South Adelaide looks to add players with top-flight experience ahead of first Premier League season

THREE key recruits with top-flight experience are South Adelaide’s priorities as it prepares for its maiden assault on the SA Premier League.

South Adelaide players (from left) Jordan Watson, Dylan Torr and Hamish Robbins, with coach Steve Kitchin are preparing for the Panthers first year in the SA Premier League. Picture: Stephen Laffer

THREE key recruits with top-flight experience are South Adelaide’s priorities as it prepares for its maiden assault on the SA Premier League.

The Panthers secured promotion with a dramatic 2-0 win over Adelaide Hills on the final day of the State League season last month.

Coach Steve Kitchin said retaining the core of this year’s side while adding an experienced goalkeeper, defender and midfielder would be central to South’s fortunes.

“I’m not looking to add too many players to the team because I don’t want to spoil what we’ve got as we’ve got something really special here,” Kitchin said.

“We’ve certainly got to strengthen the squad in those positions, but I want to reward the boys that got me where I am today.

“When you play at this level you’ve got to be able to defend and we’ve got to make sure we’re hard to break down.”

Kitchin said players and officials at the O’Sullivan Beach-based club had been “floating on air” since becoming the first side from the southern suburbs to win promotion since Noarlunga United 33 years ago. With the season set for a mid-February kick-off the State League Coach of the Year said planning was in full swing for the new campaign.

“It (promotion) has been a fantastic reward for the boys and all the effort we’ve all put in,” he said.

“But the main thing we’ve got to overcome now is playing the likes of Campbelltown, Adelaide City, Blue Eagles. It’s going to be a massive jump for us so we’ve got to really work hard in that off-season to make sure we’re ready.”

Kitchin said gaining strong results in the early part of the season would be crucial for his side which is largely devoid of top-flight playing experience.

“Survival — there’s no other goal than surviving.

“Anything better than that will be a bonus.”