Unley Mercedes Jets wins Adelaide Footy League’s club championship award for 2019
There are almost 70 clubs in the Adelaide Footy League but just one rose to the top in 2019 to take out the competition’s club championship.
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The Adelaide Footy League has recognised Unley Mercedes’ outstanding season by awarding it the competition’s club championship.
The Jets were named the league’s best performing club after their A, B and C grade sides all finished as minor premiers, the latter two also claiming the division two reserves and C2 flags.
Unley’s seniors made the second-tier grand final but lost to Athelstone.
The Jets are the first club to win the award twice – after taking it home in 2012.
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Unley A-grade coach Kane Stewart was proud to be involved with the club and said there had been a focus on improving the Jets’ culture over the past couple of years.
“It’s been a good reward for effort for the club itself,” Stewart said.
“We didn’t get the ultimate result for the A grade but the club as a whole this year has enjoyed outstanding achievements.
“To have the A, B and Cs in the grand final as well as our under-16s and under-15s also make grand finals has been great.
“We’ve been getting good buy-in from all the players and we have been trying to make the culture and the Unley Jets Footy Club at best that it can be.
“Hopefully that shows the footy club is one of the strongest in the amateur league now and moving in the right path.”
Stewart will lead the club in division one next year as it returns to the top tier following a one-season stint in 2016.
The Jets mentor believed the club was better placed to make an impact in division one and it was focused on remaining there.
“The goal for us now is to consolidate into div one,” Stewart said.
“I think we are better prepared this time, we know what it takes and we’ve got good depth through our footy club.
“We’ve got a really good club with really good people, too.
“They are hard-workers but also good people in the community, so it’s great to be recognised.”
The league’s trophy, first awarded in 2011, is given to the club which achieves the best score from match results with deductions made for tribunal reports and administration infractions.
Division five premier Hope Valley and its grand final opponent, Pulteney, finished second and third respectively in the award.
Originally published as Unley Mercedes Jets wins Adelaide Footy League’s club championship award for 2019