Division two through to seven clubs ready for round one of Adelaide Footy League season

Clubs in divisions two through to seven of the Adelaide Footy League will start their 2018 campaigns this weekend. Messenger Community News has spoken to teams from each tier about how they’re shaping up.

Golden Grove's Connor Dodd tries to tackle Brighton's John McPherson during last season’s division three grand final. Both clubs have been promoted to the second tier this season. Picture: AAP Image/Matt Loxton.

• O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale joins Adelaide Footy League from SFL
• Rams winless with 198-point average losing margin
• Brighton’s move to amateurs pays off with grand final berth
• Ex-Fitzroy AFL wingman wants to help junior club win flag – at 43

Divisions two through to seven kick off across the Adelaide Footy League this weekend.

We have spoken to at least one club in each division to preview the competition.

Division one begins next weekend.

DIVISION TWO

* Last season’s result in brackets

■ Brighton (promoted, division three premier)

■ Broadview (eighth)

■ Gaza (elimination final)

■ Golden Grove (promoted, division three runner-up)

■ Old Ignatians (seventh)

■ PHOS Camden (preliminary final)

■ Sacred Heart Old Collegians (semi-final)

■ Salisbury North (demoted, bottom in division one)

■ St Peter’s Old Collegians (demoted, second-bottom in division one)

■ Unley Mercedes Jets (sixth)

SALISBURY North will not contest the top flight of the Adelaide Footy League for the first time since 2002 but coach Gavin Chaplin says the club is determined to bounce back up.

The Hawks have a host of players returning and will go into Saturday’s opening match against Unley Mercedes Jets as serious contenders for the flag.

“It’s certainly something different for the club to be in division two, but that’s where it takes us so we’ve got some work to do to get back into division one,” Chaplin says.

“We’ve had some guys return to the club, about 10 or 11 that are Salisbury North juniors, which is really positive for the club.”

The list of ins includes former Central District youngsters Kyle Broadwood, Jake Russo and Jordan Boyle.

“They’re all Salisbury North juniors and have had a taste of the SANFL system and are now coming back to the club better for it,” Chaplin says.

“Paul Driver and Nick Clayton are also back at the club, plus Joel Cochrane from Tea Tree Gully.”

Chaplin, who was an assistant coach at Central District for 14 years before becoming Hawks coach in 2016, says he is going into the unknown playing against a number of clubs the Hawks have not faced during his time at the helm.

Salisbury North would have finished eighth last season and survived relegation had it not been for sanctions imposed by the league.

The Hawks were deducted points during the season following a string of on-field misdemeanours.

But Chaplin is adamant discipline at the club is back on track.

“It wasn’t a great way to go down but we brought that upon ourselves and we’ve got to work through that with the league,” he says.

“We’re in a good position now, we’ve got a new footy committee with a couple of really senior guys on it who have the club in good stead.

Salisbury North’s Jordan Boyle, coach Gavin Chaplin and Jake Russo. Picture: AAP Image/Roy Vandervegt.

“Going forward I think it looks really, really bright.”

Sacred Heart coach Andrew Underwood says ensuring his players stay fit and injury-free is the key to securing a finals berth in division two this season.

SHOC finished sixth last year, one win outside the major round.

Underwood said his side’s depth had been tested following the loss of four key players – and this put paid to mounting a real shot at the flag.

“Injuries play a big part in amateur footy and we had a run of injuries to our senior players last year,” Underwood said.

“That really hurt us.

“We lost four of our tall players for pretty much the whole year.

“So this year is about keeping everyone together and really fit, improving the skill set and getting more game time into some of the younger players.”

Brighton is a newcomer to division two after earning promotion with its division three grand final win over Golden Grove last season.

Brighton players celebrate a goal in last season’s division three grand final versus Golden Grove. Picture: AAP Image/Matt Loxton.

Bombers coach Joel Tucker expected this season to be a challenge.

“We had a really good start to our first year (in the amateur league) with winning the flag,” Tucker said.

Now the challenge facing the Bombers is to “find our pecking order again and see how we go against the better clubs”.

Unley Mercedes Jets starts their campaign against Salisbury North away.

The Jets just missed out on playing finals last year and coach Kane Stewart said the players had been working hard over summer to ensure a top-five berth.

“We are pretty young side still, but with the right development I think we can get back to playing finals,” Stewart said.

DIVISION THREE

* Last season’s result in brackets

■ Flinders Park (elimination final)

■ Morphettville Park (promoted, division four runner-up)

■ North Haven (promoted, division four premier)

■ Pembroke Old Scholars (demoted, bottom in division two)

■ Plympton (semi-final)

■ Portland (seventh)

■ Scotch Old Collegians (demoted, second-bottom in division two)

■ Seaton Ramblers (preliminary final)

■ Walkerville (eighth)

■ Westminster Old Scholars (sixth)

LOSING consecutive nailbiting finals still stings Seaton Ramblers coach Matt Webber.

The Ramblers finished second after the minor round in the Adelaide Footy League’s division three last season before winning the qualifying final then falling in the semi and preliminary finals by a combined seven points.

“We had a tight preliminary final and also had a tight second semi,” Webber said.

“We had one foot in the grand final and we didn’t get there.

“Everyone’s motivated to go that bit better this year.”

Seaton kicks off its 2018 campaign at home to Flinders Park this Saturday.

The Ramblers have lost Jarrad Brusnahan, Jordan Tonkin and Billy Goodwin (all to Woodville South) but have recruited ex-Crows rookie Tim Milera (Eyre United), Cameron Wild (Western United) and Matthew Johncock (Noarlunga).

Seaton’s Shane Harris gets his kick away against Plympton in a match last year. Picture: Jayson Vowles.

Pembroke Old Scholars coach Tim Hart will focus on player development after getting demoted from the second tier.

The Kings begin their campaign against Morphettville Park this Saturday.

Hart said he had a young list and would not get caught up with a making this year all about earning promotion.

“We’ve got quite a lot of young players who have joined us from the school and we are looking to them to make their mark as they grow in experience and settle into playing against men,” Hart said.

“Obviously you’d like to improve as quickly as possible.

“What we are about, though, is trying to ensure that we are developing our players, that we are providing a good club culture.

“Obviously if we get the processes right, then the wins will come and wherever we finally finish will be a true reflection of our efforts.”

Hart said the club had not picked up any big-name recruits but expected old scholars including on-baller Jake Webster, defender Matthew Robinson and utility Ned Kennett to impress.

“They will all add a level of enthusiasm, skill and just a real desire to get the most out of themselves,” he said.

DIVISION FOUR

* Last season’s result in brackets

■ Colonel Light Gardens (eighth)

■ Eastern Park (preliminary final)

■ Edwardstown (seventh)

■ Gepps Cross (elimination final)

■ Glenunga (promoted, division five premier)

■ Kilburn (semi-final)

■ Mitcham (demoted, second-bottom in division three)

■ Pooraka (promoted, division five runner-up)

■ Salisbury (sixth)

■ SMOSH West Lakes (demoted, bottom in division three)

SMOSH West Lakes coach Shaun Glacken is determined to steer his side back to division three after getting relegated at the end of last season.

The Lions finished bottom in Glacken’s first campaign at the helm.

He said injuries marred the season.

“Our goal is to go straight back up,” Glacken said.

“There’s a really good energy around the club.”

Kobe Broome (pictured flying for the mark) has joined SMOSH West Lakes from Port District. Picture AAP/Mark Brake.

The Lions’ recruits include Kobe Broome (Port District), Aiden Broome (Queensland), Ryan and Brodie Haylock (Yorke Peninsula) and Gilbert Fishook (Portland).

James Watt (Sturt) and Nick Madden (Central District) headline the departures.

SMOSH starts its season away to Colonel Light Gardens on Saturday.

DIVISION FIVE

* Last season’s result in brackets

■ Blackfriars Old Scholars (elimination final)

■ CBC Old Collegians (preliminary final)

■ Hectorville (demoted, second-bottom in division four)

■ Hope Valley (sixth)

■ Ingle Farm (promoted, division six runner-up)

■ Kenilworth (eighth)

■ Lockleys (semi-final)

■ Pulteney (promoted, division six premier)

■ Smithfield (demoted, bottom in division four)

■ Woodville South (seventh)

ADDING a women’s team and working to establish juniors are part of Pulteney’s plan to become successful long term.

But the division five club’s immediate future will be determined by how it adapts to division five after earning promotion and winning the sixth-tier premiership last season.

“We’re an inner city club so we can attract uni students and we get a lot of country people wanting to play coming to us,” Pulteney coach Will James said.

“But we needed to look at building on our club and the first step is we’ve got a women’s team this year for the first time and we’re working on juniors.

“We want to build a junior club otherwise we won’t be sustainable.

“We want to be a team that not only aims to play finals each year but win them as well.

“And I think we’re in a good spot to do that.”

James said the club had retained the bulk of last year’s premiership squad and had recruited well.

Former Norwood forward Tom Langford headlines the signings after joining from division one club Payneham Norwood Union, while Jared Polec’s brother, Daniel, has come across from O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale and Kurt Linder arrives from Victor Harbor.

Shane Cooke, Pulteney’s 2017 runner-up best and fairest, and Tom Laity are the most notable departure, moving to fellow division five team Lockleys and Melbourne respectively.

Ex-Gaza and Modbury division one coach Nathan Grainger has joined Blackfriars Old Scholars. Picture: Stephen Laffer.

Full-forward Daniel Nicholson has retired.

Pulteney starts the season with a grand final rematch against Ingle Farm away.

Blackfriars Old Scholars will be seeking to improve on its elimination final exit after appointing former division one mentor Nathan Grainger as coach.

Granger steered Gaza to the top-flight premiership in 2011 and coached Modbury in division one last year.

He replaces Aleks Bojanic.

The Hounds begin their campaign at home to Lockleys this Saturday.

DIVISION SIX

* Last season’s result in brackets

■ Adelaide Lutheran (promoted, division seven premier)

■ Brahma Lodge (semi-final)

■ Elizabeth (preliminary final)

■ Fitzroy (eighth)

■ Greenacres (demoted, second-bottom in division five)

■ Para Hills (promoted, division seven runner-up)

■ Rosewater (demoted, bottom in division five)

■ Salisbury West (sixth)

■ Trinity Old Scholars (elimination final)

■ West Croydon (seventh)

ELIZABETH is aiming to go at least one step better in division six this season.

The Eagles finished second on the ladder at the end of the 2017 minor round before sustaining a 55-point smashing by Ingle Farm.

Elizabeth coach David Rogers was hopeful his side could improve this year.

“It was a disappointing way to go out and fall that one game short, but it’s a young group so we’ll be better for the experience,” Rogers said.

Elizabeth coach David Rogers. Picture: Matt Loxton.

“It’s been a strong pre-season and we’ve been able to put another year into some up-and-coming players.

“The numbers are really positive as well and we’re ready to go against Trinity in round one.”

Elizabeth is at home to Trinity this Saturday to start its campaign.

DIVISION SEVEN

* Last season’s result in brackets

■ Central United (seventh)

■ Flinders University (eighth)

■ Golden Grove (new)

■ Houghton (demoted, bottom in division six)

■ Marion (bottom in Southern Football League)

■ Mawson Lakes (demoted, second-bottom in division six)

■ Mitchell Park (semi-final)

■ O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale (second-bottom in Southern Football League)

■ St Paul’s Old Scholars (elimination final)

■ Tea Tree Gully (preliminary final)

O’SULLIVAN Beach/Lonsdale officials are excited to start the journey into the Adelaide Footy League this Saturday and are confident the club can be competitive.

Lions members voted in September to move the club’s senior teams from the Southern Football League to the amateurs’ division seven because they were sick of suffering thrashings.

The club had won just 12 of its past 76 A-grade games in the SFL and boasted an average losing margin of 137 points last season.

Lions football manager Shane Clark said hosting Central United at Lonsdale Oval on Saturday was the beginning of a new chapter for the club.

“The committee and all the members are excited to see what the amateurs brings,” Clark said.

“It’s certainly changed our culture as a football club because people are coming to trainings with expectations.

“There is an opportunity to be competitive and maybe win a few games.

“We don’t want to have blowouts of 20 or 30 goals anymore.

“Hopefully we can make finals.”

Clark was not concerned about the extra distance members had to travel to play northern clubs Central United, Mawson Lakes, Tea Tree Gully, Golden Grove, St Paul’s Old Scholars and Houghton.

“Our selling point to any potential players is we spend six days with decent travel and the other three games (against Marion, Mitchell Park and Flinders University) are relatively close anyway,” he said.

Cameron Watts celebrates a goal for Marion last season. Picture: Stephen Laffer.

“We certainly don’t know a lot about the league but are looking forward to the challenges that it brings.”

O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale’s key recruits include Trevor and Adam Rigney (McLaren), Daniel Loveridge (Morphett Vale) Jeff Lines (Nairne).

Daniel Polec (Pulteney) has departed.

“Our numbers have dramatically increased,” Clark said.

O’Sullivan Beach/Lonsdale’s juniors are continuing in the SFL.

Marion has also made the move from the SFL to division seven this year.

Rams coach Ben Porter said the club was in the right division and players were looking forward to a fresh start.

Tightening up the side’s defence was the main priority ahead of its round one clash with Mitchell Park at home this Saturday.

“It’s an opportunity to start again as a football club,” Porter said.

“Obviously one of our issues was we would concede a lot of goals last year, so we have looked at strengthening our back half.”