SANFL replay: Sturt v South Adelaide league clash, plus reserves double-header live stream
Rewatch the North v West and Sturt v South reserves clashes from Saturday and the Double Blues v Panthers league encounter here.
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South Australian Football Hall of Fame member John Condon might soon find himself very conflicted.
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The legendary football administrator, who spent 23 years in a management role at North Adelaide from 1969-91, being involved in four premierships, before joining Adelaide, will have his loyalties divided when the Roosters meet the Eagles in a grand final rematch at Prospect Oval in round 17.
A passionate North and Crows supporter, where he served from 1992-1998 and continues to be involved with their past players board and heritage committee, Condon’s grandson, Luke Beecken, has burst onto the league scene and been influential in Woodville-West Torrens’ return to form.
Thrown in at the deep end against fellow flag contender South Adelaide in round six, Beecken, 20, has shown maturity beyond his years to nail down a spot in coach Jade Sheedy’s defence.
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In five games on a half-back flank, he has averaged 16 disposals and five marks while using his exceptional running and kicking ability to roam downfield to kick three goals.
Beecken has impressed the Eagles with his talent and leadership qualities.
His sharp rise has even prompted Condon, a diehard Rooster who watches most of his grandson’s games, to sign up as an Eagles member.
“My wife Elaine had already become an Eagles member and I told Luke Powell (Eagles CEO) that I would join when Luke got into the A-grade side,’’ Condon said, ahead of the Eagles’ meeting with Glenelg on Sunday.
“Four weeks later he was named in the team, so I’ve gone to the office at Woodville Oval to pay up and was greeted by the coach, CEO and football manager, which was a bit of fun.’’
The Eagles v Tigers clash is among the standout fixtures in this weekend’s SANFL action.
Another is finals contender Sturt’s meeting with third-placed South Adelaide at Unley, which will be live streamed on The Advertiser website from 2.10pm on Saturday.
Beecken, the son of Condon’s daughter, Shendelle, was born at Yorketown but has risen through the ranks at the Eagles after the family moved to West Lakes Shore.
The lightly-built, 186cm middle sibling of three boys has already played in three Eagles premierships – two under-18s and last year’s reserves – primarily as a half-forward flanker, and has received some nibbles from AFL clubs.
But that interest is certain to intensify after he moved into defence this year and quickly became a key member of Sheedy’s back six, playing alongside veteran premiership players Luke Thompson and Patrick Giuffreda.
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“It was a bit of a surprise getting a game in the league team so early this year but the boys around me have been really supportive and helped me adapt to the level,’’ Beecken said.
“I’m loving being a part of the side and hopefully I can maintain my form and hold my spot for the rest of the year.
“I grew up loving kicking goals as a forward but the move down back has been good for me and has helped me play the best footy of my career.’’
Beecken is a classy, two-sided player who backs in his speed and endurance.
Modelling his game on Adelaide’s Brodie Smith and Geelong’s Isaac Smith, he tries to make every disposal count, working on the theory that “a good 10-15 possessions are better than 30 average ones’’.
Beecken said his grandfather’s love of football, which in 2018 saw him lauded by the AFL Commission with the prestigious Jack Titus Service Award for his six decades in football administration, had influenced his passion for the sport.
“He’s been very supportive,’’ he said.
The Eagles, who have won their past four games to jump to second after losing three of their previous five, will look to extend their hot run of form when they take on unbeaten Glenelg at Woodville Oval.
“We’ve had a really good month and feel we are ready to give this game a red-hot crack,’’ Beecken said.
The Double Blues’ reserves encounter with the Panthers will also be live streamed on advertiser.com.au from 11.30am on Saturday, along with the North Adelaide v West Adelaide reserves fixture from 10.30am.