Angus Poole, Jake Von Bertouch and Jack Elsworthy depart from SANFL, sign with Kadina Football Club
Two SANFL premiers and a former Port and South Adelaide player are the latest players to leave the SANFL to join a local club.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Woodville-West Torrens premiership players Angus Poole and Jake Von Bertouch and former Port Adelaide and South Adelaide player Jack Elsworthy have signed with Kadina.
The three departures add to the SANFL’s growing list of departures to community clubs.
Poole – part of the Eagles’ back-to-back premiership teams – said the go-home factor and the chance at a more relaxed career were key factors in his decision to leave for the Yorke Peninsula Football League club.
“It was a mixture of things,” Poole said.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the Eagles and everyone there but I was a bit tired of SANFL footy, it’s a fairly big commitment and I just want a bit more time in my life with a baby on the way any day now.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to go back to Kadina with Jake (Von Bertouch) and Jack (Elsworthy) and I’ve got a lot of mates there already so I’m keen to get on the track with them and just play footy.”
As a skilled 27-year-old midfielder-forward, Poole will still have a lot to give throughout his career.
He said he would aim to play whichever role Kadina needed and also help develop the young kids coming through at the club.
“I still felt I had a bit to give at SANFL level so I’m sure I’ll be able to perform wherever the team needs me whether that’s on ball or up front for a bit,” Poole said.
“SANFL is pretty structured so I have a lot of little tricks about ball movement and set up I want to bring to the club and the younger guys.”
For 25-year-old defender Jake Elsworthy, the time was right to call his career at SANFL level after having played for Port Adelaide and the Panthers.
“At this stage in my career and in my position the SANFL was pretty time consuming so that factored in a bit and the allure of having close mates playing back at Kadina and having family there was important,” Elsworthy said.
“Knowing that Jake and Gus are heading back as well it’s a nice opportunity for us to play where it all started.”
While Kadina missed out on finals last season, the three major recruits have now made the club’s goal a premiership.
Elsworthy said he would be thrilled to win a flag back home with family and friends involved.
“It’s a really young, exciting group and now adding some experience should hopefully help everyone develop and reach a new level,” he said.
“I’m just really looking forward to play back home with my mates and hopefully win a premiership together.”
Adelaide Crows premiership legend signs with country footy battlers
A battling SA country footy club has secured a huge coup by signing a former Adelaide Crows premiership champion.
‘We’ve got to’: Contentious $41m sports centre hits new milestone
A plan to build a controversial $41m sports centre has taken a huge step forward, with the local council seeking to change planning rules to allow it.