Adelaide Footy League 2022 season previews for every division one club
Footy is back and Adelaide Footy League’s division one is ready for a full season of play. Take an in-depth look at every top flight club in our season preview.
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The Adelaide Footy League’s top flight is back and better than ever, with a full season fixture in place for 2022.
Division one saw an influx of top talent throughout the preseason and club lists are looking stronger than ever.
There has been changes on the sidelines as well, with multiple clubs – including a 2021 grand finalist – acquiring new coaches.
With the April 2 round one fixture fast-approaching, take a look at how each division one club is set for season 2022.
PRINCE ALFRED OLD COLLEGIANS
Last season: Premier
Coach: Craig Pitt
Prince Alfred OC playing-coach Craig Pitt said while the Old Reds had recruited well, the club would look to youth to energise a push at a back-to-back premiership.
The arrivals of Norwood’s Sam Buckham and former Glenelg premiership captain Chris Curran were welcome additions to the side, but Pitt said multiple young players were pushing for playing time.
“We’ve got a lot of kids coming in and adding some great energy, keeping pressure on the older guys, it’s been fantastic,” Pitt said.
“We’ve also been able to add things here and there to our game plan with a full preseason.”
The Old Reds were dominant over Payneham Norwood Union in last season’s grand final, and the club will look to star Jack Trengove to produce another strong season as it aims for another premiership.
“It’s hard to go back-to-back but I think with the guys we’ve got we have the ability,” Pitt said.
“Obviously every club wants to win a premiership, we’re no different. We want to get a really good start and build off that momentum.”
PAYNEHAM NORWOOD UNION
Last season: Runner-up
Coach: Jeremy Cini
Jeremy Cini replaced departing PNU coach Jace Bode after last season’s grand final loss to Prince Alfred OC, and the former Norwood and WWT Eagles assistant brought in a fresh game plan.
While the club lost some big names like Anthony Wilson, Kristian Roocke, Max Hodges and Patrick Levicki, Cini said a fresh outlook would be beneficial to the team.
“I’ve changed our game style from the last few years, which has been exciting for the team. I’m looking to give some young guys an opportunity too,” Cini said.
“It’s a bit of what I’ve seen and implemented at SANFL level and I noticed them getting a bit comfortable with the way they wanted to play, and I don’t think the game style suited some guys.
“There’s a bigger emphasis on defence now and it’s going to create a lot of opportunities for us going forward as a result.”
The club added former AFL and SANFL star Brad McKenzie to the mix and has also signed South Adelaide’s Ben Sawford and former Norwood player Harry Viney.
Cini said the new group had slotted in perfectly.
“They’ve fit in really well, it’s been pretty seamless,” he said.
“All those new guys have got great experience and I’m looking forward to seeing their positive impact on the group play out on the field.”
ST PETER’S OLD COLLEGIANS
Last season: Preliminary finalist
Coach: Geoff Riddle
Saints responded to their preliminary loss against rival Prince Alfred OC by bringing in former Sturt premiership forward Jake Sutcliffe, while also adding Norwood’s Ben Belperio and North Adelaide’s Mason Neagle.
The club has paid extra attention to its fitness regimen over preseason, after a number of important players went down throughout last year.
Coach Geoff Riddle was confident his side could beat anyone in 2022.
“We’ve played finals the last three years and I think our squad can beat anyone when everyone is up and going,” he said.
“To still make finals after all the injuries we had last year, we’re really confident in our ability.”
Riddle also said the team was looking the best it had for some time.
“It’s the best preseason we’ve had since I’ve been at the club, we’re looking great.
“We invested heavily into strength and conditioning so everyone’s body is right and we’re ready to go.”
GOODWOOD SAINTS
Last season: Preliminary finalist
Coach: Luke Donaldson
Saints football director Daniel Norton believed the club was in for a big season after a successful 2021 through all of its ranks.
While Goodwood lost to PNU in its preliminary final, the club saw premierships at Reserves and C Grade level.
Norton said it reflected the depth at the Saints.
“We’re in a really good position to attack the season because of the talent at the club and we’ve made some strong pick-ups,” Norton said.
“We expect to go really deep and challenge for a premiership.”
Angus Rana and Kyle Kirk have been added from West Adelaide to headline Goodwood’s key recruits, made by the club in response to its preliminary final loss.
“We identified some areas for improvement against PNU and did some really specific recruiting.
“They out-marked us a lot up front so we needed that tall forward role filled and we also figured we’d like some more toughness inside and outside.”
Time will tell whether the reinvigorated Saints can go all the way in 2022.
TEA TREE GULLY
Last season: 5th
Coach: Alex McKay
Returning former premiership captain and new playing-coach Alex McKay was eager to see his side take to the field in season 2022.
Gullies fell just short of a finals appearance last season, but a repeat effort would be good enough to make finals this year, barring any Covid delays to the competition.
“I’m keen to build on the very strong culture the club already has, which is something I’ve missed since my time away from the club,” McKay said.
“I’ve introduced some new things and I’ve been getting them out of their comfort zone a bit in the preseason, I want to get them out of their comfort zone.”
Among Tea Tree Gully’s new and returning signings in the offseason were Ryan Spittle, Sam Ciappini, Nathan Cox and former McCallum Tomkins medallist Jack Bollmeyer.
McKay believed the signings could bolster the already experienced team and take it back to the finals to pursue the club’s first premiership since 2018.
“Ryan (Spittle) and Nathan (Cox) are past premiership players and Ryan is probably the best small forward in the comp,” McKay said.
“We’ve got some really good experience and I’m looking forward to leading the lads and achieving some success.”
ROSTREVOR OLD COLLEGIANS
Last season: 6th
Coach: Ben Watkins
New Rostrevor OC coach Ben Watkins left Adelaide Uni to replace Will O’Malley and Nick Murphy this year.
The former ROC premiership player departed Uni after relegation last season and was excited by the youth at his new club.
“We’re going to be looking at developing a lot of kids who’ve been coming through, we’re happy with that, and having Paul Fantasia and Timothy Baccanello locked in to go again is great,” Watkins said.
“Overall we’re happy with the list and really happy with some of the guys we’ve got coming through.”
Craig Holm remains the club’s only major departure after a sixth-placed finish last season, but Watkins said his troops had experienced some other challenges in the preseason.
“We’ve had a few injuries so far and pre-season has been tough with Covid interrupting every now and then,” he said.
“The season is going to be a challenge but we’re still happy with where we sit at the moment.”
PORT DISTRICT
Last season: 7th
Coach: Josh Ramsey
New Magpies coach Josh Ramsey, who was previously West Adelaide’s assistant coach in the SANFL, said his new club’s aim was to be a successful division one club in 2022.
“Rather than making up the numbers, the goal is to become one of the really successful teams in the competition,” Ramsey said.
“What that looks like we won’t know until we get started but what I can say is the people I’ve been dealing with are all striving for sustained success.”
Port made a slew of strong signings leading into season 2022, with former Port Adelaide AFL and SANFL brothers Tom and Sam Gray the headline acts.
Ramsey was excited to see what his new reinforcements could do.
“They’re going to bring some great stuff on the field, and off the field they’ve continued to drive standards and professionalism,” he said
“They’re bringing some great stuff to our leadership group as well.”
BRIGHTON BOMBERS
Last season: 8th
Coach: Brett Backwell
The continued development of youth would be the aim in 2022 for Brighton according to coach Brett Backwell.
The club played 49 separate players at A Grade level in the 2021 season and saw some positive signs in its younger crop of players.
“I want to develop that talent that’s there at the club and give those guys an opportunity first and foremost,” Backwell said.
“We’re all for competing at a high level of course but it’s about development too.”
Among the Bombers’ recruits have been Hayden Kernahan from Cove, and Adelaide’s SANFL side, and three interstate signings in Harry Crossley, Hudson Laycock and Tarik Illingworth.
Backwell said the Bombers were still in the stage of building a strong culture as it continued its division one journey.
“We’ve added a couple guys with experience but ultimately we are a very young side across the board and we’re looking to bring quality people in first to develop that culture and then develop players and reward behaviours and performance.”
OLD IGNATIANS
Last season: Premier (division two)
Coach: Damian Boots
Old Iggies are looking to build off of last season’s impressive grand final win over Glenunga according to coach Damian Boots.
The club lost star player Cam Ortlepp to North Gambier in the offseason, as well as Joey Parnis, but managed to recruit PNU gun Kristian Roocke for 2022.
Boots said he was confident in the group he had together leading into a challenging division one season for the club.
“We’re really trusting of this group, especially with Kristian in. It’s an unknown at the moment but I’d like to think we’ll be competitive for any team,” Boots said.
“From a list perspective we’ve been unfortunate to lose a couple guys but Kristian is going to be massive for us.”
While the club could find its first ever division one season a tough one, Boots added that his group was one which could adjust and develop quickly.
“I don’t shy away from the fact that we have developed our guys into strong players and I think we can build on it even further,” he said.
“We have a lot of upside.”
GLENUNGA
Last season: Division two runner-up
Coach: Nathan Grima
Rams coach Nathan Grima admitted 2022 would be a testing one for his side after a tough offseason.
The club went undefeated through the 2021 division two season before falling to Old Ignatians in the grand final and has since seen some experienced players depart.
Both James and Michael Wundke called time on their careers, as well as Tom Beard.
Will Staples, Justin Bonney and Dylan Smith have also left.
“We’ve been able to bring a couple guys in but it’s going to be a tough year for our lads,” Grima said.
“We probably didn’t think we’d be in div one so quickly when we mapped out our plan a year ago so now it’s all hands on deck to ensure we make the most of the opportunity.”
While the club has seen departures, Grima believed there had been major improvement from the senior squad over preseason.
“We’ve seen huge development from our group on the track,” he said.
“The guys have been brilliant.
“There are some very, very good players and teams in division one and we’ll need to rely on developing our guys but we’re ready and excited for the challenge.”
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