The top 20 Adelaide Footy League 2023 signings so far ranked
Pre-season is in full swing and some big-name amateur footy players are settling in to new clubs. We’ve ranked the top 20 moves across the Adelaide Footy League so far.
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The Adelaide Footy League pre-season is underway and many clubs across the competition are welcoming new faces.
There has been a host of big-name signings for season 2023 so far, with local powerhouses, premiership teams and contenders all adding to their line-ups.
As a busy period continues for the competition’s clubs, we’ve counted down the top 20 player signings to be announced so far.
Here is our list.
20. BRODY TREMBATH
(Brighton to Morphettville Park)
Morphettville Park experienced a challenging season in 2022 but they have still managed some valuable signings.
The club has signed long-time Brighton Bombers leader Brody Trembath despite being relegated to division four for season 2023 and should benefit from his division one experience and his presence on and off the ground.
19. BEN ADAMS
(Blackwood to Adelaide Uni)
The signing of dual club best and fairest Ben Adams marks a big coup for Adelaide Uni after the club narrowly avoided relegation from division two last season.
The gun midfielder returns to the Blacks after a number of impressive years with Blackwood in the Hills Football League.
Adams tallied 16 best player mentions in 19 games last HFL season.
18. MITCH MEAD
(Woodville-West Torrens to Seaton Ramblers)
A tough midfielder who has played for both the Eagles and Port Adelaide in the SANFL, Mead’s arrival should be a significant boost for the Ramblers in division three.
The 22-year-old played five league games for Woodville-West Torrens last season at an average of 10 disposals a game and should have many years of production left.
17. DALLAS HILL
(Golden Grove)
Formerly a gun forward for Central District and Port Adelaide, Hill has joined local powerhouse Golden Grove as it aims to build off of an undefeated division three season.
The powerful key target adds to a potent Kookaburras line-up and increases their chances of gaining promotion from division two next year.
16. KENNY KARPANY
(West Adelaide to Port District)
Karpany joins reigning division one premier Port District after seven seasons with West Adelaide’s league and reserves teams.
A talented and skilful midfielder/forward, Karpany played four league games for the Bloods last season and kicked five goals for the reserves.
His addition is a major one for arguably the strongest local senior side in the state.
15. MICHAEL VIRGIN
(Glenelg to PHOS Camden)
A versatile defender/midfielder, Virgin joins PHOS Camden in division three after multiple years in Glenelg’s SANFL league side.
His experience should add nicely to the Phantoms’ line-up and make them competitors in division two if back to back league best and fairest Henry Papatolis can remain fit.
14. MITCH DUVAL
(Woodville-West Torrens to Unley Mercedes Jets)
Duval has spent the past three years playing league footy for West Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens but has made the move to Unley for season 2023.
The 25-year-old can produce strong shifts in the backline or through the middle and was Unley’s first big coup as coach Scott Thompson rallies his troops for a division three season.
13. JAKE SUTCLIFFE
(St Peter’s OC to Unley Mercedes Jets)
Sturt premiership forward Jake Sutcliffe is coming off of a strong year for St Peter’s Old Collegians but will return to Unley next season.
A strong target who can finish from anywhere, Sutcliffe booted 34 majors in his 15 games for SPOC in division one.
12. GEORGE THRING
(Keith to Pembroke OS)
Thring has reunited with his brother Max after spending time as playing-coach of Keith in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League.
The former North Adelaide and Goodwood Saints midfielder adds to an already impressive side and stands a major chance of tasting premiership success in division three after just falling short of silverware with Keith in 2022.
11. JOSH GLENN
(Golden Grove)
Glenn returned to footy after four years out of the game due to a substance ban in 2019 at the end of this season, playing one game for Golden Grove in division three.
The former Gold Coast and Norwood forward has since signed permanently and will join other big names in Lewis Johnston and Cam Shenton as the Kookaburras aim for a division two flag.
10. KRISTIAN ROOCKE
(Old Ignatians to Pembroke OS)
The former Norwood and Payneham Norwood Union midfielder played a season with Old Ignatians through 2022, booting 12 goals and tallying six best player mentions in 17 games.
He moves to the Kings with Norwood, PNU and Old Ignatians teammate Anthony Wilson, a major coup for the division three club.
9. RYAN LLEWELLYN
(Central District to Modbury)
Llewellyn is coming off of a fantastic 2022, finishing fourth in Central District’s SANFL league best and fairest count.
The versatile defender is another strong signing for Modbury and adds to what should be a line-up which contends in division three next year.
8. LOGAN HILL
(West Adelaide to Edwardstown)
Champion West Adelaide 200-gamer and premiership player Logan Hill joined Edwardstown after retiring from the Bloods at the end of the 2022 season.
A star across the backline and able to pinch-hit in the middle, Hill was a major pickup for Towns after they shocked the competition to make the division three grand final and earn promotion to division two for 2023.
7. ANTHONY WILSON
(Old Ignatians/Port Adelaide to Pembroke OS)
Also listed with Port Adelaide last season, Wilson is one of the most talented and skilful forwards in local footy.
The Norwood premiership player booted 12 goals in 13 SANFL games last season and will combine seamlessly with Tom and Mark Evans up front this coming season.
6. CURTLY HAMPTON
(Plympton)
Hampton has joined the Bulldogs two years after retiring from the Crows’ AFL and SANFL lists.
The former Adelaide and Gold Coast midfielder remains one of the biggest names to join a local SA footy club in the 2022-2023 off-season and could be the boost Plympton needs to earn promotion from division four.
5. PAUL PUOPOLO
(Virginia to Hope Valley)
Hope Valley continued the momentum of its surprise division four grand final appearance to sign former junior player and three-time Hawthorn premiership forward Paul Puopolo.
The gun forward played for Virginia last season and was dominant in the Adelaide Plains Football League.
He should combine well with local SA footy icon and big man Daniel Nobes up front for the Demons.
4. JOEL CROSS
(Western Districts to Sacred Heart OC)
Dual Magarey Medallist and South Adelaide club legend Joel Cross has joined Sacred Heart Old Collegians after spending a year with Western Districts in the Kangaroo Island Football League.
In just 10 games the star midfielder/forward booted 29 goals and was also named best player five times.
His arrival at SHOC sees him join former South Adelaide teammate Alex Cailotto in division one and remains one of the biggest signings of the off-season.
3. ANDREW BRADLEY
(Glenelg to Prince Alfred OC)
Former Glenelg captain and 2019 premiership defender Bradley joined Prince Alfred OC after retiring from the SANFL at the end of last season.
He links up with former Glenelg teammates Craig Pitt, Hayden Jolly and Chris Curran at Princes and also joins star midfielder Jack Trengove.
It is a significant pick-up for the club after it fell short to Port District in last season’s division one grand final.
2. MITCH GRIGG
(Lobethal to Athelstone)
After spending a season with Lobethal and helping to break the club’s 20-year premiership drought, dual Magarey Medallist Grigg returned to junior club Athelstone to honour his late father Chris, who lost his battle with MND at the end of the 2022 season.
The former Adelaide and Norwood midfielder was one of the best performing players in local footy last season and should make Athelstone legit contenders in division two.
1. LUKE BROWN
(Adelaide Crows to Tea Tree Gully)
Brown signed with junior club Tea Tree Gully in October after retiring from the Crows in September, marking one of the biggest signings in recent local SA footy history.
The star defender racked up 189 games for the Crows and played for both the AFL and SANFL side in 2022.
He joins a number of close friends including captain Alex McKay in division one.
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