Every major local SA footy player movement so far for 2022-2023 revealed
A former AFL superstar highlights the latest player movements this local SA footy season. See every big move across the state from the past week.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Welcome to ‘New recruits’ – a weekly wrap of all the major player transfers in local SA footy.
Each week of the offseason The Messenger will wrap up the big movements across the state, including all country and suburban competitions.
We have seen some big moves so far, with former AFL and SANFL stars as well as local guns joining new clubs.
Here are the player moves through the past week.
ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE
Jed Russell (Birdwood to Athelstone)
Brandon Ashby, Jake Westover (Athelstone)
Connor O’Brien (Orroroo to Athelstone)
Todd Culley (Gaza to PHOS Camden)
Sam McGill (PHOS Camden)
Daniel Cluse, Aaron Stewart (Athelstone to Modbury)
Ben Currie (Lobethal to Henley)
Josh Miller (Unley Mercedes Jets)
Matt Richards (Greenacres to Gaza)
Eric Rigney (Gaza)
Ben Taylor, Jarrad Upton (Central United)
James Richards, Dan Richards (Mallala to Elizabeth)
Harry Ellbourn (Para Hills to Kilburn)
Kyle O’Toole (Kilburn)
Jai Kovatseff (Hope Valley to Eastern Park)
Another busy week in the Adelaide Footy League saw Athelstone guns Daniel Cluse and Aaron Stewart depart for division three side Modbury.
Both players had represented the Raggies for multiple years and should provide a boost to the midfield and forward ranks of the Hawks.
The Raggies did some business of their own however, signing 2022 Birdwood best and fairest winner Jed Russell.
PHOS Camden has also made multiple moves, headlined by 2022 captain Todd Culley, a gun mid who has also spent time at Glenelg.
BAROSSA, LIGHT & GAWLER FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Lachlan Webb (Payneham Norwood Union to Barossa District)
Ruckman Lachy Webb has left PNU to join Barossa District, a move which should prove handy for the BLG club.
Webb produced another solid season as big man for the Falcons and was named among the club’s best in five of his 12 appearances.
GREAT SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Michael Ross (Victor Harbor)
Former Victor Harbor player Michael Ross has returned after time away from the club,
The gun forward is coming off of a big season for Kangarilla in the Hills Football League, booting 62 goals in 18 games.
HILLS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Tyson Hone (Sturt to Mount Lofty)
Ned Grieve (Angaston to Torrens Valley)
Tyson Hone has joined Mount Lofty after a three-year stint in Sturt’s reserves, having won a best and fairest for the Double Blues.
The small forward fits a need for his new side and should put together some standout performances through 2023.
KOWREE NARACOORTE TATIARA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Dylan Schoenmakers, Isaac Hewson (Tea Tree Gully to Border Districts)
Gabriel Burdern (Rostrevor OC to Border Districts)
Zac Richards (Echunga to Border Districts)
The Border Districts Football Club has been busy through the past week, signing multiple players for next season.
It has picked up three players from the Adelaide Footy League as well as Echunga’s Zac Richards.
Schoenmakers and Hewson have shown quality for Tea Tree Gully and now look to impact in the HFL, while Burdern and Richards will be hoping to establish themselves as must-picks in their new side.
MID SOUTH EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Cory Gamble (Encounter Bay to Mount Burr)
Brady Marshall (Padthaway to Nangwarry)
Jake Biggs (East Gambier to Nangwarry)
Midfielder Cory Gamble headlines the moves in the MSEFL this week, the former Glenelg player and Encounter Bay gun joining Mount Burr after another strong year with the Eagles.
Gamble tallied eight best player nods in 17 Great Southern FL appearances.
Nangwarry has also been active as it looks to push up the ladder in season 2023.
PORT LINCOLN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Seith Nassif (Pinnaroo to Tasman)
Nassif joins Tasman after the Mallee FL’s disbandment.
He was a standout midfielder for Pinnaroo last season, booting 12 goals and being named among the side’s best in six of his 17 games.
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Sam Jacobs (Flagstaff Hill)
Nick Bailey (Murrayville to Flagstaff Hill)
Zak Couvaras (Kangarilla to Flagstaff Hill)
Tain Smelt (Edwardstown to Happy Valley)
Former star Adelaide Crows ruck Sam Jacobs has been one of the biggest pickups in local SA footy so far this offseason and is part of a number of big-name SFL signings.
The multiple showdown-medal winning big man is joined by former Murrayville captain Zak Couvaras and Zak Couvaras who returns to the Falcons after time at Kangarilla.
RIVERLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Aedan Lyon (Ports to Barmera-Monash)
Lyon joins Barmera-Monash after a successful year at Ports behind and on the ball.
He tallied five best player appearances in 13 games and also played interleague football for the Eastern Eyre in 2022.
YORKE PENINSULA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Dylan Aldridge (Prop/Risdon to Moonta)
Nick Hewett (Broughton Mundoora to Moonta)
Jamie Wegener (Gawler Central to Southern Eagles)
Spencer Gulf star Dylan Aldridge has left Proprietary/Risdon in the SGFL to join Moonta in one of the big moves this week.
The talented forward – who has spent time in the Northern Territory and also played two league games for Port Adelaide last season – booted 56 goals in 17 games last season and was among his side’s best 10 times.
He should provide a major boost to Moonta’s troops in 2023.
See below for previous local SA footy signings through the offseason so far.
Week one
Week two
Week three
Week four
Ranked: Top 25 Great Southern Football League players of the 21st Century
The Great Southern Football League has been stacked with talent throughout the 21st Century so we’ve ranked the best of the best. See our top 25 players of the past 25 years.
Read more
Search for the next Konstas: The guns flying at U17 nationals
NSW Metro skipper Yash Deshmukh spun his side to victory in a player of the match display in Thursday’s under-17 male national cricket championships final over Queensland. Get the full wrap up of the tournament at Launceston here.
Read more