William Harold Oliver (12 August 1891 – 15 November 1958) was an Australian rules footballer.

[9][10] His reputation as an early exponent of the spectacular mark—along with his general skill at playing the game—saw him regarded as one of the best players South Australia has produced.

[11] It was common for Cornish people, where mining was a key industry, to move to Australia and use their knowledge to attempt a better life as the economy in Cornwall was waning.

[19] In 1909, with the assistance of his brother, Harold helped the Lyrup football club win the local riverland league premiership.

[23] At the end of 1909, Oliver was contemplating moving to Queensland to join his sister in the state; however, two friends, the Musgrave brothers, who played for West Suburbans in Adelaide, suggested he come down and visit.

Disgruntled, he spoke to the Musgrave brothers' father, who suggested he approach West Torrens and train with them, to which Oliver agreed.

[19] Port Adelaide would win the SAFL premiership in Oliver's debut season and would subsequently contest the 1910 Championship of Australia in a match against Victorian Football League (VFL) premiers Collingwood.

Harold Oliver kicked 5 goals in the match, helping Port Adelaide defeat Collingwood and claim national honours.

Harold Oliver was a member of the South Australian state team that won the 1911 Interstate Carnival, defeating the Victorian side 11.11 (77) to 5.4 (34).

"[36] While giving full credit to the winner, however, it is only fair to state that had not Oliver (the brilliant young Port Adelaide player) been disqualified through a regrettable occurrence in a match at Norwood he would undoubtedly have been the medallist this time.

One of his close friends, William Powell, sent him a letter during his time serving that included a short paragraph describing how Australian soldiers were discussing his prowess and that others were exclaiming "Oliver!"

There is one thing Harold that I must mention to you right here and it is something which ought to make you and Mrs Oliver and also little Miss Oliver phoned [sic] and it is this that since leaving Dear old Australia I have heard your name and fame discussed in three different countries namely Egypt, Lemnos Island (Greece) and at the front offensive in the ferocity line even amid the din of battle when bullets bombs and shrapnel were dealing both death and destruction on all sides I have ofttimes heard your fame discussed in arguments about football and I remember as we were travelling from Port Suez to Cairo going through the valley of the Nile by train we passed some Indians who are stationed there, playing football and as the ball was up in the air someone on our train yelled out the old famous battle cry “Oliver”.

Despite this official suspension, a group of South Australian clubs decided to form their own league in 1916, and the money generated would be put toward the war effort.

[43] Port Adelaide would end up winning the 1916 South Australian Patriotic League Grand Final by defeating West Torrens 7.11 (53) to 1.13 (19).

[44] After World War I, Harold Oliver had chosen to retire from league football for the upcoming 1919 SAFL season.

Towards the close of the 1919 SAFL season, Port Adelaide had successfully qualified for finals, finishing the minor round fourth.

In a bid to increase their chances of September success, Port Adelaide put a call out to Oliver to play in the club's final against West Torrens to which he accepted.

In 1920, keen supporters of the Port Adelaide Football Club, headed by Mr. Swain, collectively raised £77.13.8[46] ($5,554 in 2020 terms) and bought Harold a Rover 3.5hp motor-cycle[45] so he could make his commute of over 200 km to and from Berri, where he eventually settled on his own property as a fruit grower during the 1920 season.

In 1922, after playing only 5 league matches for the season, his career at Port Adelaide finally came to an end due to commitments to his farm at Berri and disputes regarding game compensation.

[49] When Harold Oliver retired from league football, he returned to his fruit farm to settle with his wife Blanche in the South Australian Riverland town of Berri.

[50] During a match for Berri-Barmera in 1925, a drunken spectator by the name of John Purcell who, after previously shouting abuse at Oliver, went onto the playing field just before half-time and punched Harold in the jaw with a glancing blow.

[54] He played his last-ever football game in 1931 when his club won the Upper Murray Association premiership by defeating Barmera.

[63] In 1935, Australian cricket umpire George Hele, whilst writing for The Sporting Globe in Melbourne, described Harold Oliver as the "[Roy] Cazaly of South Australia".

"[65] The aforementioned Phil Matson, East Perth premiership player and coach, regarded Harold Oliver as the best centreman he had met during his football career.

[66] Tom Outridge Sr, winner of the inaugural Sandover Medal, said that one of his outstanding memories was of Harold Oliver, stating that when he was a boy he was "taken by his father to see Port play at Kalgoorlie in 1913.

[70] Charlie Checkett, long serving curator of the Adelaide Oval, considered Harold Oliver "The greatest footballer this state [South Australia] has produced".

[72] In 1965, a publication covering 100 years of South Australian football written by Charles Knuckey included the state's all-time team; Harold Oliver was allocated the position of centre half-forward.

[76] A section of the 1951 PAFC Annual Report paid tribute to Harold Oliver by stating that he "was a champion in any position on the field, being an outstanding high mark and a magnificent kick.

[79] In 2001, Harold Oliver was named in the Port Adelaide Football Club's greatest team of all time, placed on the half-forward flank.