Goodwood Saints win inaugural SANFL Juniors Club of the Year award after years of success

One of SA’s most successful clubs has been recognised by the SANFL for its outstanding achievements in junior football.

Goodwood Saints president Craig Scott, junior football director Andrew Braley, Holly, 8, and Harrison, 11. The club been named the inaugural Club of the Year for juniors by the SANFL. Picture: Morgan Sette

Community and development-based culture are the keys to success for the Goodwood Saints junior football system, according to club junior director Andrew Braley.

The Saints were recognised as the inaugural Club of the Year for juniors by the SANFL on Monday in recognition of the success and development of their up and coming stars.

Goodwood had yet another fantastic year, with their under-12 boys, under-13 girls, under-13 boys, and under-15 girls teams all winning premierships.

Goodwood youngster Brodie Symons has shown great potential this year and will be yet another Saint to watch for the future. Picture: Mardi Graetz

It also saw over 10 of its past or current players play at SANFL league for Sturt and zone club West Adelaide at reserves and under-18s level, namely SA representatives Zac Becker (Double Blues) and Oscar Steene (Bloods).

The SANFL award follows the club’s honour of Sports Junior Club of the Year at the national Good Sports Awards in March.

Braley said being recognised was a credit to everyone involved in the Saints’ junior program.

“I’m really, really proud. Everyone puts so much work in at the club,” Braley said.

“It was fabulous to receive the award – a very humbling experience for all involved.”

Braley, who has been the junior co-ordinator at Goodwood for nine years, has seen the boys and girls programs consistently develop star boys and girls on and off the field.

Goodwood’s Oscar Steene celebrates a goal for South Australia during the 2021 under-19 Championship match between WA and SA at Optus Stadium on September 25. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

He said the culture of the club had been a huge factor in this ongoing success.

“We’ve just got a lot of very good people here who want to be involved and there’s a real culture centred around what it means to be part of a community club, and fairness and respect,” Braley said.

“To know I’ve been part of the success here and to know it’s now worked for so long, it ticks the box for me.

“We do it for the kids at the end of the day and they’ve been fantastic learners and a pleasure to teach.”

One of the more rewarding aspects of the junior director job for Braley has been witnessing the evolution of the girls teams.

The club struggled to field a female side when they started running a girls program in 2014, but now has four junior girls teams and three senior teams.

Goodwood Saints under-15 girls celebrate their 2021 premiership. Picture: Mardi Graetz

“The development of the girls has been astounding. We’ve seen the girls who started with us in the juniors now go on to play senior footy which makes us very proud,” Braley said.

Club president Craig Scott said the SANFL recognition was a testament to the players, as well as the work of Braley and the rest of the junior footballing staff.

“It’s an amazing achievement and recognition of the brilliant work by many people throughout the club,” he said.

“Winning premierships is great but we’ve seen a real culture of development as players and people take place so that our kids can go on and play SANFL or even AFL footy or do big things outside of football.”