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SANFL clubs Glenelg, Norwood, North Adelaide and Port Adelaide to name new captains for 2020

At least four SANFL clubs will have new captains this season – but who is set to replace the departing leaders? There are some worthy candidates at each club.

Glenelg players celebrate 2019 SANFL premiership

The SANFL is set for an upheaval of leadership this season with at least four clubs to appoint new captains for the 2020 campaign.

Reigning premier Glenelg will be without leader Chris Curran, premiership North Adelaide skipper Max Thring and his Norwood counterpart Jace Bode have both retired and Port Adelaide is also in search of a state league captain.

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And the yet to be named skippers will join a trio of new coaches in the league – Jeff Andrews (Central District), Jade Sheedy (Eagles) and Jacob Surjan (North Adelaide).

Norwood's Matthew Panos, Sturt's Zane Kirkwood, Port Adelaide’s Cameron Sutcliffe, Glenelg’s Chris Curran and Adelaide's Matthew Wright before the 2019 finals series. Picture: Sarah Reed
Norwood's Matthew Panos, Sturt's Zane Kirkwood, Port Adelaide’s Cameron Sutcliffe, Glenelg’s Chris Curran and Adelaide's Matthew Wright before the 2019 finals series. Picture: Sarah Reed

South Adelaide, which was guided by co-captains Joel Cross and Matthew Rose last season, could also face a leadership decision with the return of former skipper Keegan Brooksby.

Arguably, the most intriguing selection will come out of Prospect Oval, where the Roosters are expected to name a successor to Thring in the coming weeks.

Recruit Andrew Moore holds the best CV of any candidate.

The 28-year-old, who played 17 league games for North between 2010 and 2013 while on the Power list, captained VFL club Box Hill to the 2018 VFL premiership.

But if the Roosters choose against a fresh face in Moore, Lewis Hender was elevated to the leadership group last year alongside Alex Spina, while Mitch Clisby captained the club prior to Thring.

Andrew Moore lifts the 2018 VFL premiership with Box Hill coach Chris Newman. Picture: Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images
Andrew Moore lifts the 2018 VFL premiership with Box Hill coach Chris Newman. Picture: Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images

Glenelg faces a different set of circumstances, with its 2020 captain set to be in the role for potentially just one season.

Premiership skipper Curran will spend this year playing for Renmark in the River Murray Football League while he undertakes medical studies in the region.

Curran’s No.5 guernsey is on hold, pending his return, with his stand-in to be announced next month.

Reliable defender Max Proud is a prime candidate to take up the role, while Jack Oatey Medallist Matthew Snook and former captain Andrew Bradley are long-term leaders at the club.

AFL-experienced pair Luke Partington and Cory Gregson are expected to be elevated to the leadership group for 2020, alongside Luke Reynolds, Matthew Uebergang and Marlon Motlop.

At The Parade, there are a number of strong options to replace Bode, led by gun midfielder Matthew Panos.

Matthew Panos (right) celebrates in last season’s elimination final. Could he be the man to take over from Jace Bode? Picture: Sarah Reed
Matthew Panos (right) celebrates in last season’s elimination final. Could he be the man to take over from Jace Bode? Picture: Sarah Reed

Redlegs veterans Cam Shenton, Sam Baulderstone and dual Magarey Medallist Mitch Grigg could all be candidates while star recruits Richard Douglas and Ryan Bastinac cannot be ruled out.

Norwood’s players select the leadership group and coach Jarrod Cotton has the final say on the captain.

Cam Sutcliffe captained Port Adelaide last season before moving onto the club’s AFL list.

His replacement Tyson Goldsack as SANFL leadership player and, while he has not yet been officially named Magpies’ captain, the former Collingwood defender is expected to take up the role.

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patrick.keam@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/sport/sanfl-clubs-glenelg-norwood-north-adelaide-and-port-adelaide-to-name-new-captains-for-2020/news-story/84a19dcd93696b1ef806553f0655c567