College football season 2021 preview: Captains say PAC is still the team to beat
New captains, a few coaching moves and plenty of rivalry – the 2021 college football season kicks off this Saturday and it promises to be fierce. See how the teams are shaping up.
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Prince Alfred College is still the team to beat this college football season, according to rival captains.
The Kent Town-based school’s First XVIII side has claimed the past four Sports Association Adelaide Schools (SAAS) Football Premierships.
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It also retained its status as SA’s school football champion after beating Henley High in the All Schools Cup last September.
When the new season kicks off this Saturday, the powerhouse team will, however, look different to the line up of 2020.
Dual best and fairest winner James Borlase and last year’s skipper Luke Pedlar not only graduated by were selected by Adelaide at the 2020 AFL draft, leaving a big hole in PAC’s side.
But new captain Harry Tunkin was confident in coach Matt Slade’s methods and that there was enough depth in the squad to defend its titles.
“We’ve done the work over the summer so we are pretty confident,” Tunkin said.
“We had a lot of depth last year in the seconds, they performed well.
“It’s a great honour (to captain) and I am so keen to lead the boys out.
“Ideally we will go through undefeated and it’ll be unreal to win it again.”
Immanuel finished 2020 winless but has a new coach with dual Adelaide Crows premiership captain Mark Bickley at the helm this season.
Skipper Fraser Agnew was confident the side would be competitive this year.
Agnew is tipping the “big schools” of PAC St Peter’s and Sacred Heart to be the teams to beat again this campaign.
“Mark has brought a lot of new stuff to the side and after last year we probably needed something new,” Agnew said.
“It’s pretty good having Mark come in and show us everything he knows.
“I am hoping to develop and get a few wins.
“We are keen to get the season started.”
Sacred Heart finished second in 2020 and was given a chance to take on Henley in the All Schools Cup football preliminary final for a spot in the decider against PAC.
Captain Luca Whitelum, who was touted as a player to watch this year, said last year’s loss to Henley had made the side hungrier for success.
But Whitelum said St Peter’s and PAC would be the team’s biggest threat.
“We have a strong hunger to go one better but I think this year we do have it in us, we just need to keep working hard,” Whitelum said.
“St Peter’s and PAC are always tough and I don’t think we can take Rostrevor lightly, either.
“This year I’d like to be able to lead Sacred Heart to a championship and personally I’d like to just play a good season.”
Rostrevor ended last campaign fifth with a 2-4 record.
Skipper Jayden Gale said he was looking forward to 2021 kicking off.
“We are very excited about the year ahead, we’ve ad a really good pre-season,” Gale said.
“Our team chemistry is really good so I am really excited to see what we can do this year.
“I think PAC and St Peter’s are always the hard teams to beat but I think anyone will be good on their day.
“Working together as a team has been one thing we’ve worked on this year and we have all bought into that.”
Trinity is the new team in the top tier having spent 2020 in division two.
Skipper Luigi Mondello said matching it with the best schools would be tough but it was a challenge he was looking forward to.
Round one kicks off this Saturday — see fixtures below.
ROUND ONE FIXTURE:
Saturday, May 8 at 2.15pm
Division one
■ Immanuel v Rostrevor at Immanuel
■ Sacred Heart v Prince Alfred at Sacred Heart
■ Scotch v Trinity at Scotch
■ St Michael’s v Westminster at St Michael’s
■ St Peter’s v Pembroke at St Peter’s
Division two
■ Chirstian Brothers College v Mercedes at CBC
■ Prince Alfred’s second side v Sacred Heart’s second side
■ St Ignatius — bye
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