Joel Cross plays his 150th league game for South Adelaide and takes on golf role
SOUTH Adelaide star Joel Cross claims the club is in a transition period and will benefit from hard work developing the club’s zone.
DUAL Magarey Medallist Joel Cross’ sporting life is all about transition these days.
The classy onballer uses the word transition to describe where South Adelaide is travelling this season as the impact of an overhauled junior program is starting to be felt at the Noarlunga club.
Cross talks about the blending of young talent such as Nathan Kreuger and Liam Fitt into the side, and the emergence of the likes of Tom Sparrow and Tate Coleman as the future of the Panthers.
While there is still the drive for success, he notes it is the job of experienced Nick Liddle, Brad Crabb and himself to provide the guidance on the requirements of league football.
“We have got some good young guys coming through and they will take the club to the level it needs to be,” Cross said. “We are still striving for success, but we are very much of the understanding these kids are the ones who will take the club forward.”
Tony Bamford, who developed the Panthers’ zone for five years before taking on the state under 18 coaching role this season, deserves the majority of the credit for the growing depth of junior talent, according to Cross.
“He did an enormous job, getting that level of professionalism down there and breaking that stigma of people being a bit lazy,” Cross said. “His coming in changed the culture in the zone.
“(Panthers CEO) Neill Sharpe had a huge role as well, as did (former Panthers coach) Brad Gotch.”
Cross has also been in a transition away from football, taking on the role of general manager at the Flagstaff Hill Golf Club.
With a lengthy background in accountancy, Cross had a desire to become involved in sports administration.
The new job hasn’t distracted him from his football and last weekend he made his 150th league appearance for the Panthers since joining the club in 2011.
“Playing 150 games is important for me from a club legacy, I wanted life membership of the club,” he said. “It is important as a recruit and someone who stuck around and showed, as Lids has done, recruits don’t have to just come and go.
“They can make a pactful long-term resolve on the club and the SANFL. I thought I’d come over for one or two years, have some fun and go home.
“But it’s been a great transition.”