The 2021 ins and outs for every Adelaide Footy League division one club
Ex-SANFL talents are among a string of late signings at division one Adelaide Footy League clubs. See all the latest top flight ins and outs here.
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Three top flight Adelaide Footy League clubs have added key ex-SANFL signings this month in late moves to bolster their squads.
Louis Sharrad (Port District), Mackenzie Slee (Prince Alfred Old Collegians) and Jake Veide (Rostrevor Old Collegians) have all arrived at division one teams in recent weeks.
It follows more than 80 players coming and going from top tier clubs during the off-season.
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The Magpies have already experienced the benefit of their addition, with former Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Sharrad named in District's best players in each of the first three rounds.
The 38-game former Eagle's influence has been a welcome addition while star man Trent Heffernan battles injury.
PAOC has also felt the instant impact of North Adelaide premiership player Slee.
The Prince Alfred old scholar was prolific in the Old Reds' nine-point win over Rostrevor Old Collegians in his first game on Saturday.
However ROC will hope to improve off the back of that loss with the arrival of former South Adelaide utility Jake Veide.
The ex-Panthers cult hero has most recently been playing in Perth but had a clearance approved on Monday to join the men in red and black.
He will link up with former South teammate Nick Murphy, who is co-coaching ROC this season.
With season 2021 already three rounds in, Messenger local footy reporter Patrick Keam compiled and analysed all the off-season player movement in the top tier.
ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY
Improvement will need to come from within at Adelaide University this season, if the club wishes to break its lengthy absence from the division one finals.
Blacks coach Ben Watkins said he would be drawing on the club’s depth to step up in 2021.
“I’m trying create the culture at the club that the next recruit comes from within … we’re not the biggest club when it comes to recruiting,” Watkins said.
“We’ve had some guys leave the A grade so the opportunity is there for others to step in.”
Defender Charlie Parker has starred for Uni in recent seasons but will try his hand at SANFL level with Sturt this year.
Skipper Seb Paynter is another significant loss through injury, as is injured centre half-back and runner-up best and fairest Jack Keynes.
Ben Edwards, who booted 34 goals for the Blacks in 2020, will return to Port Adelaide’s SANFL list and with CMS Crows after coming across last year on a COVID clearance.
Watkins said tall forward Joshua Hoffman would provide a focal point in attack, while Matt Langridge has returned following injury.
In: Matt Langridge (returned) Joshua Hoffman (CBC OC)
Out: Charlie Parker (Sturt), Seb Paynter (retired) Ben Edwards (Port Adelaide/CMS Crows), Nicholas Cottrell (Sunraysia FL), Jack Keynes (injury), Carson Clark
BRIGHTON BOMBERS
New Brighton coach Brett Backwell has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes in his first year in charge of the Bombers and will instead take a settled squad into the new season.
However, following the club’s maiden top tier finals appearance, he will be without up to two stars.
Tough inside midfielder Jacob Carger finished fourth in last season’s Keith Sims OAM Medal count, but has left to play for Millicent in the Western Border Football League.
Fellow onballer Jay Boyle featured for Adelaide in the SANFL season opener on Friday and will likely be unavailable for the Bombers regularly.
Backwell said the club had welcomed back some ex-Bombers and would once again have a strong squad of homegrown talent.
“If you look at us I think we’ll play with maybe three points, so we’ve got basically a whole squad of local boys,” Backwell said.
“I think all except two or three aren’t Brighton juniors but some of those guys have been at the club for a fair few years.”
Justin Evans is the club’s key in, returning after spending 2020 in the SANFL with South Adelaide.
In: Justin Evans (South Adelaide/returned), Brett Irons (Myponga-Sellicks/returned), Dylan Lang (Myponga-Sellicks/returned), Jordan Weetra (Portland), Dylan Howie (Lockleys/returned)
Out: Jacob Carger (Western Border FL), Jay Boyle (Adelaide SANFL), Sam Venning (Blackwood)
GOODWOOD SAINTS
Reigning premiers Goodwood Saints appear set for a tilt at a second-straight flag following a busy off-season.
While the club has lost brothers Max and George Thring, ruckman Angus Clarke, Billy Laurie and Tom Edwards, a string of quality arrivals have filled the gaps.
Former West Adelaide big man Andre Parrella will enter as one of the division’s strongest ruckmen and, at 23 years old, could be a star long-term recruit for the Saints.
Fellow ex-Bloods Nick Homburg and Ben Macreadie have come down the hill from Blackwood and will add to the already strong West contingent at the club.
As will Daniel Caire, who joins alongside the returning Anthony Skara from Unley Mercedes.
In: Andre Parrella (West Adelaide), Anthony Skara (Unley/returned), Daniel Caire (Unley), Nick Homburg (Blackwood), Ben Macreadie (Blackwood), Daniel Wakim (Westminster OS)
Out: Max Thring (Keith), George Thring (Keith), Angus Clarke (Uraidla), Billy Laurie (Robe), Tom Edwards (Padthaway)
PAYNEHAM NORWOOD UNION
If any club made waves in the off-season with its recruiting, it was Payneham Norwood Union.
The Falcons’ addition of Redlegs premiership pair Sam Baulderstone and Anthony Wilson will leave more than a few teams feeling uneasy at the prospect of facing them this campaign.
Baulderstone, 30, should quickly become the league’s dominant ruckman while Wilson’s speed on the outside and finishing in front of goal will be difficult to contain.
PNU will also have the services of big man Luke Surman, when not required by Port Adelaide’s SANFL side, and Norwood youngsters Alex Scali and Lachlan Webb.
Jameson Bower and Zac Bates have both departed.
Playing coach Jace Bode has signed as a top-up player for the Magpies in the SANFL but told The Messenger it will come secondary to the Falcons.
“Anytime there’s a Payneham commitment, that’s where I’ll be,” Bode said.
“The only nuance to that is if, hypothetically, Port are playing at a separate time on the weekend and they ask me to play as a top-up, then I would consider the circumstances and we would have a conversation about that between Port and the club.
“To develop as a coach and be the best that I can is a great opportunity at Port.”
Bode is also five matches away from reaching his 200-game SANFL milestone.
In: Sam Baulderstone (Norwood), Anthony Wilson (Norwood), Luke Surman (Norwood), Alex Scali (Norwood), Lachlan Webb (Norwood)
Out: Jameson Bower (Mount Lofty), Zac Bates (Adelaide SANFL/Goolwa-Port Elliot)
PORT DISTRICT
The spirit of the Port District faithful will be buoyed by the return of former skipper Trent Heffernan to Largs Reserve in 2021.
Following a season in the Barossa with Nuriootpa, the two-time Adelaide Footy League state side captain chose to come home to the Magpies in the off-season.
The midfielder has started in the competition before and was named at No. 2 in The Messenger’s top 10 division one players in 2019.
Port coach Simon Maddern said Heffernan’s leadership and experience would be invaluable.
“He’ll have a real calming influence on the group, plus his own footy ability, it will be very beneficial to have him back,” Maddern said.
The Magpies will also be boosted by the addition of Jay Williams, who returns after taking 2019 off.
Eagles youngster Zac Buck played trial matches with District and Maddern was confident the St Michael’s College product would make an impact.
Star onballer Cooper Gaffney’s departure will sting the most as he returns to Woodville-West Torrens.
In: Trent Heffernan (Nuriootpa), Louis Sharrad (Eagles), Jay Williams (returning), Zachary Buck (Eagles), Liam Firns (Seaton Ramblers), Liam Sandercock (Salisbury), Damon Adams (Angle Vale), Connor Drewer (Southern Eagles)
Out: Cooper Gaffney (Eagles), Matt Appleton (Port Adelaide SANFL), Jack Cooper (Yorke Peninsula FL), Jack Foster (North Haven), Matthew Weistra (Kongorong)
PRINCE ALFRED OC
Following an active recruiting campaign last year, an established Prince Alfred Old Collegians side should reap the benefits of a settled squad – but one which still has the quality to contend.
Most importantly, the Old Reds have retained the services of ex-AFL captain Jack Trengove who will be looking to make more of an impact following an injury-impacted 2020.
North Adelaide premiership player Brock Castree is back at the club as the major off-season addition, alongside the returning Hugo Barry.
Key forward and Prince Alfred old scholar Tyson Brazel also joins from Queensland.
The departure list is short with Oliver Clarke and Campbell Wildman the only outs at this stage.
Both young talents featured as top-up players for the Crows and Port respectively in the opening round of the SANFL season but will pull on the boots for the Old Reds when not selected.
In: Mackenzie Slee (North Adelaide), Brock Castree (returned), Hugo Barry (Queensland/returned), Tyson Brazel (Southport Sharks)
Out: Oliver Clarke (Adelaide SANFL), Campbell Wildman (Port Adelaide SANFL)
ROSTREVOR OC
Rostrevor Old Collegians playing coach Will O’Malley will be forced to re-tool his forward line following two key departures.
Former Gold Coast and Sturt veteran Michael Coad and fellow forward Paul Fantasia, who kicked 24 and 10 goals respectively in the shortened 2020 season, have both decided to hang up the boots.
O’Malley told The Messenger he would look to structure the attack differently this year.
“They’re obviously big outs on and off-field for the club,” O’Malley said.
“But we’ll feel like we’ll be able to cover them with a few young guys coming in.”
Anthony McCarthy, Matthew Leigh and Murphy Short joined the club in 2020 when their country leagues were cancelled and have departed.
On the other side, William Mead played five league games with West Adelaide last year but has returned to ROC.
He is joined on the arrivals list by ex-SANFL pair Cameron De Visser and Shannon Snook, who played with the experienced Nick Murphy at Kaniva Leeor.
O’Malley was also hopeful Victorian addition Travis Whittle could play a role.
In: Jake Veide (Perth), William Mead (West Adelaide/returned), Cameron De Visser (Kaniva Leeor), Shannon Snook (Kaniva Leeor), Nathan Surman (Athelstone/returned), Travis Whittle (Victoria)
Out: Michael Coad (retired), Paul Fantasia (retired), Anthony McCarthy (Lucindale), Matthew Leigh (Bordertown), Murphy Short (Yorke Peninsula FL)
ST PETER’S OC
St Peter’s Old Collegians will be looking for new leaders to step forward in 2021 after the departure of a key duo, according to coach Geoff Riddle.
Skipper Harry Hayward has left and will be a big blow to SPOC in terms of leadership and ability in defence.
Meanwhile, veteran forward James McLeay has retired.
Star midfielder Jesse O’Brien has taken over the captaincy but Riddle said Hayward and McLeay left big holes to fill.
“Harry, unfortunately for us, has had to go to Sydney for work,” Riddle said.
“He’s one of the best defenders in the competition in my opinion and really held it together for us.
“To lose him obviously as a leader, as well as the experience from James, leaves us with holes to cover.
“We’re trying to grow from within, pick up on areas where we might have lacked previously and I think we’ve done that.”
Ex-Sturt utility Brad Coulson will be a handy addition after moving back home to Adelaide from overseas.
Midfielder Ben Woolford and versatile St Peter’s old scholar Will Montgomery have also joined as SPOC looks to atone for last year’s finals exit.
In: Brad Coulson (overseas/Sturt), Will Montgomery (Glenunga), Ben Woolford
Out: James McLeay (retired), Harry Hayward (work)
TEA TREE GULLY
Promoted club Tea Tree Gully will back in its home grown talent this season following just one year down in division two.
Offered the opportunity to return to the top flight after Athelstone decided to step down, the Wolves won the second tier flag last year after a dominant campaign.
Matthew Stent, a hero in the club’s 2018 division one flag triumph, is back at TTG and the big-bodied midfielder will provide extra grunt on the inside.
Meanwhile, the experienced Joel Cochrane should be a valuable addition in terms of leadership on his return to Pertaringa Oval.
Forward Ryan Spittle, who departs for Golden Grove to play with his brother, and Matthew Hallandal are the key departures.
In: Matthew Stent (Golden Grove/returned), Joel Cochrane (Freeling/returned)
Out: Matthew Hallandal (Yorke Peninsula FL), Ryan Spittle (Golden Grove)
UNLEY MERCEDES
First-year Unley Mercedes coach Adam Jeffries says his side will be up for the challenge in 2021, despite suffering key departures.
Jeffries, who coached Goodwood Saints in 2018 and 2019 and replaced Kane Stewart, said the Jets would back in their game plan this season with spots up for grabs for the club’s youngsters.
Key forwards Tom Langford and Nick Petch will not feature, while ruckman Luke McEntee has retired following injury battles.
Anthony Skara, who has starred for the Jets the past two seasons, returns to Goodwood.
He is joined by ex-West Adelaide veteran Daniel Caire.
Jeffries said club junior Michael Ortiz would be solid in an inside midfield role while Northern Territory key position pair Jackson Cole and Shawn Foster have shown good signs in the Jets’ trial matches.
In: Michael Ortiz (Central District), Jackson Cole (Central Australian FL), Shawn Foster (Central Australian FL)
Out: Anthony Skara (Goodwood Saints), Daniel Caire (Goodwood Saints), Tom Langford (Glenunga), James O’Sullivan (Victoria), Luke McEntee (retired), Nick Petch, Josh Stevens
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