The best of Messenger and The Advertiser’s SA sport stars to watch, featuring Kyle Chalmers, Ebony Marinoff, Eleni Glouftsis
We’ve looked back at every Messenger and The Advertiser ‘athletes to watch’ for the better part of a decade and listed the best of the bunch. See where they are now.
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South Australia is no stranger to producing top sporting talent, with a number of stars and young guns coming through the state’s leagues and moving on to achieve greater things.
Each year we name the state’s up and coming sports stars – check out this year’s alumni.
We’ve delved into the archives and looked over every The Messenger and The Advertiser ‘athletes to watch’ for the last decade to see who has made it from those lists to the top level.
In no particular order and across an array of sporting codes, here are the best of our ‘ones to watch.’
Kyle Chalmers (swimming)
Named as a fast-rising star in 2014 at just age 15, Chalmers – after pursuing swimming over football – burst onto the world scene in 2016 when he won gold in the 100m freestyle at the Rio Olympics.
Most recently, Australia’s fastest swimmer won silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in the 4x100 relay at the Tokyo Olympics.
It comes as no surprise that Chalmers is now a household name not only around Australia, but for swimming fans around the globe.
Hannah Petty (netball)
Petty was one to look out for in 2016/17, and has gone on to become a top netballer in SA and Australia.
Coming out of Immanuel College and capable of playing centre, wing attack and wing defence at a high level, Petty began her Thunderbirds career in 2016 at the age of 19.
She now co-captains the club as it aims for its first premiership since 2013.
Ebony Marinoff (football)
Also named in 2016/17, Marinoff has gone from Morphettville Park prospect to Adelaide Crows superstar.
Taken in the 2016 AFLW draft, Marinoff – now 24 – won the inaugural rising star award, is a dual premiership player, three-time All-Australian, and a one-time Crows club champion.
It is a resume which looks set to see her go down as one of the greatest to play the women’s game.
Izak Rankine (football)
Seen as “a potential top five selection” in the AFL draft in 2018, Izak Rankine has lived up to the billing.
Rankine was taken at pick number three by the Gold Coast after impressing for West Adelaide and is now one of the club’s most promising young players.
The 21-year-old has had an injury-riddled AFL career so far, but will be a feared forward around the competition if he can remain fit this season.
Eleni Glouftsis (AFL umpire)
In 2014, Glouftsis was seen as a chance to become the first ever female AFL umpire, and in 2016 she achieved just that.
Glouftsis began her umpiring career in 2008 at an amateur level before moving on to the SANFL by 2013.
She is now a regular in both the AFL and AFLW competitions, solidifying herself as one of South Australia’s most groundbreaking sporting figures.
Jess Stenson (nee Trengove) (Athletics)
Named in 2012 as a fast-rising star, Stenson – now 34 years of age – has gone on to perform on the biggest of stages.
The talented marathon-runner has competed in the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics, and also went on to win the Advertiser and Channel 7 Sports Star of the Year People’s Choice award in 2016.
Just last year, Stenson completed her best ever marathon time while racing in Perth.
She is also revered for her charity work and is an ambassador for the Little Heroes Foundation.
Pacifique Niyongabire (soccer)
Named as a young talent to keep an eye on in 2018, Niyongabire has become a consistent A-League player for Adelaide United and now Perth Glory.
Niyongabire hit United’s radar after a standout season for Gawler in 2016, and finally broke in to the youth team in late 2017.
The 21-year-old winger played 24 matches for the club’s senior side from 2019-21 and has played multiple matches for Perth Glory this season.
Darcie Brown (cricket)
Listed as a future cricket star in 2019 at the age of 15, Brown has progressed from a Northern Districts young gun to a national team hero.
Just recently, the now 18-year-old starred in Australia’s retaining of the Ashes against England, taking multiple wickets on debut.
She has also been named in the country’s side for the 2022 Women’s World Cup.
James Aish (football)
Touted as one to watch before his 2014 AFL debut at 18 years of age, Aish has developed in to a reliable backman in the country’s top footy league.
The nephew of Norwood legend Michael Aish, James moved on from the Brisbane Lions to play 50 games for Collingwood, before recently joining Fremantle where he has been a standout.
Still only 26, Aish could have some top-quality years ahead of him.
Jamie Kah (jockey)
In 2014, 18-year-old Jamie Kah was “the best young riding prospect out of SA this century”, and now she’s the top ranked female jockey in the world.
The 26-year-old’s record speaks for itself – with endless wins in Adelaide and Melbourne, including at Flemington in the Australian Cup.
She has also raced in the Melbourne Cup.
In July last year, Kah became the first ever jockey to ride 100 winners in a Melbourne Metro racing season.
Riley Thilthorpe (football)
Picked as one to watch before being drafted to the Crows with their first selection in 2020, Thilthorpe has already shown significant promise up front in the AFL.
Coming out of Goodwood and West Adelaide – two of the best clubs for generating talent in SA – the 200cm 19-year-old has made his presence felt.
He booted 18 goals for the Crows last season and showed off his versatility, moving from his key forward position to play in the ruck, and even on the wing in short bursts.
Lloyd Pope (cricket)
The whole of SA cricket had its eyes on Pope in early 2018, the leg-spinner showing shades of brilliance for Kensington and at a national level, taking eight wickets against England in the U19 World Cup.
After being listed, the 18-year-old went on to become the youngest ever Sheffield Shield player to take seven wickets in an innings during a dominant display for the Redbacks against Queensland.
He was part of the Sydney Sixers’ title-winning Big Bash League squad in 2019, and in 2020 set another Shield record by becoming the first player to take five wickets in an opening match.
He remains on the Sydney Sixers list despite struggling in 2021-22.
Callum Coleman-Jones (football)
Tipped as a possible breakout star in 2018 while taking the SA captaincy, Sturt turned Richmond forward Coleman-Jones experienced a slow start to his AFL career.
It wasn’t until last season that he made his mark on the elite competition, filling in for an injured Tigers forwardline and booting 11 goals in 8 games.
The 22-year-old was signed by North Melbourne in the offseason and could be a major part of the club’s resurgence.
Teah Charlton (football)
Charlton has gone from a “Christies Beach youngster” to an Adelaide Crows youngster in just three years.
Making her debut last year, the 21-year-old midfielder/forward has shown skill in bunches.
She’s already been a consistent force this season, tallying up efficient disposals for the top team on the ladder.
Izzy Vincent (para-swimming)
Vincent was one to watch ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, but she could very well be one to dominate Paris in 2020.
The 15-year-old’s 2021 was nothing short of sensational.
She became the youngest Paralympic medallist in Tokyo, winning silver and bronze in two 4x100m relays.
She also took out the 2021 The Advertiser, Messenger and Department for Education School Sports Award for the best secondary athlete.
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