Thompson, Burton headline football bloodlines as new SANFL under-14 competition kicks off

The progeny of some of SA’s biggest footballing names – including potential future AFL father-sons – will take to the field this weekend for the launch of a new talent league.

The sons of guns are out to play.

With Crows fans still having fresh memories of Scott Thompson exploding from packs and Brett Burton leaping over them, the duo’s sons, Harry and Jimmy, are about to take a big step in their emerging football journeys.

They will on Saturday don the SANFL guernseys of Glenelg and Woodville-West Torrens as the league launches its inaugural under-14 competition.

Norwood and West Adelaide kick things off on Friday night at Norwood Oval, with the remaining three Round 1 games played on Saturday.

The historic state league pathway will pit the eight stand-alone SANFL clubs against each other in a seven-round season, with an emphasis on fundamentals and skill development.

“The objective of the new under-14 competition is to attract the most talented kids to our SANFL clubs earlier to help set them up for long, productive careers,’’ SANFL head of talent Brenton Phillips said.

“We feel that if we can get them into SANFL club environments at an earlier age we can teach them some good habits and skill fundamentals which will hopefully set them up for footy in their 16th and 18th years.

Dads and grandads with their SANFL under-14 progeny, from left, Max and Brian Leys (Eagles), Lucas and Lyle Skinner (Central District), Jimmy and Brett Burton (Eagles), Bodhi Ebert and Daniel Ebert (North Adelaide), Harry and Scott Thompson (Glenelg), Michael Clinch Jnr and Michael Clinch Snr (North Adelaide) and Loki and Stuart Bown (Norwood). Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“We have had under-13, 14 and 15 development squads for a long time and they have serviced clubs well but they are often only two-to-three game series.

“In the past four-to-five years we have made several changes to the talent pathway and to introduce an under-14s competition will allow us to set these kids up even better.

“With a bigger training block and a longer season it will give the young players a really good taste of what (SANFL) club football and regular strong competition is all about. It’s just starting the nursery a little bit earlier so to speak.’’

Phillips said coaches had been encouraged to use players in a series of different positions during the campaign so that they are exposed to multiple roles to improve their all-round games.

“This is not to be results-driven competition, it’s about focusing on development and skill fundamentals and execution,’’ he said.

The under-14 competition will conclude by the weekend of Saturday, April 13, ensuring the impact on metropolitan and country community clubs is minimised and players will return to their local Club with greater experience and education.

Scott Thompson in his Crows playing days with son Harry at training. Picture: Sarah Reed

Brett Burton flies high for the Crows against Carlton in taking the AFL Mark of the Year in 2009.

Plenty of sons – and grandsons – of star SANFL and AFL footballers will be on show in the new development league.

Apart from Thompson and Burton, who played 485 AFL games and kicked 426 goals between them, the sons of Adelaide legend Mark Ricciuto (Sturt’s Joe), former Crow and Redleg Stuart Bown (Norwood’s Loki), four-times Port Adelaide premiership player and ex-Richmond defender Brian Leys (the Eagles’ Max), ex-North Adelaide player Daniel Ebert (Rooster Bodhi), former Rooster and Magpie Michael Clinch (Rooster Michael Jnr) and grandson of former Central District captain Lyle Skinner (Bulldog Lucas) are among those who will strut their stuff in a SANFL arena for the first time.

“It’s always nice to see your own kids running around enjoying their sport, whether it’s footy or any other sport that they are involved in,’’ Scott Thompson said.

Scott Thompson with children, Harry, then 6, and Ava, then 10, after announcing his playing retirement from the game in 2017. Picture Sarah Reed

“It’s a great initiative by the SANFL to run this new program and to see the kids be able to wear a SANFL jumper.

“To see Harry play under-14s now makes me think he is growing up far too quickly. It only seems like yesterday that he was that little kid running around with me at the (Crows) footy club but it’s good to see him now out there with his mates enjoying himself.’’

The young Thompson, 13, who was once a regular fixture at Crows training alongside his dad, said he wants to follow in his footsteps.

“Dad’s always been there for me and helped me with my football and training so I want to follow in his footsteps,’’ Harry said.

“I love getting a lot of the ball and kicking goals and it will be really good getting to play in such a good team with all my mates.’’