Sturt premiership player Jake Sutcliffe joins St Peter’s Old Collegians for 2022 Adelaide Footy League season
A division one Adelaide Footy League preliminary finalist has bolstered its troops for 2022 with the signing of a SANFL premiership player.
Local Sport
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Just days after retiring from Sturt, 2017 premiership forward Jake Sutcliffe has signed with St Peter’s Old Collegians as it gears up for a division one grand final push next season.
Sutcliffe, who is best friends with Saints captain Jesse O’Brien, experienced multiple injuries including a torn ACL in recent years and decided the time was right for a change.
With SPOC losing to Prince Alfred Old Collegians in this year’s preliminary final, Sutcliffe said the opportunity to play with mates and get revenge on the club’s historic rival was too strong to turn down.
“I can’t thank Sturt enough for what they’ve done for me,” Sutcliffe said.
“I have great memories there especially the 2017 premiership but I just felt it was time for a fresh start after all my injuries.
“I used to live together with Jesse (O’Brien) – the opportunity to play with him and a lot of the boys who I’ve known since my time as a St Peter’s boarder from Year 8 to 12 is a great one.
“I’ve never beaten Prince Alfred either and that was one of the major factors in my decision honestly. I want to beat them together with my mates at Saints.”
Sutcliffe, who played 60 SANFL league games for Sturt, has proven to be a skilful forward who can score goals or create for others.
A versatile player with the ability to fill roles around the ground, the 28-year-old believed he could be a big boost on and off the field for a SPOC team which had lost two preliminary finals in successive years.
“I’m not looking to bring anything particularly special to the side because there are a lot of guys at Saints who have played at or above SANFL level but I know I’ll fit very well on the footy field,” Sutcliffe said.
“I’m a bit of a fitness nut as well so I’m hoping to take a few guys under my wing and just really push them to be in the best condition as possible for the season.”
As far as his own fitness after recent seasons filled with injury problems, Sutcliffe said he could be in the best shape of his career.
“I honestly think I’m in the best shape I’ve been in a long time just because I’ve had an extended period to recover and condition myself,” he said.
“I’m in a good spot to be able to attack the season and help St Peter’s win a flag.”
Saints will hit the track for pre-season by December as the club prepare to launch a campaign to win a second division one premiership.
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