SA’s Greatest School Footy Teams: We reveal Scotch College and Plympton High/International’s all-time best 22s

We reveal Scotch College and Plympton High’s all-time best 22s, which both boast plenty of AFL talent and SANFL stars. See who made the cut and how they stack up against the other schools.

SA's Greatest School Footy Teams day two: Scotch College and Plympton High/International. Artwork: The Advertiser/Steven Grice

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.

Now, we are revealing the next two schools for the series: Scotch College and Plympton High/International.

Borne out of Kyre College, Scotch is 102 years old and its greatest team features players from the school’s early years, as well as modern-day AFL talent.

Plympton International College – known as Plympton High until 1998 then William Light R-12 before changing names again in 2017 – boasts a bevy of SANFL stars from the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, mostly from West Adelaide.

SEE SCOTCH COLLEGE AND PLYMPTON HIGH’S TEAMS BELOW

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 such as Andrew Capel, 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 16 schools and click on any player to see their career statistics.

On Saturday, we will reveal the final two teams, Blackfriars Priory School and Findon High.

Plus the latest four schools will be ranked among the initial 16 from 1-20.

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 breakdown of each team.