Cove’s Michael Galley, sisters Kate and Jamie Norup all feature with SFL in clash against GSFL

The Southern Football League had a competition-wide bye at the weekend as it made way for the association games against the GSFL. The Galley family featured heavily in the men’s and women’s SFL teams. Read our match wraps here.

Gordon Armstrong

4 min read

June 10, 2019 - 3:48PM

Messenger Community News

SFL skipper Michael Galley with his twin SFL women's captain Kate Galley and older sister Jaime Norup. They all played in association games against the GSFL on Saturday. Picture: Supplied, Chris Galley.

Local Sport

Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.

There seems to be no stopping the high-achieving Galley family when it comes to sporting success.

Cove’s Michael Galley, 24, captained the men’s Southern Football League team in an association game against the Great Southern competition at Morphett Vale on Saturday.

His older sister, Jaime Norup, 35, led the women’s SFL side, while Michael’s twin sister Kate also played with the females.

Although both teams lost their respective games, Michael and Jaime were named in the best, while Kate kicked a last-quarter goal in her team’s 2.4.

Diplomatically, Michael said he ranked himself number three in the pecking order of the family’s playing stocks.

Former Glenelg player Michael Galley captained the SFL team in the association game against the GSFL on Saturday. Picture: Mark Brake

“Kate and Jaime have done so well and deserve their success,” Michael said.

Jaime and Michael also are believed to be one of the few brothers and sisters to have played league football in SA.

Michael debuted for Glenelg in 2014 and played 20 games until 2016.

Jaime, also a high-standard netballer with Woods Panthers in the state league and with Surrey Storm in England, lined up in two games this season for Glenelg’s SANFLW team before breaking her thumb.

Both have their names on Glenelg’s commemorative white-picket fence.

While the Galley siblings are dominating at the moment, the family name goes way back.

Their father Chris, a SFL hall of famer, was believed to be a founder of Cove in 1984, alongside club legend Barry Ramsay.

Jaime and Kate also were the driving forces behind establishing Cove’s women’s team in 2018, while their mum Denise is a trainer with the side. Not to be left out, their older brother Brennan, 36, played for Cove and Sacred Heart College.

Chris Galley, pictured in 2006. Picture: Stephen Laffer

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 11.9 (75)

GREAT SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE 15.19 (109)

Great Southern Football League’s ability to hit the scoreboard hard in the third quarter proved the key to its victory against the Southern Football League at Morphett Vale Oval last Saturday.

Playing for the (Barry) Pilmore Cup the GSFL saluted 15.19 (109) to 11.9 (75) to end Southern’s bid for three consecutive Association wins.

Southern led a keenly contested opening quarter 4.0 to 3.5 but the visitors had their noses in front 8.9 to 8.4 at the long break.

The floodgates opened in the third as Great Southern’s depth was on show to clear out 14.15 to 8.6 at the last break.

Southern showed its spirit to win the last quarter by 11 points.

SFL coach Paul Crate said there were no excuses and believed his side was simply beaten by a better team on the day.

Paul Crate during his time coaching SFL side Christies Beach in 2015. Crate coached the SFL in its association game against the GSFL on Saturday. Picture: Stephen Laffer

“I couldn’t question our effort but they (GSFL) were a little bit too classy,” Crate said.

“Our players showed a lot to fight it out in the last quarter whereas in some years they may have been overrun.

“I’m very proud of their efforts.’’

Nathan Schulz (Noarlunga) won SFL’s best player medal.

Toby McAllister (Flagstaff Hill) and captain Michael Galley (Cove) also battled hard for the SFL.

Crate announced after the game that he was stepping down as SFL coach.

Galley praised his team’s effort and GSFL’s victory.

“We just had a lapse in the third quarter and that found us out a bit,” Galley said.

“We played it out in the last quarter but they were too good.

“It was a massive honour for me to be asked to lead the team.

“I love association football and to be able to play in it was great.’’

The SFL’s under-age teams took the spoils, while the GSFL’s team grabbed a victory in the women’s clash to kick off Association day last Saturday.

Southern’s under-15s turned in a powerhouse effort to crush the GSFL 17.4 (106) to 4.4 (28) and claim the Panther Shield at Morphett Vale.

The triumph was set up with a dominant first half where they led 11.1 to 1.2 at the long break.

Milan Spring (Happy Valley) was best for SFL, while Harrison Lemmey (Flagstaff Hill) and Brodie Visser (Port Noarlunga) kicked three goals each.

Wayward kicking for goal didn’t stop the SFL under-17s taking out the (Greg) Whittlesea Shield, 7.19 (51) to 6.8 (44).

GSFL led 3.2 to 0.1 at quarter-time but the SFL bombarded the goal in the second to take a 2.12 to 3.2 advantage into half-time.

The visitors responded with the wind in the third quarter to turn for home 10 points up before the SFL finished full of running with 4.4 to 0.3.

James Hay (Happy Valley), Leith Mitchell (Flagstaff Hill) and Tom Barrett (Happy Valley) were the stars for SFL.

Jack Flett kicked three goals.

Captain Wade Sweetman (Encounter Bay) was best for GSFL.

A strong start with the wind for GSFL set up its win in the women’s contest.

The visitors were in front 3.2 to 0.1 at quarter-time and went on to claim the Janet Bache Cup 5.10 (40) to 2.4 (16).

Southern kicked its two goals in the last quarter.

Soriah Moon (Flagstaff Hill), Sophia Flanagan-Sjoberg (Aldinga) and captain Jaime Norup (Cove) played strongly for the SFL.

Kate Galley (Cove) and Cassandra Yerasimou (Aldinga) kicked SFL’s only goals.

Katrice Turner (Willunga) bagged two goals in the first quarter to be one of the GSFL’s best.

GORDO’S GRILL

■ Last week we mentioned the strong Morphett Vale connection from years gone by with Paul Crate (SFL coach), Peter Galbraith (GSFL coach) and Dennis Collier (GSFL assistant).

I forgot to add Simon “Robbo’’ Robinson to that mix. Robbo, another Galbraith helper, enjoyed a long career as a coach and player with the Emus.

Morphett Vale Football Club greats Braden Bayly and Simon Robinson. Picture: News Corp

■ A big well done to Paul Crate who stood down as the SFL’s Association coach after Saturday’s game.

Crate, a Mail Medallist, SFL Hall of Fame member and an umpire with at least 350 games, mainly junior in the SFL, has done a superb job helping the Southern league rebuild its standing in Association footy.