Ex-West Coast winger Malcolm Karpany rejects chance to go back to Woodville-West Torrens, instead signing with South Adelaide

Former West Coast Eagle Malcolm Karpany is keen to make his mark at South Adelaide after signing with the Panthers last month.

New South Adelaide recruit Malcolm Karpany is keen to be a Panther.
Picture: Supplied

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MALCOLM Karpany says he will always have a “soft spot” for his original SANFL club, Woodville-West Torrens.

But it wasn’t enough to pull him back after West Coast delisted him in October.

The talented winger/forward, keen for a fresh start, opted instead to sign with South Adelaide.

“I will always have a soft spot for Woodville, they were my club growing up – I played my under-16s, 18s and also a few league games there before I was drafted,” Karpany, 23, says.

“But I just thought a bit of a change, new scenery and new people would be good, so I decided to take up the offer with South.

“I also knew (South) coach Jarrad Wright from the time I spent with Woodville.

“He was the reserves coach, and I played two games under him, so it has made the transition a bit easier.”

Ex-West Coast Eagle Malcolm Karpany will play in the SANFL with South Adelaide in 2019 after being axed by the Eagles. Picture: Michael Klein

Karpany was selected by West Coast with pick No. 31 at the 2013 national draft, but it took him until 2016 to make his debut – a 19-point loss to Collingwood in round 19.

He then only managed only six more AFL games for the Eagles before a knee injury derailed much of his 2018 campaign.

Karpany said he enjoyed his time with the reigning premiers and learnt valuable life lessons from being in an AFL environment.

“It’s always disappointing and obviously I would’ve wanted my AFL career to go on a bit longer,” Karpany, of West Beach, says.

“But that’s life, that’s footy, you just have to move on.

“Although I wasn't playing, it was good to be part of that excitement of that grand final win.

“I am definitely grateful for the opportunities I had … going straight from high school at Rostrevor College to living interstate, I learnt to grow up pretty quick.

“The club provided me with so much in terms of basic living and what it takes to be a professional athlete.”

Former West Coast winger Malcolm Karpany is showered with gatorade by teammates after the Eagles beat the Bulldogs in 2017. Karpany will feature with South Adelaide in 2019 after being delisted by the Eagles. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Karpany, who hopes to pursue a career off the football field mentoring youths, says Panthers fans can expect him to bring run and carry to the side.

“I’m looking forward to bringing my skills and some excitement to the team,” he says.

“Wherever the coach needs me to play, I’ll give 110 per cent, I just want to play my role for the team.”

Karpany’s former West Coast teammate and SA product Luke Partington was also delisted and would line up with Glenelg next SANFL season.