Brothers Max and George Thring join Adelaide Footy League division one club Goodwood Saints
Two former North Adelaide brothers – one a SANFL premiership skipper – have joined an Adelaide Footy League division one stalwart in a major boost on the eve of the season.
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Brothers Max and George Thring were so intent on playing football together again not even a cancelled season could stop them.
The former North Adelaide pair will reunite on the field this season for Goodwood Saints – a massive coup on the eve of the season for the division one Adelaide Footy League club.
But the leafy surrounds of Goodwood Oval was not the setting in which the brothers, who last played together at the Roosters in 2017, originally intended to join forces.
It was more than 200km away in the South-East town of Keith where Max – captain in North’s 2018 premiership triumph – signed after retiring from SANFL football to join George, who was the Crows’ playing coach the past two years.
However when the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League chose to abandon its season earlier this month in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the brothers’ best option to play in 2020 was clear.
The pair are among a stream of country footballers who have moved to Adelaide Footy League clubs in the last month.
“I was really eager to play for the Crows down in that league but COVID obviously messed everything up,” Max, 28, said.
“The Keith boys who live in Adelaide train at Goodwood during the week and I was housemates with Lou Whitelock, the captain, for years, so we already had a relationship with a lot of the team and it was a pretty easy decision.
“I think we’re all keen to get Goodwood back towards the top of the ladder and have an impact in finals.”
George, a 115-game player at the Roosters, said he was excited to try his hand in top tier of the Adelaide Footy League, which will begin a nine-round season on July 4.
“It will be good to play in a different comp for a change and division one is obviously strong,” George said.
“Max and I really wanted to play footy together again and we’ve always wanted to have a
look at div one.”
Goodwood made a semi-final in 2019 and looked poised to once again battle for the five this year with new coach Luke Donaldson at the helm.
But the Thrings’ arrival along with former West Adelaide midfielder Nick Favretto has thrust the Saints into serious contention for higher honours.
Last year’s best and fairest Jacob Hughes has come back to the club following a SANFL pre-season with the Bloods and Tom Edwards, who had joined KNTFL side Padthaway, has also returned.