Former Glenelg captain Andrew Bradley joins Prince Alfred OC in Adelaide Footy League

A SANFL premiership player and 200-gamer has joined a division one Adelaide Footy League club as it retools for another premiership run.

A former Glenelg captain and 2019 premiership player has signed with a division one Adelaide Footy League club just weeks after retiring from the SANFL.

Andrew Bradley – who played 200 games and won two best and fairests with the Bays – has joined Prince Alfred Old Collegians for season 2023.

It is the Old Reds’ first major move in the offseason after losing the 2022 grand final against Port District.

The gun defender said he was looking forward to lining up with old Glenelg teammates at the club.

“It’s about mateship for me I think, I’m good friends with coach Craig Pitt, Chris Curran and Adam Perryman through Glenelg and I was really good friends with Trengove growing up, so I’m excited to play alongside them,” Bradley said.

“I’ve got two young kids at home now so I was pretty keen to just get back to a more easygoing approach to the game and playing with a few blokes I haven’t played with for a few years.”

Andrew Bradley is chaired off following his 200th game for Glenelg – last season’s SANFL elimination final against Sturt. Picture: SANFL/David Mariuz

Bradley enjoyed a successful career at Glenelg, winning an U18s premiership before captaining the league side from 2015 to 2018 and winning the 2019 premiership to go along with his two club best and fairest awards.

While the 30-year-old enjoyed his time with the club, he had been excited by the prospect of a more relaxing preparation for game days.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Glenelg, it’s like a second home to me.

“After 17 years I’ve made some great friendships and to be able to enjoy that success in the latter stages, especially the 2019 premiership, has been one of the highlights of my life.

“I’m now at the stage of my life where the flexibility would be great though – I loved game days at SANGL level but the Monday to Friday was getting a bit harder to juggle, so I’m looking forward to taking a step back and having some more flexibility.”

Former Glenelg player and new Prince Alfred OC recruit Andrew Bradley with wife Jordana and two young children Isabelle and Oliver. Picture: Tom Huntley

Bradley will be set to slot into Princes’ back half alongside Curran and Perryman, improving the side significantly.

While team success was at the top of his priority list, he also believed he could provide more experience and footy smarts to the club as it prepared for another grand final run in division one.

“They’ve definitely been a really strong team and I feel like I can really add to that.”

“I’ve played at SANFL league level for 13 years now and I’ve learned a fair bit – I’m looking to bring that experience and I know I can still play some really good footy.

“I’m looking forwarding to contributing in any way possible and also working closely with Pitty (Craig Pitt) – he’s a smart footy brain and it will be good to see how he works at a coaching level.”