SOUTH Australian National Football League (SANFL) clubs continued their preparation towards the start of the season, while state legends threw support behind continual links with South Australian AFL clubs, squashing AFL Reserves rumours in the process were the big news stories this week.

SANFL Trial games

All SANFL clubs continued in their preparation towards the start of the season with another batch of trial games to test out new players and help clubs to finalise their squads ready for Round 1.

League, Reserve and Under 18 sides tested themselves, while the Under 16s officially kicked off their season. West Adelaide bounced back with a win in their League trial over the Redlegs. Potential 2018 top five draft pick Izak Rankine took the field for the Bloods. It is hard to gauge where both these clubs will sit this year, but based on form both will be pressing for finals. Norwood youngster and AFL Academy member Luke Valente was part of the Reserves squad and he will be one to watch. North Adelaide took on Glenelg this week.

North Adelaide and AFL academy member, Connor Rozee was effective in the midfield with his handball skills releasing teammates on several in his sides win against Glenelg in the Reserves. His season will also be an exciting one, as he has now fully recovered from injury and could set the SANFL alight this year.  Overager medium tall forward Oscar Chapman, part of last year’s State Combine, kicked three goals including one long bomb from close to 80 metres.

Glenelg continue to show their recruiting and depth looks strong this year with impressive performances all over the park. In the Centrals v Sturt league trial game won by the Dogs, AFL academy member Jackson Hately playing head to head in the midfield with Sturt’s Magarey medallist Zane Kirkwood, accumulated just under 20 possessions as well as one goal.

Hately has the makings of another youngster set for a big year with all the attributes that put him on the AFL Draft radar for 2018. South Adelaide defeated the Eagles in 2 close hitouts, and former AFL player Keegan Brooksby for South was involved in the play, as too was overager Robert Irra (brother or Port Power Emmanuel Irra) also showed he is up to the level.

Under 18 teams continued their trials as well, and we will be looking to preview all clubs next week in the lead up to the start of the season. There is plenty of young talent to watch, with some of the top end talent getting opportunity at League and Reserves levels already. No doubt the crop looks deep for South Australia for 2018 with eyes firmly set on players earning their spot for the National Championships. Final trials are on again this weekend, but not all clubs are participating as clubs prepare for Round 1.

The schedule of games can be found here.

SANFL U16 – Round 1 Results

West Adelaide 9.3 (57) defeated Sturt 2.12 (24)
Centrals 10.7 (67) defeated South Adelaide 8.7 (55)
Norwood 22.12 (144) defeated Eagles 0.4 (4)
Glenelg 19.15 (129) def North Adelaide 4.2 (26)

AFL Reserves Rumours and SANFL Impact

The recent rumours and rumblings about an AFL Reserves competition has certainly hit a nerve with local clubs and also SANFL CEO Jake Parkinson. Any potential AFL Reserves competition could have a significant impact on the SANFL League and any rumours were quickly squashed during the week.

Jake Parkinson told The Advertiser “I’m 100 per cent confident it won’t be happening next season,” Parkinson said. “It was reported in Victoria it would be happening, but we have categoric communication from the AFL that is not the case.”

The SANFL has agreements in place with the two local AFL clubs until 2028, and with commercial contracts in place, any changes would no doubt be a legal minefield.

Meanwhile, Port Power Chairman David Koch recently told The Advertiser that “it has absolutely no impact on Port Adelaide keeping an SANFL team. We are a founder of the SANFL competition”.

“I don’t know how many times I have to say, we will never leave the SANFL,” Koch said.

There is certainly passion still left for the SANFL and SANFL clubs, with long-time Central Districts coach Roy Laird penning a letter to his clubs’ Board who forwarded to the SANFL Commission. As quoted in the letter Laird is determined to see the SANFL front of mind.

“At this critical junction in our SANFL landscape, those in positions of power must set agendas to one side and be uncompromised in their decision making,” Laird wrote. “Our clubs must think outside the square in promoting and building new revenue streams, and our supporters must do as they always have, and follow their club in our ‘Tribal Wars’ and protect our glorious history and revitalise a great competition.”

Strong words, but they certainly resonate with local supporters of SANFL and local leagues in South Australia.