Little Legends: From Erin Phillips to Tom Jonas – The SA juniors who went on to become big stars in their chosen sports
These little cuties grew into top SA sportspeople. Can you pick who they are? Hint: One will run out in this weekend’s AFLW grand final.
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As the Sunday Mail seeks to celebrate junior sportspeople from across the state, some of our favourite sporting stars have shared pictures of themselves as youngsters – as well as their memories of junior sport and most impressionable coaches.
Look at the adorable pictures and scroll to the end to find out how you can nominate your family’s own young sports star in our Little Legends campaign.
The campaign aims to celebrate kids’ involvement in sport in all shapes and forms, showcasing skills, courage, passion and good sportsmanship.
Each week an online gallery of finalists is published with a $100 weekly prize awarded by Fairmont Homes, in recognition of the importance of grassroots sport.
TOM JONAS
Port Adelaide captain. All-Australian selection:
The plain-speaking 30-year-old defender says it was the first XVIII footballers at Rostrevor College who inspired him as a young student at the Woodforde all-boys’ school.
He also lists former Adelaide Crows’ star Andrew McLeod and Essendon’s midfielder James Hird as players who inspired him as a junior.
But Jonas, who was part of the U12 state team in 2003, describes watching his younger brother, Sam, win a SANFL premiership for Sturt in 2016 as his “favourite sporting moment”.
And what of his most memorable?
“It’s not a great one,” he admits.
“(It was) my debut alongside John Butcher where we got pumped by the Hawks at the MCG and ‘Butch’ kicked a bag.”
Jonas rates Nathan Bassett and Ken Hinkley as his all-time favourite coaches.
“I love Kenny but Bass gave me a start at Norwood and taught me a lot when I was a particularly average footballer,” the All-Australian nominee said.
WES AGAR
SA Strikers, Redbacks fast bowler:
The Victorian-born 24-year-old, who is the youngest of three boys – older brother Ashton has played test cricket for Australia – says hitting his first six as a youngster is a sporting memory that’s going to be hard to beat.
“As the years have gone on, its distance (hit) has got further and further but I’m certain it landed in a backyard somewhere,” he laughs.
He remembers fondly too, his first grand-final win as an U12, alongside his middle brother, Will.
“I was batting with my brother … to taste success like that for the first time and to do it in the same team as your sibling is something pretty special,” he said.
“I think we won with only one wicket in hand too.”
Agar lists his dad as his “greatest coach”.
“Definitely my dad, John … from throwing balls on end till dark in the back yard, to coaching my brothers in our junior teams, he always inspired me to be the best version of myself as a player and a person,” he said.
Agar says he loves now watching juniors take to the pitch.
“I love it because they have so much passion and are fearless in their approach to anything they do,” he said.
JOSH GIDDEY
Adelaide 36ers, touted as a potential first round pick for the 2021 NBA draft:
The 203cm-tall point guard also lists his own dad, Warrick Giddey – who played 449 NBL games – as his best junior coach.
But he also points to Australian basketball greats Ben Simmons and Joe Ingles as providing him with “huge inspiration” as a young player.
Crowd favourite Giddey, who has been described as an “exciting young Australian NBA prospect”, says his favourite junior sporting moment was playing in the U18 National Championships.
“I was 17 years old, we were playing in Townsville (and) it was the first time I represented Victoria and we went on to win the gold medal,” the now 18-year-old said.
“We were down by more than 20 points and we came back to beat South Australia by 10 points to win the gold medal.”
Little Legends: Nominate a little sporting legend and they will go in the running to win a weekly prize of $100 thanks to Fairmont Homes.
RACHAEL SPORN
Former Australian basketballer and three-time Olympian:
Athletics was the first love for the Women’s National Basketball League’s all-time leading points scorer and rebounder who grew up in the small Victorian Mallee town of Murrayville.
“I absolutely loved our school athletics carnivals and just loved competing in every event possible – the 100m sprint, long jump and high jump were my favourites,” the now 52-year-old said.
At nine, Sporn was playing senior basketball as there was no local junior competition.
“By the age of 12 I was a lot taller and was playing in the ‘A’ grade with my mum … in my final year at home, before I moved to Adelaide, Mum and I won our fifth premiership in a row together – a memory that I will always treasure,” she said.
In fact, Sporn lists her mum, Pamela, as her biggest sporting inspiration growing up.
“I would watch her play and wanted to be just like her as she was a great athlete and was a wonderful role model for me,” she said.
Sprinting legend Raelene Boyle was also a hero while Sporn lists her first basketball coach, Graeme Wyatt, as being “instrumental in developing my passion for the game”.
“(He) allowed my first foray into the sport of basketball to be so positive and fun,” she said.
ERIN PHILLIPS
Adelaide Crows AFLW and former WNBA (WNBA) player:
The South Australian sporting superstar says she has loved playing sport – especially footy – as long as she can remember.
As a junior she played alongside the boys, swapping to basketball at age 12 when football was no longer an option for her as a girl.
“I can still remember putting on my long, knee-high socks and getting ready five hours before the game started and, if it was too wet to go outside and kick my football, I would blow up a balloon and kick it around the house, pretending to take speckies, at the back of the couch,” Phillips laughs.
The 35-year-old lists her dad, Port Adelaide legend Greg Phillips, and Australian basketballer Rachael Sporn as her childhood sporting heroes.
“Dad was always my hero growing up, I wanted to play football like him … but he kind of shifted my gauze to Rachael and, from the moment he introduced her to me, I gravitated towards her and she became my new person to look up to as football just wasn’t there for me any more,” she said.
“I later got the opportunity to play with her and I will never be able to properly explain how that actually felt, to play with one of your heroes … it was absolutely incredible.”
Phillips said she loved the idea she might inspire others to take up sport.
“I always think of the time I met (Sporn) and the impact that had on me … I will always have time for kids,” she said.
“The thing about sport is, it is meant to be fun, it is about getting out there and having a go … it doesn’t matter if you are Div 1 or Div 5.”
MARK SODERSTROM
Radio and TV personality and former SANFL player:
Victorian-born Soderstrom aka “Soda” played 121 games in the SANFL with four seasons at North Adelaide, one at Glenelg and 61 games at Sturt.
Today, he is best known for his roles as an SANFL sports commentator, Seven sports presenter and as the voice of breakfast radio on Mix 102.3, alongside host Erin Phillips.
Soderstrom says to say his career started slowly is an understatement.
“I am pretty sure I never actually touched the footy for the first three years, my dad tells me he would look over and I would be standing there counting the stops in my shoes,” he said.
“Then, I remember after about three seasons, one game I got a kick and dad was driving me home and we stopped at the ice cream shop and he goes, ‘I am so proud that you touched the ball today’.
“That moment really sticks in my mind and I still remember that and I had a licorice ice cream,” the now 50-year-old said with a laugh.
Soderstrom says there is plenty to love about kids playing sport, beyond the obvious benefits to health and fitness.
“The thing that I love most, particularly about team sport – and it doesn’t matter what level you play at – is the skills you develop that you can transfer into the rest of your life, things like being planned, working well in groups, developing leadership,” he said.
“It is just wonderful that you see people grow and develop, … a lot of my best mates are ones I played footy and cricket with when I was 7,8, 9 and 10 – that, to me is the best part.”
Little Legends: Nominate a little sporting legend and they will go in the running to win a weekly prize of $100, thanks to Fairmont Homes.
GALLERY: Little Legend finalists, Week 1
GALLERY: Little Legend finalists, Week 3
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