Sam Gray, Paul Puopolo among biggest AFL, SANFL player signings in SA local footy for 2022 season
From players fresh out of the AFL to an array of SANFL stars – we rank SA’s top 20 biggest off-season amateur and country footy signings. See who tops the list.
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A long list of talented players are set to join the ranks of SA metropolitan and country footy leagues in 2022 following a frantic off-season.
Players fresh out of the AFL to an array of SANFL stars are among those who will pull on the boots at local level and provide a big boost for grassroots clubs and leagues.
And The Messenger has picked through the best-of-the-best to rate the top 20 recruits for 2022.
Signings were ranked based on the potential impact they will have in 2022, with age and injury troubles a factor in some players placing lower.
Previous year’s lists have seen the likes of All-Australian Ryan Griffen and former Melbourne captain Jack Trengove come in at No. 1.
Here are our big name country and amateur signings this off-season:
20. ALEX McKAY
Tea Tree Gully, Adelaide Footy League
A back-to-back Keith Sims OAM Medallist as the Adelaide Footy League division one’s best and fairest, Alex McKay has returned to Tea Tree Gully as playing coach.
The prolific midfielder was a driving force in the Wolves’ first ever top flight flag in 2018 and has since spent three seasons in Queensland.
19. JOSH SCHILLER AND AARON ANDERSON
Edwardstown, Adelaide Footy League
Edwardstown looms as a side to watch in division three of the metro competition with the addition of West Adelaide duo Josh Schiller and Aaron Anderson.
A 72-game player for the Bloods, Anderson was a Towns junior and has brought 2015 SANFL premiership winner Schiller with him to the club.
18. JAKE SUTCLIFFE
St Peter’s Old Collegians, Adelaide Footy League
SPOC has displayed plenty of ambition in recent seasons and the signing of Sturt premiership forward Jake Sutcliffe in October showed intent ahead of the 2022 campaign.
Sutcliffe was a regular goal kicker for the Double Blues at league level and has plenty of good football ahead of him in division one, despite some injury troubles throughout his career.
17. ALEX CAILOTTO
Sacred Heart Old Collegians, Adelaide Footy League
After clocking up 120 games for the Panthers, South Adelaide utility Alex Cailotto decided to hang up the boots and join Sacred Heart Old Collegians.
The 30-year-old previously played at SHOC for three years before entering the SANFL and was one of a long list of signings for the division two club.
16. JORDAN HOULAHAN
Mount Barker, Hills
Exciting, athletic forward Jordan Houlahan has come home to junior club Mount Barker after time at Essendon and Sturt.
The 22-year-old played 19 league games for the Double Blues along with 38 VFL matches for the Bombers, where he averaged a goal per game.
15. JAKE TARCA
Encounter Bay, Great Southern
Three years ago Jake Tarca was preparing for his first AFL season with Geelong, now he will return to where it all began at junior club Encounter Bay.
The 21-year-old spent two years on the Cats’ list before playing 15 games at South Adelaide last season.
Tarca should provide some genuine quality for the Eagles, who finished sixth on the Great Southern ladder in 2021.
14. MITCH CLISBY AND JAMES CRAIG
Westminster Old Scholars, Adelaide Footy League
A former SANFL captain and a ex-Crows listed ruckman have made their way to Glandore Oval.
North Adelaide duo Mitch Clisby and James Craig, who both left the Roosters at the end of last season, were revealed as statement recruits by division three club Westminster Old Scholars in October.
The Dragons narrowly avoided relegation in 2021 and will hope the star pair can lift them towards the finals.
13. MARK EVANS
Pembroke Old Scholars, Adelaide Footy League
Dual premiership player and Ken Farmer Medallist Mark Evans will lead Pembroke Old Scholars as its playing coach this year.
Hamstring injuries cut short his SANFL career but the two-time Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year member will add another weapon to an already strong Kings side, which will be hoping to finally secure the division four flag after back-to-back minor premierships.
12. NIC AND TOM SCHWARZ
Flinders Park, Adelaide Footy League
Flinders Park’s on-ball brigade will be a handful for opposition sides in 2022 with SANFL pair Nic and Tom Schwarz joining brother James at the Reds.
Nic, who featured in the club’s 2011 premiership, played 90 league games at South Adelaide while Tom has joined after he was a key part of North’s 2018 flag.
11. ALEX BARNS
Morphettville Park, Adelaide Footy League
A Morphettville Park junior, Alex Barns has returned to the club to give it a huge boost as it jumps up to division three this season.
The North Adelaide premiership ruckman will join brother Chris at the Roos following a 102-game SANFL career at the Roosters and Port Adelaide.
10. LEWIS HENDER
Keith, Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara
Five-time North Adelaide leading goal kicker Lewis Hender is another heading back to his home club, signing at Keith where he will play under fellow former Rooster George Thring.
With 231 SANFL goals to his name from 141 games with North and Glenelg the exciting forward is a huge addition to the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara club.
9. ANGUS POOLE AND JAKE VON BERTOUCH
Kadina, Yorke Peninsula
Kadina natives Angus Poole and Jake von Bertouch are set to return to the Bloods in 2022.
The Woodville-West Torrens premiership players head home to the Yorke Peninsula club alongside South Adelaide player Jack Elsworthy.
8. NICK LIDDLE
Broadview, Adelaide Footy League
Five-time Knuckey Cup winner and South Adelaide great Nick Liddle looms as one of the standout players in division two following his move to Broadview.
While he last played SANFL in 2019, plying his trade for Yankalilla the past two seasons, the crafty veteran has loads of experience which should serve the Tigers well in 2022.
Liddle made 193 appearances for the Panthers, who he joined from Coburg in 2010, and took home the R.O. Shearman Medal in 2018 for best SANFL player as voted by the coaches.
7. ZANE KIRKWOOD
Tanunda, Barossa, Light & Gawler
The biggest signing in the Barossa, Light & Gawler has been Sturt champion Zane Kirkwood to Tanunda.
A dual Magarey Medallist, Kirkwood retired from SANFL footy in May last year due to an ongoing back issue.
The gun midfielder, who played 223 games for the Double Blues and 85 for Port Magpies, will play under former teammate Sam Colquhoun in the black and white.
6. CHRIS CURRAN
Prince Alfred Old Collegians, Adelaide Footy League
Reigning Adelaide Footy League premier Prince Alfred Old Collegians pulled off a major coup by luring former Glenelg skipper Chris Curran to Park 9.
The Bays premiership captain and 2021 Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year member was unveiled as the Old Reds’ star recruit in November.
Curran, 29, will add to an already star-studded PAOC side which marched to an emphatic division one flag in last year.
5. CAM SHENTON AND LEWIS JOHNSTON
Golden Grove, Adelaide Footy League
Former St Kilda and Norwood utility Cam Shenton was one of two gun recruits – alongside fellow ex-Redleg Lewis Johnston – announced by the division three club Golden Grove early in the off-season.
The Kookaburras junior said a romantic return to play for his boyhood club had always been on the cards when his SANFL career came to a close.
Shenton and former Crow Johnston will add significant quality to an already strong Golden Grove team under new coach Luke Barmby.
4. BRAD McKENZIE
Payneham Norwood Union, Adelaide Footy League
Former North Melbourne and Norwood player Brad McKenzie should bring a stack of class to the Adelaide Footy League’s division one.
A 37-game AFL player, the 28-year-old left-footer has joined a Payneham Norwood Union side in need of some quality after some key departures.
McKenzie averaged just under 21 disposals per game in his 84 appearances for the Redlegs from 2017-2021.
3. MITCH GRIGG
Lobethal, Hills
Lacing up his boots at Lobethal next season will be dual Magarey Medallist Mitch Grigg.
The accomplished 29-year-old and 20-game former Adelaide Crow has linked up with some fellow ex-Redlegs at the Tigers, who will be hoping in 2022 to end Hahndorf’s run of four straight HFL flags.
Grigg – the 2018 Jack Oatey Medallist who played 118 games for Norwood – should relish the physical nature of the Hills competition.
His 2021 season was not quite up to his usual high standards, however a 34-disposal, three-goal game in round 10 showed Grigg can still produce his dominant best.
2. PAUL PUOPOLO
Virginia, Adelaide Plains
A three-time AFL premiership player and Norwood excitement machine, Paul Puopolo has the best football CV of any recruit here.
The Hawthorn great bobbed up in an unlikely spot – Virginia – in October after calling time on his SANFL career with the Redlegs.
Puopolo, 34, told The Messenger was captivated by the country footy lifestyle the Adelaide Plains club offered.
“People live and breathe footy in the country. They make a day of it and I just want to be a part of that,” he said.
The only thing stopping Puopolo from being No. 1 on this list is his age but the veteran will undoubtedly draw a crowd at the Rams.
1. SAM GRAY
Port District, Adelaide Footy League
It is not often you see a player with more than 100 games of AFL experience join a local club straight from the elite level.
For division one club Port District, the addition of Sam Gray is a huge one.
The small forward kicked 84 goals in 103 AFL games – 96 with Port Adelaide and seven with Sydney – before he was let go by the Swans at the end of the season.
Gray’s ability as a midfielder who can hit the scoreboard will make him one of the biggest threats in the Adelaide Footy League in 2022, where he will suit up alongside brother Tom at the Magpies.
He earns top spot on this list being the only player with significant AFL experience to sign at a grassroots club direct from the top level.
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