Goolwa/Port Elliot in major resurgence for Great Southern Football League 2023
It went winless in 2022 but this local footy club has put together one of SA’s standout offseasons headlined by big-name signings to kick-start a turnaround ahead of season 2023.
Local Sport
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A local SA footy club has begun a major turnaround with a host of strong signings just months after completing a winless season.
The Goolwa/Port Elliot Football Club, which finished with a 0-18 record for the 2022 Great Southern Football League season has announced its intentions to rebound with the recruitment of star Goodwood Saints players Tom Barry, Jacob Hughes and Reece Slape.
Barry – a star midfielder who is a life member at Goodwood – was U18s coach for the club in 2022, Hughes co-captained the Saints’ division one side last season, while superstar half back Slape made multiple SANFL league appearances for South Adelaide this year.
All three players had been at Goodwood since their junior years but will now join former Gaza captain Brett Heinze at the Magpies.
Goolwa/Port Elliot footy director and former Carlton AFL player Barnaby French said the signings would provide the club with a major boost.
“Our strategy has been to get some guys in – good people who can play and also have great leadership qualities,” French said.
“We’ve been lucky enough to get a great group of guys who can travel down and add to the club on and off the field with experience and a strong attitude.”
Despite only winning four games in the last two years at senior level, Goolwa/Port Elliot has seen its culture gradually trend upwards through the preseason, with new clubrooms, lights and a new scoreboard being unveiled along with the club’s new recruits.
French said the lead up to 2023 had signalled a resurgence for the Magpies.
“We have a very strong juniors and senior colts program – we’ve got 38 players below the age of 23 – but we identified that we needed inspiration for that younger group and for the older guys battling to keep the seniors competitive,” he said.
“The new guys are all fantastic people and have definitely injected some excitement into the club. The young players are really going to learn off of them as well which is huge for us because at the end of the day we want our youth to stay at the club.
“To be able to combine these guys with new coach Scott Prebble – who has a lot of experience at SANFL level and with Rambler in the River Murray Football League – has us all very excited for what the future can bring.”
The Magpies’ latest moves have added to an already strong talent pool in the GSFL, with West Coast premiership player Jack Redden joining Willunga, former Melbourne and Collingwood gun Ben Kennedy continuing with Myponga/Sellicks and an undefeated McLaren team aiming for a second straight flag.
“You’d have to say the league rivals the best amateur leagues in the state – it’s a super strong competition and it’s becoming more attractive to players because it isn’t far from town,” French said.
“The challenge is big because of this but we’re ultimately hoping we can build some belief back in the senior side and implement a sustainable plan for future success.
“We’ve got a big chance to really build now and give our supporters and community a boost.”
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