Former Glenelg and Sturt forward Matthew Duldig announced as new SANFL general manager of football
A former Glenelg and Sturt spearhead is set to guide the future of the SANFL in one of the state’s key football jobs.
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Matthew Duldig grew up playing in the SANFL, has lived and breathed country footy and the former Glenelg and Sturt spearhead will now guide the future of the league in one of the state’s key football jobs.
Duldig, who played 167 games at the Tigers and Double Blues, was announced as the SANFL’s new general manager of football on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old replaces Adam Kelly, who resigned in December after he was appointed head of football at the Adelaide Crows.
Duldig will oversee all football competitions and programs delivered by the SANFL across the state, including the state league.
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His appointment comes as no surprise after serving as the SANFL’s head of community football and community football manager the past four years.
Duldig believed his 12-year SANFL playing career, time pulling the boots on in country leagues and work in administration running community football would hold him in good stead for the role.
“I’m an SA boy and I’ve grown up playing in the competition so I’m really passionate about where it goes,” said Duldig.
“I’ve lived and breathed it for a long-time.
“We’ve got the best state league competition in any sport around Australia but then from a community perspective there’s over 55,000 club participants.
“So I’m going to have a really strong focus on both pillars, because if you get both right there’s a significant flow on effect.”
Duldig, a popular figure at the league and its clubs, kicked 336 goals across seven seasons at Glenelg and five with Sturt.
He said he would aim to move the game forward in the state, while respecting the proud history of the SANFL.
“We’ve been through a lot of change in the last 10 years … and there will be a bit of stability in the SANFL competition because it is really healthy at the moment,” he said.
“That’s evidenced when we get healthy attendances at our home and away matches but then we’re averaging 40,000 (people) at our grand finals the past three years.
“It’s important that we continue to push the game forward so the SANFL remains in the hearts and minds of South Australians.”
Duldig first worked at the SANFL in 2010 as football operations manager and then spent three years as a development officer with the Adelaide Football Club.
SANFL chief executive Jake Parkinson said the role attracted a large and diverse field of high calibre applicants from both within SA and interstate.
“After a rigorous recruitment process, Matt emerged as the best candidate for the role as a result of his outstanding breadth of football knowledge, strong connections across football and leadership experience,” Parkinson said.
patrick.keam@news.com.au