Grassroots: SA footy round-up
In our weekly round-up of South Australian football news and characters, Peter Argent reports on an upcoming milestone, a Crows favourite’s emotional induction into Norwood folklore, the names to watch from the state’s Under-18s and the highs and lows from the weekend’s bloodbath in Elizabeth.
Brett James a Redlegs Hall of Famer
Brett James, a Crows premiership player and former Collingwood Magpie who now plays for Kersbrook, has been inducted into the Redlegs Hall of Fame.
He was given the nod alongside triple premiership winner Peter Dalwood, administrator William Blanchard Griffiths, player and trainer George Webb, and sharp shooter Anthony ‘Bos’ Daly, the man that kicked 23 goals in a game of SANFL football.
It was an emotional moment for James, now in his 40s and still playing strong football for his foundation club in the Hills Country competition.
He talked with plenty of pride about what it meant to play in the 1997 Redlegs flag alongside his brother Roger, who went on to win an AFL premiership with the Power in 2004.
Brett James racked up 234 games at league level with the ‘Legs from 1990 to 2006, winning the club’s best and fairest award three times (’02, ’03 and ’05) and was SANFL state captain in 2001 and 2002. He played 118 AFL games with Collingwood and the Crows, including back to back flags in 1997 and ’98.
Family was a big part of his journey; he played at The Parade with his younger siblings, Paul and Roger, the latter of whom he also clashed with in a handful of AFL Showdowns.
“The first time the three of us played in the same SANFL match was against South Adelaide at Noarlunga and we played together in Roger’s last game against Port at Alberton as well,” Brett recalled.
“Growing up, I barracked for Norwood; I was a real Redlegs fanatic…Those were the days before the AFL and to play for the club you barracked for was what I dreamed about doing.
“On reflection, to play in a flag alongside my brother was pretty special.”
James said it was “pretty selfish to play that much football”, thanking those who helped him along the way.
“My dad (Adrian) was a really skill-oriented person and he gave me the fundamentals that helped me all the way along of the journey,” he said.
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While most of the family are Norwood supporters, the James boys’ mum Janice was a Port Adelaide fan, as her father, Claude Greening, played in the Magpies’ 1939 premiership.
Brett has also enjoyed three senior premierships at Kersbrook, in 2008, ‘09 and ‘12, after the siblings returned to the farm. He played his 150th A-grade game with the ‘Brooks last year.
Norwood stalwart Malcolm “Rulebook” Ashwood didn’t waste the evening either, getting the James trio to pay up their “Past Players” subs on the night.
Flash’s Fantastic Milestone
Distinctive with his strawberry-blond locks and his long strides dashing out of the Eagles’ defence or on the outer wing at Oval Avenue, Woodville West Torrens champion Luke “Flash” Jarrad has been a highly respected player over the past decade for club and state.
This Saturday, in a home game at Woodville Oval, he joins the SANFL 200-club in a clash against Central District.
“Luke has had a fantastic career so far, coming across from Victoria in 2006 to try his luck at the level,” Eagles senior coach Michael Godden said.
“He had a great start to his time at the Eagles playing in the 2006 Premiership. Since then he has been a leader of our club and a consistent performer and one we can always rely on.”
Godden said Jarrad was “extremely fit and prepares exceptionally well”.
“Anytime someone plays 200 games it is a fantastic achievement and one Luke and his family should be very proud of,” he said.
“I have no doubt there are many games to go and hopefully more premierships to add to the two he already has.”
Tough Start
It was a baptism of fire for Michael Handby, who last Saturday started his SANFL coaching career with North Adelaide, taking over after Ken McGregor was dismissed.
He stamped his authority with some tough calls, sending former Brisbane Lions midfielder Jesse O’Brien back to the reserves, along with two recruits from other SANFL clubs, Andy Read and Toby Schulz.
Handby brought in a pair of 20-year-olds, tall defender Sam Wundke and pacy Liam Jacka, who won the 2013 Macca’s Cup Under 18s Most Valuable Player.
But it proved fruitless, as the Roosters fell to fellow bottom-five team Central Districts by 99 points.
They were only able to kick four goals all day, going goalless from the 25-minute of the opening term to the second minute of the final quarter, when Jay Shannon kicked only the Roosters’ second major.
The Bulldogs, at their Playford Alive Oval homeground, had 418 possessions to North’s modest 268, including 105 more kicks, a massive 147 marks to 71, 51 tackles to 27 and 35 scoring shots to six.
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Three Central District players — captain Paul Thomas, Luke Habel and ACT recruit Chris Jansen — had upwards of 30 disposals, while best-on-ground Tom Stevens had 29 touches and kicked six goals from a wing.
Marlon Motlop, who has been one of the more consistent players in a horror year for the Roosters, had 30 possessions, but the next best was 23 by Max Thring. Nine of their teammates didn’t get to double figures.
All In The Family
One of the few positives for North in their Ponderosa bloodbath was Sam Wundke’s first tentative steps into SANFL football.
Sam is the third of the four Wundke brothers to become a league footballer, with his brother James playing for Sturt and Michael a tri-club SANFL spearhead.
Sam, a 192cm and 88kg defender, hails from the Walkerville Cats, in the Roosters’ suburban zone.
There have been plenty of cases when three brothers have played league football — the Hanks, Williams, Stringers and Westhoffs come to readily to mind — but this is the first time we’ve seen three brothers playing at different SANFL clubs at the same time.
Playing in defence for the Roosters, Sam finished with eight touches. That’s one more than his older brother Michael managed in Woodville West Torrens’ win over the Adelaide Crows, but the dual Ken Farmer medallist still kicked 2.1.
And James Wundke amassed nine touches playing in the back six with the Double Blues on the previous Sunday in this split round, as Sturt went down to Norwood at Unley’s Peter Motley Oval.
A fourth brother, Nick, played a handful of games for the Roosters in the lower grades.
Impressive Presbury
Another debutant impressed in Centrals’ demolition at Playford Alive Oval, with Kyle Presbury pulling on the boots for the Bulldogs.
With long flowing blond locks, the Eastern Park lad with links to Trinity College and South Gawler is a look-alike of teammate Travis Schiller. And at 180cms and 68kg he shares many of Schiller’s traits — along with some real X-factor.
He is a member of the SA under-18s program and played well in the clash against Victorian Country at AAMI Stadium earlier this month.
Presbury had 19 disposals in his SANFL debut, with four marks and five clearances.
Central District senior coach Roy Laird said it was “an excellent first up effort”.
“He has a bit of pace and uses the ball well,” he said.
“Kyle has a good work ethic and that is a great base to work from.”
Croweaters Eye All-Australian Honours
The Croweaters’ 2015 Under-18s national campaign culminates with a pair of fixtures in Victoria.
This Friday (June 26) they have a re-match with the potent Victorian Country outfit at Simonds Stadium, Geelong. The following Wednesday (July 1), they complete their tournament with a clash against Vic Metro at Etihad Stadium.
“The general mood of the squad is we are going across to win two games of football,” SA coach Brenton Phillips said.
“We are capable of winning each of these contests…I not worried about anything that I can’t control, the rest will take care of itself.”
A raft of new faces have been added to the squad, including Maris Olekalns, Peter Bampton, Oleg Markov, Andy Georgeson, Mark Quinn, Isaya McKenzie, bottom-aged player Jonty Scharenberg and south-east lad Mason Redman.
Making way for them are Kyle Presbury, Jordan Dawson, Luke Hoare, Jack Graham, Matthew Nunn and Campbell Wildman.
At the end of the carnival players have the opportunity to be selected in the team of the carnival, rewarding their efforts with All Australian honours.
Even with two games to go, four players are seen as locks: utility Aaron Francis, rover Luke Partington, skipper Will Snelling and ruckman Andre Parella.
Others in the mix include on-baller Hugh Haysman, Central District’s smooth-moving indigenous talent Terry Milera, small defender Jack Agostino and Riley Bonner, who has been excellent as a running defender.
The squad:
1 Mark Quinn (NA)
2 Will Snelling (WA)
3 Hugh Haysman (WA)
5 Brendan Dew (CD)
6 Jack Agostino (WA)
7 Isaya McKenzie (CD)
10 Maris Olekalns (NA)
11 Will Combe (NA)
12 Luke Partington (N)
15 Jadyn Brind (WA)
16 Jonty Scharenberg (Gl)
18 Wayne Milera (CD)
20 Stephen Tahana (NA)
22 Peter Bampton (N)
23 Mason Redman (Gl)
24 Justin Evans (Gl)
26 Andy Georgeson (WWT)
29 Riley Bonner (WA)
31 Oleg Markov (NA)
38 Aaron Francis (WA)
39 Matthew Allen (Gl)
41 Harrison Westhoff (WA)
42 Luke Surman (N)
49 Peter Ladhams (N)
50 Andre Parrella (St)
Coach: Brenton Phillips
Assistants: Peter Fitzgerald, Chris Brown, Jarrod Meers, Chris Smelt, Malcolm Ellis
Team Manager: Brett Lovell
Talent Coordinator: Joel Kay
Runner: Chris Gowans
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