Ryan Griffen and Lindsay Thomas headline top signings in local footy’s 2019 off-season
An All-Australian and former AFL captain, a 200-game goalsneak and a series of SANFL stars - Messenger Community News ranks SA’s top 10 biggest off-season amateur and country footy signings.
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An All-Australian and former AFL captain, a 200-game goalsneak and a series of SANFL stars will join the ranks alongside grassroots footballers next season.
From the moment last year’s on-field action finished, clubs have been in overdrive securing their big name recruits for 2019.
Here are Messenger Community News’ top country and amateur signings this off-season:
#1 RYAN GRIFFEN
(GWS to Goolwa/Port Elliot)
The 257-game AFL star made a the biggest splash of the SA local footy off-season in November when he committed to his junior club, Goolwa/Port Elliot.
Griffen, an All-Australian and two-time Western Bulldogs best and fairest, will play at least six matches for Great Southern Football League team on a fly-in, fly-out basis from Victoria.
He will line up with his brother, Trent, and potentially, brother Travis, who is considering coming out of retirement.
Any presence of Griffen would benefit the club, which was winless last season and finished bottom of the ladder.
“Ryan coming to play will be a massive boost for the rebuild,” Magpies president Ryan Bridges said.
“We’ve already got sponsors lining up and it will help with recruitment as well.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Goolwa/Port Elliot has also signed former Richmond-listed midfielder Brad Helbig for 2019.
FULL STORY: GRIFFEN’S GOOLWA HOMECOMING
#2 LINDSAY THOMAS
(Port Adelaide to Portland)
Portland is set to be the hottest ticket in the Adelaide Footy League’s division three after the addition of former North Melbourne and Port Adelaide goalsneak Lindsay Thomas.
The 30-year-old played 212 AFL games and decided to line up with mates at the Thunder this season following his retirement from the Power.
Coming off a year in which it narrowly escaped relegation, Portland will now boast one of the league’s most dangerous forward lines.
“Once I announced my retirement, I explored all my options, but at the end of the day it came down to a family decision,” Thomas, of Semaphore Park, said.
“I have a lot of close friends at Portland and so does my wife, so we decided it was going to be the perfect fit for us.”
FULL STORY: THOMAS GOES FROM POWER TO THUNDER
#3 STEVEN SUMMERTON
(Port Adelaide Magpies to Angaston)
Steven Summerton’s emotional departure from his long-time home at Alberton has turned into a major coup for Barossa, Light and Gawler club Angaston.
At 30, the outgoing Magpies captain has plenty of football left in him and can still be a force at SANFL level.
The Panthers will hope Summerton, a three-time Port SANFL best and fairest winner, can drastically improve the team after its wooden-spoon, 1-15 finish in 2018.
Angaston has also recruited experienced Woodville-West Torrens ruckman Marc Borholm.
#4 JACK OSBORN
(Sturt to South Gawler)
South Gawler hit two birds with one stone when it secured Sturt dual premiership ruckman Jack Osborn as player/coach in October.
The 2016 SANFL state representative will likely be the dominant big man in Barossa, Light and Gawler and, at 28, will have plenty of energy to attack the coaching role.
Osborn was a key cog in the Double Blues’ back-to-back flags in 2016/17 and spent three seasons on the Crows’ list.
The Lions have also snared Crows SANFL development players Josh Wittwer and Dom Costanzo for 2019.
#5 MATT FULLER
(Norwood to Lobethal)
Former Western Bulldog and Adelaide Hills native Matt Fuller is Lobethal’s key recruit as it attempts to lift itself off the bottom of the ladder.
Injuries have been a constant challenge for the 28-year-old in recent years but his impressive resume suggests he will be dominant at Hills Football League level.
Fuller won the 2013 flag with Norwood before he was drafted to the Bulldogs and then returned to The Parade, where he won the 2016 best and fairest.
FULL STORY: TRIO OF NORWOOD PREMIERSHIP PLAYERS RETIRE
#6 SIMON PHILLIPS
(Norwood to Myponga/Sellicks)
Another Redleg cut down by injury is Simon Phillips, who is set to light up the GSFL at Myponga/Sellicks in 2019.
The former Port Adelaide and Sydney Swans goalsneak announced his retirement in November after 231 games and 149 goals for the Redlegs.
An integral member of Norwood’s three-peat of flags from 2012-2014, the 31-year-old battled shoulder injuries in recent seasons.
He is likely to star at the Mudlarks if he can consistently get on the field.
#7 BEN JEFFERIES
(Norwood to Onkaparinga Valley)
Triple SANFL premiership wingman Ben Jefferies will be a welcome addition to Onkaparinga Valley when he returns to his junior club next season.
The 28-year-old retired from the Redlegs to focus on work and joined former teammate Tim Webber and brother Tom at the Dogs.
Onkaparinga Valley finished second-bottom in the Hills Football League’s division one last season with four wins and 14 losses.
#8 LUKE BARMBY
(Central District to Golden Grove)
Golden Grove’s bid to bounce straight back after relegation from division two was given a massive boost by the signing of 130-game Central District defender Luke Barmby in November.
Barmby hoped to help to improve the defensive structures and drive training standards at the Kookaburras next season.
“They’ve been successful in division three, so I think they know what it takes,” Barmby, of Surrey Downs, said.
“They are aware of some of the mistakes they made in terms of training habits and their approach to training and preparation (this year).
“I’ll probably also help out the backline, speak to the coach about trying a few ideas about how to move the ball out of the backline and setting up structurally.”
#9 DANIEL WEBB
(West Adelaide to Flagstaff Hill)
Flagstaff Hill’s dominance over the Southern Football League is showing no signs of slowing up in 2019 after the recruitment of West Adelaide premiership big man Daniel Webb.
The ruckman, who also spent three years on Port Adelaide’s rookie list, joined the Falcons in November on the back of their third-straight premiership season.
Webb, a Flagstaff Hill junior, will strengthen an already potent on-ball division, which is now under the watch of new coach Darren Vanzetta.
The Falcons have lost premiership players Adrian Albanese, Josh Albanese (Kangarilla) and Josh Vandermeer (Padthaway) but are still a strong chance to make it four flags in-a-row.
#10 CRAIG PITT
(Robe to Prince Alfred Old Collegians)
Glenelg best and fairest winner and former vice-captain Craig Pitt headlines the recruits at Prince Alfred Old Collegians after his grand final heroics snapped a 15-year flag drought at Robe in September.
The Bays junior, who quit Glenelg at the end of 2016 for work reasons, should give the Old Reds quality and leadership in Adelaide Footy League’s division one.
His long bomb goal on the siren in the Mid South East Football League decider against Mount Burr gave Robe a thrilling victory and its fourth A-grade premiership.
He will be joined at PAOC by his brother, Jake.
Former Power speedster and 2016 premiership player Wade Thompson also returns to the club.
patrick.keam@news.com.au
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