Jack Trengove, Andrew Bradley join Kybybolite for local SA footy season 2024

A former AFL captain and former SANFL premiership player have returned to the club where it all began in a huge double swoop ahead of the 2024 local SA footy season.

Two major SA footy names have signed with their junior club ahead of season 2024 in one of the pre-season’s most significant moves so far.

Former AFL captain Jack Trengove and former Glenelg SANFL captain Andrew Bradley will return to Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League club Kybybolite after winning an Adelaide Footy League div one flag with Prince Alfred OC in 2023.

The star midfielders started their careers at the South East club as juniors, winning four straight premierships and playing alongside other big names in Lachie Neale and former AFL forward Alex Forster.

“The main incentive to go back to Kyby was to fulfil a childhood dream of playing senior footy at the place where it all started,” Trengove said.

Jack Trengove in action against Port District. He has joined Kybybolite for season 2024. Picture: Brayden Goldspink

Former Glenelg captain and premiership player Andrew Bradley chaired off after his final SANFL game. He will join Trengove at Kybybolite this year. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

“I never believed it would be achievable until my best mate, Jack Kelly, became coach 12 months ago and that’s when it became more than just an idea.

“To be able to pull on the Kyby guernsey alongside my best childhood mates and give back to the club which gave me my first opportunity in the game is really exciting.”

Trengove, who played 89 AFL games for Melbourne and Port Adelaide, joined PAOC in season 2020 and went on to win a div one Best and Fairest and two premierships with the club.

He was joined by Bradley last season after the SANFL premiership utility retired from Glenelg and they would play a key part in the club’s grand final win over Glenunga.

“The last few years at Princes have been some of the most enjoyable of my football career.

“To win two premierships in three years was more than I could have ever predicted. It’s a fantastic club with a great culture and run by passionate people and I would have loved to go around again for another year but joining Kyby was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

Andrew Bradley (front, second from left) and Jack Trengove (far right) celebrate Prince Alfred OC's 2023 division one flag. Picture: Ann Marie O’Connor

“Brads (Andrew Bradley) and I have spoken about returning to the Tigers since our junior colts days and the running joke of going back has now come true, which we are both really pumped about.”

The Tigers finished bottom of the KNTFL last season and have just hit a 50-year premiership drought.

Trengove said he was eager to help the club taste success again.

“It’s a great group of young guys who are hungry and wanting to learn.

“The goal is always to be as successful as we possibly can and I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to win a premiership in 2024.

Kybybolite 2004 Junior Colts Premiers where Brownlow Medal winner Lachie Neale is pictured second from left in the front row, next to Andrew Bradley (right). Alex Forster (front, far right) and Jack Trengove (middle, fourth from left) are also pictured. Picture: Matt Turner

“Realistically, we finished bottom in 2023 but the team improved rapidly and I’ve been really impressed with how motivated and determined the boys are. We’re not going to put a limit on what we can achieve.”

Kybybolite president Paul Russell said the return of Bradley and Trengove would be a major boost for the club.

“It’s fantastic to have them back. As a club you send your juniors off and hope one day you’ll see them back,” he said.

“As a club it’s going to be huge for us and we’ll see a really big boost in morale among supporters and players.”

The Tigers have started pre-season training with round one set for April 13.