In today’s round-up of local South Australian football news, Southern Districts goes from bottom to top, farewell to a Norwood superboot, new fee restrictions for community footy, and much more.

Southern Districts grabs tenth title

Southern Districts are the 2015 SA country football champions after defeating Murray South East (MSE) by three points in an enthralling and high class contest at Port Augusta on Sunday.

In a thrilling contest played at the Central Oval, Southern Districts completed a memorable rise from bottom of the table last year to title winners under the guidance of former West Torrens footballer Barry Pilmore.

The Southern lads were in control of the contest at half time with a 20-point buffer, before MSE charged back and grabbed the lead in the final term after a Bill Laurie goal eight minutes in.

Will Rivers from Brighton and District Old Scholars kicked what would prove to be the match winner a couple of minutes later, although MSE had their chances to snatch the title, including one shot in the dying minutes that hit the post.

“We were offensively strong in the first half, but they closed us down in the second,” Pilmore said.

“Rigby Barnes, our centre-man, was best on ground in the final, followed by ruckman Scott Hunt and Jack Carter at centre half back.”

Southern Districts captain Tarquin Brown (Victor Harbor) and coach Barry
Pilmore lift the SA country championship cup.

Despite having two fewer scoring shots than Murray South East, Southern Districts’ efficiency was pivotal in the 9.8 (62) to 8.11 (59) victory.

In the other finals played on Sunday, Western (Eyre Peninsula) finished third after convincingly beating Eastern by 64 points while Central avoided last place by holding off Northern by just nine points.

The Don McSweeny Medal for the competition’s best player was shared by Western on-ballers Xavier Watson and Jack Kenny.

Former state under-18s 2013 championship winning left-footer Campbell Combe, who is back at his local club Crystal Brook, was the competition’s best under-21 player.

The tournament’s leading goal-kicker was former Sturt player Ziggy Vitkunas from Southern Districts with nine goals.

After winning the competition’s best under-21 player back in 2004, robust Penola talent Adam Merrett was selected again in the “team of the championship” side this year at full forward. This year’s umpire of the carnival award was secured by Tom McLean from the Hills Football League.

Central Zone footballer Mark Rumbelow uses his Eyre Peninsula teammate as a step ladder during the country championships.

A very late call up

It was a meteoric rise for Norwood footballer Dylan Auciello last Saturday, who made his SANFL league debut.

He arrived at Coopers Stadium expected to play his role in the Norwood reserves but was withdrawn from this side, five minutes before the match started.

A Payneham junior, who has played under 18s and reserves over the past four years, Auciello handled his step with aplomb.

“Dylan wasn’t initially in our 23 man squad because our key defenders weren’t in any doubt,” senior coach Ben Warren said.

“Our skipper Alex Georgiou pulled out at 10:55am Saturday with an illness, so Dylan was the late replacement.

“He’s a good size, at 194cm and is an athletic key defender.

“He has only played five games of football since our trip to Perth for the Foxtel Cup last year. He hurt his hamstring, which sidelined him for the majority of the year, and then in round one this year he injured his PCL against Sturt.

“He is a late developer but didn’t look out of place in his first League game.”

Community Football League tightens payment rules

Beginning next season, the SA Community Football League’s new regulation 31 will have a significant impact on all rural and community football competitions.

The new structure and regulation demands any club must not exceed $3000 in total player payments for any week of the season.

A maximum payment for any player in a rural competition – nominated as the marquee footballer for the season – is not to exceed $1000; while any another player can only receive a maximum of $500.

There is also a structure for travelling players who travel a total of more than 100km to play.  These players can be remunerated 50 cents per km, once they pass the 100km mark.

For a playing coach, a $300 weekly amount will be apportioned to the $3000 allocation for playing personnel.

From 2016, sign-on fees will not be permitted. A maximum of $250 can be paid each week in awards and vouchers, with no individual player receiving more than $150 in any week.

“The purpose and focus for the board was about ensuring sustainability of its affiliated clubs through country and amateur football,” said Leeanne Grantham, the general manager of the South Australian Community Football League (SACFL).

“An overwhelming majority – 90 per cent of league presidents – asked the board to address the matter

“The SACFL then conducted a survey of their affiliated clubs and the result of that was proved at a league presidents’ forum, which indicated a regulation was needed.”

She said the measurer were “a holistic approach looking at community welfare and the longevity of clubs”.

A Player Payment Investigation Committee has been formed, and any person suspecting a breach can report their concerns to a Zone Registrar, who will be elected by each of the six zones.

Prescribed Club penalties are significant. If any club is found that payments are up to $5000 over the nominated amount, the club’s fine will be reflected dollar-for-dollar.

For larger breaches, clubs could face loss of Approved Player Points and/or premiership points.

SA Football Commissioner Tom Zorich sees this as a positive step for community football.

“I’m pleased with the structure that has been put forward,” Zorich said.

“The salary cap is a pro-active move to deal with the issues that are currently on the table.”

Vale Norwood superboot

Norwood’s superboot from the 1970s, Noel Pettingill, passed away last Saturday after suffering a brain haemorrhage following a fall at his home.

He was considered one of the best kicks the SANFL has ever seen.

Coming from North Gambier, Pettingill played 137 senior games at The Parade after debuting in 1969,

He was cleared to eastern suburbs rival Sturt in 1976 and played 20 senior games with the Double Blues.

In 1972 a kicking competition was arranged between visiting French rugby player Pierre Villepreux who, at the time, was rated as the world’s longest kick, and Pettingill.

Petttingill beat his opponent by a significant 13.5 metre margin .

He also won the Royal Show annual long-kicking competition in that era on four occasions.

Croweaters in title fight

South Australia’s under 16s team will play Victorian Country for the national division one title on Saturday.

SA made the title fight after its second win yesterday, defeating the West Australians by a commanding 74 points.

Glenelg small forward Tobin Cox finished with five goals and marking option Isaac Moller, from the Brinkworth-Redhill-Spalding Tigers, kicked four.

Alex Stidiford, Lachlan Pascoe and Tommy Schmusch were the Croweaters’ best.

Brennan Cox, Stefan Giro and 199cm big man Callum Coleman-Jones were also strong contributors.

Four SA all-Australians

Four members of South Australia’s under-18s team have achieved All Australian selections.

The West Adelaide trio of Aaron Francis, Will Snelling, and running defensive player Riley Bonner achieved the honour, along with Norwood ball magnet Luke Partington.

Partington, from Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, moved from Port Adelaide to Norwood this year, due to restructuring in the SANFL. He will make his SANFL league debut this weekend for the Redlegs.

A midfielder with elite speed and excellent endurance, he finds the ball around the stoppages, along with having the ability to spread quickly from the contest. He is a composed footballer who used the ball exceptionally well by hand and foot, along with playing with great passion.

Seen as a top 10 draft candidate now, Francis is from Loxton North in the Riverland. Very versatile, he can play as a tall forward/defender, along with a being pushed through the middle. Noted for his athleticism and game sense, he knows when to back himself and come off his opponent and impact the contest as a third man up.

Francis, who has played SANFL league football this year, possesses very good foot skills, makes smart decisions with his disposal and consistently breaks down opposition attacks by winning the ball back in the air.

Will Snelling, from the Goodwood Saints program, is a small midfielder who is a prolific possession winner and strong tackler. He averaged 21.7 possessions, upwards of seven tackles and four clearances per game during the championships.

Also hailing from Goodwood, Riley Bonner is a tall defender with penetrating left foot and is very efficient on his non-preferred side. He breaks the lines with his rebounds from defence and can play on tells or smalls.

Tough tackling Bulldogs

The biggest upset of the SANFL’s abridged three-game weekend was Central District defeating Norwood at Coopers Stadium.

Three points down at lemons, the Bulldogs slammed home five last quarter majors to win by 24 points.

Travis Schiller is continuing the form that saw him collect the 2014 rookie of the year accolade, while recruit Chris Jansen continues his superb 2015 winter.

The Redlegs have now dropped their last two games to teams outside the top five.

“What was pleasing is the character the groups displayed, as we were three goals down halfway through that third term,” Central District coach Roy Laird said.

“Collecting 99 tackles showed the intent of the group, although we missed opportunities on the scoreboard despite dominating the game.”

The other game that didn’t go to script was the contest at Gliderol Stadium where Sturt went in warm favourites but lost to the Bays.

Glenelg kicked seven unanswered majors in the first term, and held on to win by five points.

Matthew Snook continued his purple patch of form, finishing with 31 disposals and three goals, while veteran big man Clint Alleway kicked four goals.

Recruited from Port this year, Angus Bruggemann kicked four for the Double Blues.

Grassroots is published every Wednesday during the footy season.