Local SA footy’s top 20 moments of season 2022 ranked
SA’s local footy season is done and dusted and we’ve ranked all the best moments for 2022 from across the state. From stunning screamers to broken droughts, watch the highlights.
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SA’s local footy season is over and what a year it was.
Competitions throughout the state saw thrilling finishes, drought breaking results, amazing goals, spectacular marks and major milestones as the best local players battled it out each week.
To celebrate the season that was we’ve ranked the top 20 moments – see what made the cut from no. 20 to 1.
20. LATE FATHER HONOURED WITH SPECIAL GOAL
In one of local SA footy’s most emotional moments this year, Central United player Nathan Addison dedicated a goal after the siren to father and club legend Michael Addison after his shock passing.
Michael Addison died unexpectedly from unknown causes aged 62 earlier this year and the club paid tribute to him on the following game day, defeating Para Hills 118-53 in division six.
Nathan took a late mark at the end of the game and, after the siren, lined up with poise to slot home the goal and was instantly mobbed by teammates as emotions ran high.
“I couldn’t believe it. It was just an amazing moment and I was a bit shocked really,” Addison said.
19. LIONS WIN UNLIKELY FLAG
SMOSH West Lakes won an unlikely Adelaide Footy League women’s premiership against a heavily favoured Morphettville Park after losing to the Roos just two weeks beforehand.
The Lions lost four of their first six games of the season but managed to string some late wins together and narrowly avoid missing out on a double chance heading into the postseason.
Astrid Gooley – best on ground – dominated in the ruck against league best and fairest Celestina Dona to lead her side to a 32-26 win.
The victory ended a period of dominance by Morphettville Park in the competition, with the Roos looking set to win their second straight premiership.
“It was such a fantastic day for our club and we’re very proud of everyone involved,” coach Brad Day said.
“It’s only going to get better from here and I think competition-wide there is just so much talent.”
18. EAGLES FLY TO HISTORY
McLaren defeated Willunga 79-35 in this year’s Great Southern Football League grand final to complete the competition’s first unbeaten season since 1993.
It was an outstanding achievement by the club, which bottomed out in the league just five years ago.
To add to celebrations, champion captain Brett Ellis won his third straight Mail Medal after another fantastic campaign in the middle.
“The achievement is the culmination of five or six years of really hard work for these boys,” president Darren Lines said.
“Almost our whole side in the grand final was players who had come through our juniors system and either returned to or stayed with the club.”
17. GOLDEN GROVE’S PERFECT YEAR
Golden Grove became the first club to achieve an undefeated Adelaide Footy League division three season since Adelaide Uni in 1965.
The Kookaburras defeated Edwardstown 62-11 in the grand final to reach the milestone after finishing minor premiers with an 18-0 record and an outstanding percentage of 282.68.
The side – bolstered by recruits in Cam Shenton and Lewis Johnston – remains one of the strongest in local SA footy and is already the division two favourite heading into 2023.
“We’ve been strong in division three for a few years now but it’s definitely a surprise to go undefeated,” coach Luke Barmby said.
“We probably had a bit more of a balanced approach this year because we worked on a lot of defensive stuff as well.”
16. STUNNING HAULS IN FRONT OF GOAL
Two gun forwards had massive days in front of goal this season to boot 20 plus goals in one performance each.
Eastern Park’s Shawn Mansell recorded 20 majors during a 250-point against St Paul’s Old Scholars in division five of the Adelaide Footy League, while Hatherleigh’s Sam Telfer tallied 21 in one day against Robe in the Mid South Eastern Football League.
Mansell’s total was one of the top goalkicking displays in SAAFL/Adelaide Footy League history and the most in a game since Darren Mitchell booted 32 for Hope Valley in 2019.
Telfer’s total was the second biggest Hatherleigh day out since Craig Skeer set a club record of 24 in one game in 1986.
“I’ve played forward most of my senior career and I never thought I’d get near 20 in a game,” Mansell said.
“I guess it’s hard to describe – goals just kept happening and things kept going my way for four quarters,” Telfer added.
15. PRIME CALLS TIME WITH MEMORABLE WIN
South Australia’s greatest ever goalkicker, Chris Prime, chalked up two major milestones in the two final games of his career this year.
The 51-year-old country footy legend, who also played for Norwood and has notched up near 2,300 goals, played his 450th game in the Tumby Bay reserves’ second semi-final win this year and then won the premiership in his last ever game.
See below Prime booting his 100th goal in 2007 for Tumby Bay
“I’ve been lucky to not have many injuries and to get this far really,” Prime said.
“I throw myself into anything at a footy club, whether it be coaching or doing dishes, I just love being around the club and I’ll be doing that sort of thing even when I’m not playing.”
14. MAJOR MILESTONES REACHED
Two local stalwarts reached the 1000 career goal-mark this season, with River Murray Football League legend Brad Shiell and Western Border Football League goal machine Just McConnell both achieving the feat.
McConnell, a gun key forward for North Gambier, booted 22 majors this year and kicked the 1000th of his career in a one-goal performance against East Gambier in round 11 of the season.
Shiell – an Imperials icon in the RMFL and one of the league’s most dominant goalkickers in the early 2000s – remarkably came out of retirement this season after a 13-year hiatus and bounced back from a torn meniscus to kick the 32 goals he needed to reach the miracle mark playing in the Imps reserves.
“It’s been really good fun and I’ve enjoyed it a lot,” Shiell said of his return.
“A bunch of the kids in the team are quite young and I played with their dads, it’s a generational thing.”
13. MAX KICKS PEARLER ON GF DAY
Golden Grove gun Max Kozlik waited til the final week of the season to kick arguably local SA footy’s best goal of 2022 and he wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Kozlik added to his side’s fast grand final start against Edwardstown with the impressive effort, picking the ball up in the centre square and dummying past two Towns defenders to finish with a precise long range effort on the run.
“I looked around and saw a lot of space ahead of me so I just went for it,” he said.
“I expected someone to be open for a handball over the top but I just backed myself in to take on a couple players and have a go.
“It’s one of the best goals I’ve kicked and in a grand final as well – it was an amazing feeling.”
12. JETT TAKES FLIGHT
Rostrevor Old Collegians’ Jett Boxer provided one of the biggest highlights of the Adelaide Footy League season when he skied for a huge grab against Glenunga in round 12.
Sitting in the relegation zone and trailing by four kicks heading into the last quarter, ROC launched a seven to one goal comeback which was headlined by Boxer’s high-flying effort.
With just minutes left he launched off half-back to sky above a pack of players, the hanger even leaving opposition coach Nathan Grima stunned.
“Nathan (Grima) just turned to me and yelled “what was that!?”, ROC coach Ben Watkins said.
“We both just laughed at each other – it was probably one of the marks of the year.”
11. WINEFLIES TOP RIVAL IN BIG DANCE
Reynella won its first Southern Football League premiership since 2015 this season, marking the first time in seven years a club other than Flagstaff Hill took out the flag.
To make it even sweeter for the Wineflies, they did it against arch rival Morphett Vale in front of a packed out crowd, winning 9.3 (57) to 6.7 (43) in a tug of war affair.
Cam McGree – winner of the best on ground on the day – was dominant in the ruck and around the park as Reynella surged to a 36-4 half time lead.
The Emus launched a huge third term to get back in the contest however, kicking five goals to none to level the scores by three-quarter time.
The Wineflies then gained the ascendancy in the middle and booted clear in the fourth term behind Callan Semple and Bailey Marshman up front.
10. TOP COLLEGES DRAW ON BIG DAY
Intercol often dishes up some of the best school footy clashes of the year but one of this season’s bouts resulted in a historic finish.
In an upset result but one which did not satisfy either side, 2022 premier Sacred Heart College dropped a half time lead as Rostrevor College surged back to level scores late and see out an epic draw.
Hearts led by 17 points at the main break but Rostrevor’s Noah Hyde fought hard to lead his side back level late in the game, the visitors then holding firm at the back to see out the result.
“It was an unbelievable contest,” Rostrevor coach James Allan said.
“We’re proud of everyone’s efforts.”
“It was a great fight from two colleges who really care,” SHC coach Jon Symonds said.
9. BEN KENNEDY’S SCREAMER ON DAY OUT
Former Melbourne and Collingwood player Ben Kennedy had an outstanding year after arriving at Great Southern Football League club Myponga/Sellicks for 2022, but one performance from the gifted forward stands above all others.
Kennedy kicked a huge 16 goals against Goolwa/Pt Elliot in round 16 this season, completely dominating the Magpies from start to finish.
After his 12th goal for the Mudlarks, the superstar took this spectacular grab – a surefire shout for the mark of the year in local SA footy.
The performance caps off a fantastic year for Kennedy, who finished close runner-up to Brett Ellis in the league Mail Medal and took out the coaches award.
8. REDLEGS STORM TO FAMOUS VICTORY
Freeling remarkably achieved its first win since 2019 in the Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association this year, defeating Andrew Jarman’s Willaston side 18.3 (111) to 9.13 (67) in June.
Captain Ben Heinrich kicked four goals, Brady Scott booted six and playing-coach Jonathon Ross had three as the Redlegs stormed to a one-sided upset victory away from home, sparking huge celebrations in the rooms afterwards.
“We’ve worked bloody hard over the last three years and we’ve just never given in,” president Craig Trestrail said.
“It was just a massive relief and all the emotion after the game – you can’t bottle that stuff.”
7. MEADOWS MADNESS IN PRELIM
Who doesn’t love a winning goal after the siren? But a winning goal after the siren in a prelim? even better.
Meadows’ Daniel Stock lived every kid’s dream when he kicked a perfect set-shot goal after full time to give his side a dramatic one-point win over top side Kangarilla in the Hills Football League Country Division preliminary final.
Stock’s side trailed at half time, led by a single point at the final break and looked gone for all money until he grabbed a late mark just before the siren and kicked his goal home, fans and players exploding in celebration as the ball sailed through the sticks.
Meadows lost a grand final epic the next week to Gumeracha by just three points.
6. BROADVIEW’S TIGHT FINISH
Broadview achieved its first premiership since 2009 when it defeated top division two side Sacred Heart Old Collegians in the 2022 grand final, the Tigers emerging with a narrow 7.11 (53) to 6.5 (41) victory.
Matt Burgess’ side trailed at every break of what was a neck-and-neck affair but booted three majors to one in the final term to grab the win.
Recruits Xavier Gotch and Jared Petrenko stood up on the day, while captain Jay O’Leary kicked two goals from the middle and Nick Liddle was awarded best on ground.
“I’m just so proud of the boys and what they were able to do to get the win,” Burgess said.
“It’s a massive day and means a lot to a lot of people.”
5. HAREN’S TERRIFIC TONNE
Former Sydney and South Adelaide player Ben Haren became the first and only player in local SA footy to boot 100 goals in the minor round this season with an eight-goal performance for Lockleys against Salisbury.
The former defender turned forward needed seven goals to reach his tonne and he remarkably booted the required amount through two terms.
His 100th goal came with a brilliant snap on his left boot from the left forward pocket.
“The ball came to me and I just thought I may as well kick this, no one’s going to get annoyed at me for having a go,” Haren said.
“It was probably the best goal I kicked all year.”
4. SAINTS MARCH TO MEMORABLE WIN
After going nearly eight years without a win, Nangwarry finally brought its infamous losing-streak to an end with a tight 13.12 (90) to 11.13 (80) victory over Tantanoola in the Mid South Eastern Football League.
It was a close affair for the Saints but star forward Andrew Hyland led his side to a famous win with five goals.
Fans and players alike stormed the field in joyous scenes as the final siren went.
“It was such a special moment which everyone at the club and in the community deserved, and the celebrations in the rooms were huge,” Hyland said.
“Most of the lads had a good crack at drinking the fridges dry.”
3. TOWNS GOLDEN IN PRELIM VICTORY
Edwardstown’s reserves won an upset over Flinders Park in the division three preliminary final this year with a golden point after four quarters and a whopping 26 minutes of extra time.
It was possibly the first local SA footy game decided in such a fashion, with the umpire walking both sides through the golden point scenario after two 10-minute halves of extra time.
Towns forward Harry Parker took a diving mark in the pocket and went back to slot a behind to send his teammates into a frenzy.
Captain Rhys Bourn – who was also playing his 150th senior game – was left in shock.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in local footy – two halves of extra time and a golden point period to decide a preliminary final, it’s unheard of.
“To be able to captain a win like that in my 150th was nuts.”
2. PORT DISTRICT’S HISTORIC FLAG
Port District capped off a remarkable division one season with its first A Grade premiership since 1992, defeating reigning premier Prince Alfred Old Collegians in the 2022 grand final.
It capped off a year of reinvigoration for the club, with new coach Josh Ramsey along with a host of recruitments including Tom and Sam Gray taking the Magpies back to the top.
The side was dominant on grand final day, jumping out to a 31-7 lead by half time in testing conditions at Norwood Oval and closing the result out in straightforward fashion.
“I met with the footy club 11 months ago and it didn’t take me long to realise how passionate they and the supporters are,” Ramsey said.
“To be able to do this for them makes me so proud and happy.”
1. LOBETHAL BREAKS DROUGHT IN EXTRA TIME
In yet another drought-breaking result, Lobethal ended its run of 20 years without a Hills Football League in dramatic fashion, defeating rival Hahndorf in two halves of extra time.
The Tigers – led by best and fairest Mitch Grigg and playing-coach best on ground Aidan Riley – fought their way back into the contest with Josh Sewer kicking a late goal in the final term to level the scores.
This meant both sides had to recollect themselves and play two five-minute halves of extra time.
Hahndorf gained the ascendancy in the first half but Lobethal again responded and with just two minutes remaining Jack Stafford took an intercepting mark on the edge of the forward 50, went back and kicked the eventual winner.
It marked the second time the club had won a flag in extra time after its 1998 win, also over Hahndorf.
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