Local SA footy new coaches and current vacancies for season 2023
Local SA footy pre-season has kicked off and many teams are preparing for season 2023 under new head coaches. See every new appointment and the current vacancies across the state.
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Pre-season has kicked off in local SA footy and a number of new coaches have taken over at their new clubs ahead of an exciting 2023 season.
As clubs prepare for the year ahead, we’ve listed every new senior coach as well as the clubs which currently have a vacancy.
See our list below.
ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE
NEW COACHES
Andrew Zobel (Adelaide Lutheran)
Matt Leigh (Brahma Lodge)
Brett Simpson (CBC OC)
Stephen Zweck (Colonel Light Gardens)
Troy Treverton (Eastern Park)
Josh Gould (Flinders Park)
Ben Bamford (Greenacres)
Luke McCracken (Henley)
Carey Payne (Ingle Farm)
Peter Diamandopoulos (Kenilworth)
Matt Whelan (Kilburn)
Mark Kamenic (Mitchell Park)
Brad Harper (Morphettville Park)
Daryl Spencer (Old Ignatians)
Michael Dean (OSB Lonsdale)
Craig Forby (Para Hills)
Brian Leys (Portland)
Damian Boots (Rostrevor OC)
Lynton Pitman (St Paul’s OS)
Michael Barker (St Peter’s OC)
Jason De Luca (Scotch OC)
Craig Smith (Seaton Ramblers)
Joshua Considine (Smithfield)
Nick Harnas (SMOSH West Lakes)
Justin Maschotta (Tea Tree Gully)
Zeb Kenny (Westminster OS)
Jarrad Cattermole (Woodville South)
CLUBS SEARCHING
Hectorville
A host of coaching changes have taken place within the Adelaide Footy League ahead of season 2023 including the return of Tea Gree Gully premiership coach Justin Maschotta after time with Central District and the move of former Old Ignatians coach Damian Boots to Rostrevor Old Collegians.
Former West Adelaide and Blackwood man Luke McCracken has also joined the competition’s second division, signing as Henley Sharks coach.
ADELAIDE PLAINS FL
NEW COACHES
Jarred Allmond (United)
Wayne Knowles (Virginia)
CLUBS SEARCHING
Hamley Bridge
Former Woodville-West Torrens SANFL league player Jarred Allmond has joined United Football Club as it aims to rebound from another winless season in the Adelaide Plains Football League while Wayne Knowles joins Virginia.
The Hamley Bridge Bombers are still on the lookout for a coach after finishing second bottom in 2022.
BAROSSA LIGHT & GAWLER FA
NEW COACHES
Craig Hadden (Angaston)
Shane Dawe (Gawler Central)
Damien Herzick (Willaston)
EASTERN EYRE FL
NEW COACHES
Kym Martens (Cowell)
Aseri Raikiwasa (Ports)
Ports superstar Aseri Raikiwasa has taken the reins as playing-coach in 2023 after helping his side to back-to-back premierships in 2021 and 2022.
The former Port Adelaide SANFL league player has been a dominant force in the Eastern Eyre Football League.
GREAT FLINDERS FL
NEW COACHES
Thomas Phelps (Cummins Kapinnie)
Neville Stratford (Eyre United)
GREAT SOUTHERN FL
NEW COACHES
Chad Simmons (Yankalilla)
A former SANFL league assistant coach with Sturt and Norwood, Chad Simmons will take the coaching job at Yankalilla after the Tigers managed only two wins last year.
Simmons has won multiple premierships with both the Double Blues and Redlegs.
HILLS FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NEW COACHES
Rian Nelson (Birdwood)
Kieran Sporn (Blackwood)
Darren Vanzetta (Echunga)
Mark Weaver (Gumeracha)
Joe Hargreaves (Ironbank Cherry Gardens)
Sam Heeps (Kangarilla)
Trevor Jenkin (Lobethal)
Dale Eichner (Nairne Bremer)
Matt Down (Uraidla Districts)
Joe Hargreaves has signed as Ironbank Cherry Gardens coach for 2023 as the club sets out on its last ever season before amalgamating with Bridgewater Callington for 2024.
Trevor Jenkin will also take over at Lobethal after superstar playing-coach Aidan Riley decided to step down from the role.
Riley led the Tigers to their first premiership in 20 years last season.
KANGAROO ISLAND FL
CLUBS SEARCHING
Western Districts
KOWREE NARACOORTE TATIARA FL
NEW COACHES
Lewis Hender (Keith)
Sean Jackson (Kingston)
Jack Kelly (Kybybolite)
Former North Adelaide superstar Lewis Hender has signed as Keith Crows coach after the departure of George Thring to Pembroke Old Scholars.
The former Roosters leading goalkicker said he was thrilled to be able to coach his local club in season 2023 as it aims for a premiership after losing out to Lucindale last year.
MID SOUTH EASTERN FL
NEW COACHES
Al Lyon (Kalangadoo)
Shane Raymond (Nangwarry)
Josh Woodall (Port MacDonnell)
Nathan Brown (Robe)
NORTHERN AREAS FA
NEW COACHES
Greg Andrews (Jamestown/Peterborough)
Tom Motton (Orroroo)
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Southern Flinders
Southern Flinders remains on the search for a new coach after bowing out in last year’s NAFA finals campaign.
The Tigers disappointingly lost a preliminary final to Orroroo by 58 points.
NORTH EASTERN FL
NEW COACHES
Rob Pratt (Blyth/Snowtown)
PORT LINCOLN FL
NEW COACHES
Johann Wagner (Lincoln South)
Jake Stoll (Tasman)
Johann Wagner – a former Port Adelaide listed player and a country footy goalkicking machine – will coach Lincoln South after a dominant stretch on the field for Cummins Kapinnie in the Great Flinders Football League.
Wagner played junior football at the club.
RIVERLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NEW COACHES
Fraser Sampson (Barmera Monash)
Michael Kilsby (Waikerie)
RIVERLAND INDEPENDENT FL
NEW COACHES
Max Blanck (Berri)
Jeremy Miatke (Browns’ Well)
Dallas Willersdorf (Murrayville)
Max Blanck (Paringa)
RIVER MURRAY FL
NEW COACHES
Adam Moller (Coorong Cats)
Brett Todd (Imperials)
Adam Klun (Mallee Districts)
Stevie Sumner Sr (Mypolonga)
Nathan Star (Tailem Bend)
Adam Moller remains in the River Murray Football League to coach the Coorong Cats, one of the competition’s new sides for 2023.
Moller was senior coach of Meningie in seasons 2021 and 2022 and before that spent time playing at Prince Alfred Old Collegians and as an opposition analyst for Fremantle.
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NEW COACHES
Scott Rose (Aldinga)
Zane Kirkwood (Flagstaff Hill)
Andrew Jarman (Port Noarlunga)
Brendan McKeough (Reynella)
CLUBS SEARCHING
Happy Valley
Zane Kirkwood is the latest big name to take a coaching role in the SFL, the dual Magarey Medallist taking over at Flagstaff Hill for 2o23.
He joins new Port Noarlunga coach and SA footy icon Andrew Jarman as another major figure to take his talents to the competition.
Kirkwood spent last season at Kapunda with former Sturt teammate Sam Colquhoun.
SPENCER GULF FL
NEW COACHES
Jamie McNamara (Port)
Michael Curley (West Augusta)
WESTERN BORDER FL
NEW COACHES
Keith Ransom and Jake Dowdy (East Gambier)
WESTERN EYRE FL
NEW COACHES
Locky McInnis (West Coast Hawks)
CLUBS SEARCHING
Thevenard
WHYALLA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NEW COACHES
David Atkinson (North Whyalla)
CLUBS SEARCHING
South Whyalla
YORKE PENINSULA FL
NEW COACHES
Sam Trengove (Bute)
Mat Creeper (CMS Crows)
Greg Clarke (Kadina)
Corey Smelt (Wallaroo)
Bute favourite Sam Trengove will be playing-coach of the club this coming season in the Yorke Peninsula FL.
Mat Creeper has also joined the competition as CMS Crows coach after a successful stint as Norwood coach in SANFLW.
Creeper has a strong resume after assistant coaching Collingwood’s 2020 AFLW side.
He was named SANFLW coach of the year for 2021.
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