SA’s Greatest School Footy Teams: The top 20 schools and all the stars profiled

Which Adelaide school has produced the best footballers? Matt Turner ranks the top 20 school teams and profiles every player in the best 22.

Which Adelaide schools have produced the best footy sides? Artwork: Steve Grice/ The Advertiser

Two of Adelaide’s favourite past-times are football and asking ‘what school did you go to?’

The Advertiser is combining them again this week as it relaunches its SA’s Greatest School Footy Teams series.

Three years ago, sports reporter Matt Turner selected the all-time 22s of Prince Alfred College, St Peter’s, Sacred Heart, Rostrevor, Brighton Secondary, Henley High, Immanuel and St Michael’s with the help of SANFL historians, colleagues and the schools.

Another eight schools’ best ever sides were chosen in 2019: Pembroke, Pulteney Grammar, Unley High, Woodville High, Le Fevre, Norwood Morialta, Adelaide High and CBC.

And last week, after re-selecting the previous 16 teams, four more star-studded school sides were revealed, with Blackfriars, Findon High, Scotch College and Plympton High taking the total number to 20.

But who is No. 1?

SEE THE TOP 20 AND EXPLORE THE TEAM SELECTIONS BELOW

A number of current AFL stars feature in SA’s best school footy teams.

The selection criteria is again based on players’ post-school careers, not their First XVIII performances. Playing state league is considered a minimum requirement.

Achievements trumped ability, meaning present-day players at the start of their careers were often overlooked despite the possibility of future stardom.

Helping pick the sides were Rino Cialini, club historians, colleagues, the SANFL’s Zac Milbank and the schools.

Statistics came from Cialini, the late Mark Beswick, Barry Dolman, John Storer, John Althorp, John Duggan and australianfootball.com.

Selecting the teams and comparing eras were again excruciatingly difficult tasks that prompted long discussions about players or teams.

The updated line-ups are on an interactive module that allows readers to toggle between the 20 schools and click on any player to see their career statistics.

HOW TO USE THE GREATEST SCHOOL FOOTY SELECTOR

Click the school logos below, to see our pick of the best 22 players.
Click each player’s name to reveal their key stats and accomplishments
See highlights for every squad and read a history of each school.

How do you rate Matt’s picks? Post your thoughts, comments and suggestions in the box below.