Adelaide Footy League 2022 season previews for divisions two to seven
Former premiership players and champions-turned-coaches will battle it out in the Adelaide Footy League this season. Check out our previews for every club in divisions two to seven.
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The Adelaide Footy League season will finally begin this Saturday after a preseason filled with major player movements and coaching changes.
As part of The Messenger’s lead up to the first bounce, we’ve taken a look at how divisions two to seven sit for 2022.
See the full division one club-by-club preview here.
DIVISION TWO
Sacred Heart Old Collegians coach Steve Kay said he had “a tremendous amount of faith in our young group” heading into the season.
The club signed an astounding 14 players after losing to Glenunga in the division two preliminary final, including former SANFL big man Alex Cailotto, as it prepared to launch its promotion bid in 2022.
Kay said the signings would provide a significant boost to his side’s chances.
“Having a lot of new guys, and guys like Cailotto, at the club is only going to lift standards in training and preparation, which will be a huge benefit,” he said.
SHOC will face tough competition this year, with both Unley Mercedes and Adelaide Uni dropping down from division one.
The Jets locked in Adelaide Crows champion Scott Thompson as head coach for 2022, and while the club has lost a number of players it could still be a threat with the AFL-experienced player and coach at the helm.
The Blacks will be coached by former North Adelaide player Graeme Kellett this year and have brought multiple young players through the system for the season.
Football director Adrian Howard said the club would be returning to attacking footy in 2022.
“We expect to get back to a traditional Uni attacking, fast ball game,” Howard said.
“We’ve got a group of players coming up from lower grades and completing a full preseason which is really positive.
“There’s a great vibe around the group.”
Broadview and Henley are also looking strong heading into the season, with Broadview recruiting multiple former SANFL champions such as Nick Liddle and Xavier Gotch, and adding former Crow Jared Petrenko and the Sharks maintaining their strong core after finishing fifth last year.
PHOS Camden has also recruited well, adding the likes of Central District’s Dylan Morton to the mix after finishing second last year.
North Haven and Gaza both move up to the division for 2022, and will be looking to make their mark on the competition early after a successful 2021.
Meanwhile, Salisbury North and Athelstone will both look to bounce back in 2022 and have added multiple bodies from around South Australia to bolster their squads after finishing close to relegation last season.
DIVISION THREE
Division three is back to 10 teams this year and could see its most competitive season in a long time with multiple clubs bringing in top drawer talent.
Golden Grove kicked the preseason of with a bang, signing Adelaide and Norwood stars Lewis Johnston and Cam Shenton, while newly-promoted Morphettville Park added premiership-winning North Adelaide utility Alex Barns to the mix.
Roos coach Steve Nolis said he was looking forward to seeing what his side could do in 2022.
“The boys look fit and healthy and Alex (Barns) has raised the bar in every aspect,” Nolis said.
“There will be some challenges ahead with a lot of the div three clubs recruiting well but if we’re at our best we can improve after last year’s success.”
Edwardstown and Flinders Park have also strengthened their squads for the season, with Nic and Tom Schwarz joining Flinders Park after successful careers at SANFL level, and multiple former West Adelaide players including champion mid Aaron Anderson heading to the Towns.
Scotch OC will be a club to look out for this season after dropping down from division two, along with Seaton Ramblers who are hungry to gain promotion back to division two.
Scotch welcomed new coach Will James to the club early in the offseason after Kym Cobb’s decision to leave, and has retained most of its division two side.
CBC Old Collegians has a new-look leadership group in 2022, the Dolphins spearheaded by captain Matthew Raymond as they aim to improve on their seventh place finish last season.
Promoted club SMOSH West Lakes experienced some continuity in the offseason, re-signing coach Cohen Mattner as it enters a challenging division three year.
Westminster OS has added some key players to the fold, with Mitch Clisby and James Craig leaving the SANFL for the Dragons.
Meanwhile, Modbury will play relatively unchanged this year after finishing fifth in 2021.
DIVISION FOUR
Pembroke OS looks to be the frontrunner for division four on paper, the Kings signing playing-coach Mark Evans after a star career with Norwood and Sturt, as well as Max Thring and Patrick Levicki – also former SANFL stars.
Evans said the club’s goal was to move back up the league’s divisions as soon as it could.
“The club is a bit lower than where it’d like to be but we’ve got a really good opportunity with a strong playing list to implement a bit of a plan which can take us up to division three, two, one in the future,” Evans said.
“There’s a great culture here already so it’s now just about implementing that structure.”
The Kings will face competition in both Plympton and Portland – who move down to the division after relegation from div three last year.
The Bulldogs have added a wealth of players to their ranks, including former Gaza player Nathan Davies, while Portland has maintained its squad and added some new faces from lower grades.
Pooraka and Kenilworth are two clubs which will be aiming for a strong start to the season after gaining promotion from division five, while Walkerville and Hope Valley look to build on their top five finishes last season.
Hope Valley’s core group of players has recommitted for this season, while South Adelaide’s Daniel Nobes has also joined the club.
Pulteney signed new coach Dave Kennewell after finishing seventh last year and will be hoping he can lead them to greater success in 2022, while Mitcham and Woodville South also look to rise up the ranks after solid seasons in 2021.
DIVISION FIVE
Division five will see 10 teams competing this year, after Blackfriars OS took the chance to move up to the division along with Elizabeth and St Pauls OS.
Hounds coach Jarrad O’Riley was confident the team could perform in a higher div after losing to eventual division six winner Elizabeth in the finals last year.
“I’m confident the club is in a strong spot and we feel our list will be competitive,” O’Riley said.
“With a young side like us, if we can get confidence up early it’ll be infectious.”
Gepps Cross comes down from division four with Kilburn.
The Rams have signed a handful of new players, including former West Adelaide and Port Adelaide player Jamie Hampton.
Colonel Light Gardens and Eastern Park are both hoping for strong starts to the year after falling short of promotion out of division five last season while Lockleys and Hectorville will look to build after finishing fifth and seventh respectively.
Salisbury rounds out division five but may struggle this season after only just managing to pull the players and volunteers together for its A Grade side.
DIVISION SIX
West Croydon is confident of turning its fortunes around in 2022.
The club was relegated from division five last year but signed former Eastern Park coach David Thompson.
President Andrew Rennie was confident of a resurgence.
“We 100 per cent think we can turn it around this year,” he said.
“We want to focus on making better people first and if we can do that they’ll be invested and become better footballers. We want to get back to being ourselves.”
Fitzroy also enters division six from div five, while Brahma Lodge and Central United move up from division seven.
Trinity Old Scholars has strengthened its side after missing out on promotion in 2021, with former club best and fairest Jordan Smith returning to the club’s midfield.
Rosewater, Marion, Para Hills and Ingle Farm round out the rest of division six, each club experiencing inconsistent seasons in 2021 and looking to improve this year.
DIVISION SEVEN
With Smithfield going into recess for another season, division seven clubs will have a one-in-eight chance at winning a flag in 2022.
Greenacres is back for another year and will be hot favourites along with Mawson Lakes, who have moved down from division six.
Adelaide Lutheran has been able to maintain its A Grade side after struggling at junior level and will along with Houghton Districts and Mitchell Park aim to take a step up after a solid 2021.
Flinders University could be a surprise package this year after signing a host of players to its A Grade side including key Flagstaff Hill centre half-back Luke Warland.
Hackham and O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale would also be looking to improve on last year after finishing at the bottom of the division.
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