Sacred Heart Old Collegians signs 14 players and counting for 2022 Adelaide Footy League season

An Adelaide Footy League club has been kept busy this off-season with a potential record number of signings as it prepares to bounce back from its 2021 prelim final loss.

An Adelaide Footy League club has signed 14 players this off-season as it targets premiership success in 2022.

Sacred Heart Old Collegians coach Steve Kay said the last two months had been “a numbers game” for his club as it continued to bolster its troops.

After losing a knockout preliminary final against Glenunga last season with a relatively young list, SHOC has added the likes of Alex Cailotto, Seb Kerrish, Harry Morgan, Tristan Carcuro, Rupert Peake, Darcy LeCornu and Clay Symonds – all with SANFL experience – while Pat McCarthy is among others making a return.

Sacred Heart Old Collegians coach Steve Kay has added 14 players to his list after coming up short in 2021. Picture: Dean Martin

“Any time we have 50-60 players on the track for pre-season we have a really competitive year. Being able to attract that level of participation in our program means we’ll now have enough talent to continue to be competitive,” Kay said.

“Recruitment is usually a bit of a challenge for us because we don’t pay players and last year we only had about 35 guys a week before pre-season so our success this year has been really pleasing for the club.”

While SHOC failed to make the big dance last season, the club has worked to maintain a strong culture and plan for the future.

Kay said on top of bringing in numbers to fill needs on the ground, he also wanted players who could buy into what the club wanted to achieve on and off the field.

SHOC’s Cameron Rankin tries to burst through a Glenunga pack during this year’s preliminary final loss. Picture: Dean Martin

“There are some aspects of our game which we’d like to improve. I wouldn’t say they’re deficiencies but we’d like to improve ball movement and forward potency, we’re more satisfied with out defensive aspects,” he said.

“Guys like Cailotto, Morgan and Kerrish had offers on the table at other clubs but saw the opportunity with us in and out of the game and to join their mates which is really heartening for me and the club – they see value in what we’re doing.

“Having all these guys at the club is only going to lift standards in training and preparation as well which will be a huge benefit.”

Former South Adelaide big man Alex Cailotto was one of Sacred Heart Old Collegians’ big signings this off-season. Picture: Sarah Reed

Kay was also greatly impressed by his young side throughout the 2021 season, and said the continuing players were already hitting the track before the start of pre-season.

“We have a tremendous amount of faith in our young group and by all indications they’re ready to roll their sleeves up again,” he said.

“The guys have already been training for a month, that’s a sign of their grit and determination, and the culture we currently have.”

The club will officially begin pre-season preparations next month.