SA country football legends of the past decade revealed, including Ashley Temby, Chris Prime, Nathan Duffield
They are the best of the bush and the lifeblood of the regional game. See the players, coaches and volunteers who are SA’s country footy legends.
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Retirement is something Ashley Temby doesn’t like to think about, let alone discuss.
Football has been such a big part of the Imperial legend’s life that the prospect of stopping is one he refuses to consider.
It is that level of love and dedication to the game and country footy which has led Temby to a career in the River Murray Football League like no other.
The 44-year-old’s 452 senior games is a league record – he surpassed the previous mark of 428 last year – and, of course, he also holds the title at the Blues.
Courageous, skilful, a great leader, calm and as fair as they come on the field, Temby personifies everything that is great about community football.
Temby is one of 15 regional greats named in our country football legends of the past decade.
The list aims to celebrate the contribution of the players, coaches, administrators and volunteers who form the backbone of the sport across the state.
Every country league in SA was invited to nominate one person they felt deserved the title of “legend”.
Temby said he planned to play again next season and retirement was not on his radar yet.
“It’s something I don’t think about, I actually don’t like to think about it,” he said.
“I know I’m going to miss it because it’s been a massive part of my life, obviously.
“I just want to keep going while I can and I guess my body or something else will eventually make the decision for me.”
Temby’s journey began at Mypolonga, where he played his first A-grade game in 1994. He went on to make 107 appearances for the Tigers.
In 2003, the horticulturalist crossed to Imperial, where he has stayed ever since.
Temby, who has played in two A-grade grand final wins, said the sweetest was the 2011 triumph as captain, when the Blues came in as underdogs and “put Ramblers back in their box and didn’t give them a sniff.”
While he now runs around in the reserves, the midfielder said mateships, community spirit and escaping from work for a day kept him engaged in country footy.
“When you first start out you don’t think about things like records,” Temby said.
“I’ve probably only missed a handful of games in the whole time I reckon, so I’ve been pretty lucky injury-wise.
“Obviously the older you get they start to mean a fair bit, especially after playing footy for so long it’s a nice little record to have under your belt.
“Hopefully one day someone else can overtake me.
“I just love being out there now mentoring the younger lads, you know pushing and pulling them around and helping the club out.”
NATHAN DUFFIELD
Great Southern Football League
Strathalbyn Football Club
Three times Nathan Duffield has said he would be retiring … and every time he has returned to pre-season training at Strathalbyn, ready to go again.
The Roosters legend has been a fixture in the Great Southern Football League at some level for almost four decades.
Approaching 500 senior games, the 46-year-old started at the club at age five and has gone on to win three flags, as well as a Mail Medal in 2003.
He’s now playing coach of the B-grade, but he also takes charge of the barbecue, along with his reserves players, during the seniors on Saturday afternoons.
Duffield – a life member of Strathalbyn and the GSFL – has had the pleasure of playing with one of his two sons in the reserves, with another not far away.
CHRIS PRIME
Great Flinders Football League
Tumby Bay Football Club
A list of SA country football legends would not be complete without Chris “Tractor” Prime.
In fact, when it comes to the all-time greats of bush footy they don’t come much bigger than the burly West Coast farmer and former Norwood full forward.
Prime has booted more than 2000 goals in senior country footy across stints at Port Neill, Tasman, Port and Tumby Bay, where he has played since 2007.
He also spent three seasons in the SANFL, booting 182 majors and leading the Redlegs’ goalkicking twice.
Not only has Prime gone down in the record books for his amazing feats in front of goal, he has also been a tireless worker for Tumby, both on and off the field.
And you can still find the 50-year-old pulling the boots on for the Blues’ reserves. He booted 22 goals from seven games this season.
LOU BOUGHEN
Mallee Football League
United/Karoonda Districts football clubs
From playing to coaching and administrating – Lou Boughen has been in involved in nearly all aspects of country football over an extensive journey.
The 61-year-old has been Mallee Football League secretary for a remarkable 24 years, twice being named SANFL Community Football Administrator of the Year (2012 and 2017).
Boughen began with United in the Murraylands Football League in the early 80s before going on to coach the A-grade to two grand finals and the 1991 premiership.
He then coached at Karoonda Districts in two separate stints, while taking secretary and delegate roles.
Boughen’s administrative work at club, league and zone level has been an outstanding level of work and commitment to country football.
BROOKE HOAD
Riverland Football League
Waikerie Football Club
It’s been a big year for Waikerie stalwart Brooke Hoad.
Not only did the long-serving Magpie crack 450 games in May, but in August he played his 458th Riverland Football League match, to break the record held by Renmark’s Dale Lellmann.
Hoad's accomplishments in the RFL are wide-ranging.
A league medallist, Waikerie and RFL life member, state country representative and Riverland interleague player, the list goes on.
But one of Hoad’s more unique achievements is that he has won 11 premierships at the Magpies – at least one in every grade.
ASHLEY TEMBY
River Murray Football League
Imperial Football Club
The RMFL and Imperial games record holder has done it all.
Temby – the 2005 Mail Medallist – has 27 seasons of country football under his belt and eclipsed the league record of 428 matches held by Alan Rickaby, of Jervois, in July last year.
A great role model to younger players, he rarely goes a week without training and his longevity is set to continue, with plans to play on next year.
JOEL FITZGERALD
Eastern Eyre Football League
Kimba Districts Football Club
Bring up the topic of gun forwards in the Eastern Eyre and then name Joel Fitzgerald is sure to follow.
The Kimba farmer is a renowned superboot and has been the league’s leading goalkicker for the past 10 years.
Fitzgerald, 36, has kicked more than 1000 majors in a career which has included state country selection, captaining three Tigers’ flags, stacks of Mortlock Shield representative games and even managing the club bar.
He is better known around the footy club as “Burger” after an opposition supporter once yelled out “how many burgers have you eaten?” while he was lining up for goal.
“And of course the boys got hold of it at training that week and it stuck,” Fitzgerald told The Advertiser in 2019.
Fitzgerald is known as a man of few words but – with the respect he has earnt – when he does, everyone listens.
DARREN LONGBOTTOM
North Eastern Football League
Brinkworth Spalding Redhill Football Club
Darren Longbottom’s on-field achievements for Brinkworth Spalding Redhill are too long to list.
And now he’s trying to match it off the field.
The Tigers great has been involved at BSR since its amalgamation in 1982, playing more than 450 senior games.
He has racked up six A-grade premierships, four best-and-fairests and 10 league representative selections.
A life member of BSR among many other honours, Longbottom has also been a long-serving club committee member and now sits on the NEFL committee as treasurer.
Above all he is a tireless worker for his home town of Spalding.
DON CRANWELL
Hills Football League
This year will mark Don Cranwell’s 50th year involved with community football.
The Hills Football League president’s hard work behind the scenes in what can often be a thankless job has been exemplary, managing a competition of 20 affiliated clubs.
His value has been no more evident than in the past two seasons, when sports administration has been harder than ever.
Recent health problems have made things more difficult but Cranwell still succeeded in organising and managing a terrific HFL finals series, despite added pressures of restrictions and Covid management plans.
MICHAEL HUNT
Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League
Mundulla Football Club
From the time Michael Hunt was old enough to pull on a pair of boots he has been contributing to the Mundulla Football Club in one way or another.
The Tigers icon and personality made his senior debut in 1982 and played his last game in 2015 – a career which included 15 premierships.
The 10 A-grade, four reserves and one senior colt flags came across 598 games, during which he booted 1009 goals.
Hunt has also served as president for two years and now coaches Mundalla’s women’s team, leading its inaugural side to a premiership in the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League in 2019.
According to the club, Hunt said he would do it all over again, even if he had to get a new hip and knee.
MATTHEW GOODWIN
Port Lincoln Football League
Wayback Football Club
For the past 23 years, Matthew Goodwin has represented his club, league and football zone to the highest standard.
The Wayback coach played 299 games across league and representative outings – including the PLFL Mail Medal in 2003 – and has a reputation across the region like few others.
Goodwin, 38, has been at the helm of Wayback since 2017, when he won the flag in his first season as coach.
KEITH SLADE
Northern Areas Football Association
Orroroo Football Club
Keith Slade’s home at Moolooloo Station – located in the northern Flinders Ranges – is more than two hours’ drive away from the closest football club.
But that has not stopped him from dedicating his all to that club – Orroroo – over decades of service.
Slade is described as the type of person you want in every footy club.
Not only did the 45-year-old play more than 400 games for the Roos, he is now president of the Northern Areas club, dedicates his time to help younger player stay involved in football and is the bloke who takes on roles at short notice to help out.
SAM JACOBS
Yorke Peninsula Football League
Ardrossan Football Club
There is an endless list of great players produced from virtually every corner of regional SA but not all of them return to give back like Sam Jacobs has.
After a 218-game AFL career, the former Adelaide, Carlton and GWS ruckman went back to his hometown Ardrossan this season to coach the club where it all began.
The 33-year-old last played for the club as a 16-year-old in 2004 – its last premiership year – before making 13 appearances as playing coach in the YPFL this season.
While Ardrossan and Jacobs would have been disappointed with an eighth-placed finish, it is fantastic to see a footballer of the big man’s calibre returning to his hometown country club.
BRETT O’NEIL
Western Border Football League
South Gambier Football Club
Brett O’Neil’s contribution to South East football as a player over the past decade is difficult to top.
The South Gambier veteran has been as loyal to the Demons as they come, playing 220 games in the WBFL since making his debut in 2007.
O’Neil, 32, has compiled seven years as club captain, seven best and fairests, three Brian Hennessey Medals for league best and fairest, five state games, 10 interleague representations and most importantly two WBFL premierships.
It is some resume and one which continues to grow for the outstanding country footballer.
MARK FULLER
Spencer Gulf Football League
Central Augusta Football Club
Mark Fuller made his Central Augusta senior debut as a 15-year-old in 1997 and now, at age 39, he’s still getting it done for the Bloods.
He won the SGFL’s rising star in 1999 before claiming the prestigious Madigan Medal best- and-fairest award in 2008.
Fuller has been Central’s club champion four times – including last season – and has been runner-up on seven occasions.
The three-time premiership player also is set to break the 300-game barrier next season.
CRAIG HALL
Far North Football League
Roxby Districts Football Club
Country footy survives through the support of the people involved in it and Craig Hall is a prime example.
The Roxby Districts Football Club president is known as a great all-rounder who dedicates countless hours to keeping things ticking along.
He also played more than 100 games for the Miners in the Far North.
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