Here are the five SA country footy clubs who ended the longest premiership droughts this decade
Many football clubs across South Australia tasted premiership success over the past decade, but none of them had to wait longer between drinks than these five teams.
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It’s a commonly used phrase in football, but premierships are what you play for.
Individual accolades pale in comparison to team success, and winning flags trumps all else.
However, they’re not easy to come by and many players will finish their footy days without ever getting their hands on a premiership medal.
Some clubs go years, even decades, without winning a flag.
Here are the six South Australian clubs who, this decade, ended the longest premiership droughts across the state.
Heywood
League: Western Border/South West District
Premiership: 2012
Drought broken: 48 years
After decades without success in the Western Border Football League in the state’s Lower South East, the Lions upped stumps and joined the South West District Football just over the border in Victoria.
The move proved to be a good one, as Heywood ended a 48-year premiership drought in just its first season in the new competition - beating minor premiers Westerns by 40 points in the grand final after finishing the home and away season in second place.
The Lions came from 19 points down at halftime to ram home 12 goals in the third term to put the result beyond doubt.
Mick Wilson starred with seven goals.
Heywood lost the following two grand finals before winning again in 2015, losing in 2017, and securing two more flags in 2018 and ‘19.
Mount Compass
League: Great Southern
Premiership: 2016
Drought broken: 36 years
Almost four decades is a long time between premierships, and so when the Bulldogs finally broke through for victory in 2016 they made sure they capitalised - going back to back the following year.
After finishing the season on top of the ladder, Mount Compass knocked off Encounter Bay in the second semi-final to progress through to the big dance - where they would again face the Eagles, this time on their home turf.
The Dogs looked gone after being held goalless in the opening term and trailing by 14 points at three-quarter-time, before ramming home six unanswered majors in the final term to pinch victory.
Tom Pinyon slotted three crucial goals, while Adam Hunter added one and was named his team’s best on the day.
Mount Compass followed up by beating Willunga the following year.
Gumeracha
League: Hills Division Two
Premiership: 2019
Drought broken: 35 years
It was a grand final they had no right to win after finishing the minor rounds five wins below minor premiers Kersbrook, but Gumeracha proved it’s how you play on grand final day that matters.
After finishing the home and away season in third place, the Magpies prevailed in a shootout qualifying final against Ironbank Cherry Gardens, before knocking off the favourites Kersbrook by just two points in the second semi to book a place in the decider.
The Magpies continued their golden run of form in the grand final, overcoming a 10-point quarter-time deficit to lead at every break thereafter.
Matthew Armstrong and Benjamin Hanna each slotted four goals, with the latter named Gumeracha’s best on the day.
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Rudall (now Eastern Ranges)
League: County Jervois/Eastern Eyre
Premiership: 2012
Drought broken: 34 year s
After winning the flag in 1978 in the County Jervois Football League - which later merged with Kimba Districts to become the Eastern Eyre Football League - the following three decades yielded no more premierships for Rudall.
In 2012, the club amalgamated with Cleve to become Eastern Ranges and the success was immediate in the four-team competition, as it beat Kimba Districts by three goals in the decider.
After trailing by nine points at halftime, the Ranges kicked six goals to one in the premiership quarter before going on to victory.
Grant Roberts was the star around goal with three, while Tony Evans was named his team’s best.
The Ranges have played in six grand finals since, winning in 2013 and ‘15.
Bridgewater (now Bridgewater-Callington)
League: Hills Division Two
Premiership: 2016
Drought broken: 34 years
Bridgewater hadn’t won a flag since 1982 when it made the decision to merge with Callington United in 2013.
It proved to be the right move for both clubs, given Callington’s 2009 and 2010 seasons - where it was on the receiving end of seven of the top 10 highest scores against in SA country football history.
But the union finally yielded success in 2016, when the Raiders knocked off Nairne Bremer in a nailbiter by three points.
Bridgewater-Callington looked down and out after trailing the Rams 19-40 at halftime, but an inspired second half saw them pinch victory.
Jackson Hooper and Max Wakefield both booted two snags each, with Steven Smith putting in a team-best performance.
