Former Crows, West Adelaide player Jono Beech joins Barmera-Monash for season 2024

A former Crow has signed with his hometown club ahead of the 2024 local SA footy season after retiring from SANFL level.

A former Crow and SANFL star has joined his hometown club ahead of the 2024 local SA footy season.

Strong-marking forward Jono Beech, who played three AFL games for the Crows between 2016 and 2017 and booted 148 goals in 129 SANFL games for West Adelaide, has joined Riverland FL club Barmera-Monash.

The 33-year-old talisman made the decision to retire from West Adelaide and SANFL football at the end of the 2023 season and said he was excited to return to his hometown club.

“I really enjoyed my time at West Adelaide. I was only 16 or 17 when I got there but now I’ve got some lifelong mates and the club is like a second family for me,” Beech said.

Former Adelaide Crows and West Adelaide forward Jono Beech has joined Barmera-Monash. Picture: Sarah Reed

“I guess I still felt I wanted to play some footy and get back to the Riverland at some point so that was big reason behind returning to Barmera-Monash.

“My sister and brother recently moved back, my wife’s family is from the Riverland and I’ve got a lot of mates at the club, especially Chris Bonney who is also from West Adelaide, so I’m really excited.”

The club is fresh off of an upset 2023 grand final win over hot favourite Renmark and will be confident of putting a back-to-back run together after adding Beech.

Beech was looking forward to adding to a positive winning culture.

“They’ve got a really great culture going and obviously coming off of a flag is great for the club,” he said.

Beech retired from West Adelaide and the SANFL at the end of last season. Picture: David Mariuz

“The club has a real focus on wellbeing and player welfare which I a really important thing for me.

“I’m just ready to go and looking forward to bringing that game and training day leadership to the field, especially for the younger guys.”

Beech should be one of the premier forwards in the Riverland Football League this coming season and adds to an already strong Barmera-Monash line-up.

While he believed remaining level-headed would be important, he admitted going back-to-back would be the objective for his new side.

“I’m just looking forward to getting back and enjoying playing with my mates but it would be nice to win another one for the club.

“With what the group has been doing, we’re in a strong position and it would be pretty awesome to go all the way again.”