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Grassroots: SA footy round-up

Aug 19, 2015
The victorious Sacred Heart team after this week's knockout cup grand final. Photo: Peter Argent

The victorious Sacred Heart team after this week's knockout cup grand final. Photo: Peter Argent

In this week’s round-up of local footy news, Sacred Heart continues its domination of the schools competition, trouble over player payment rules in country competitions, Central Districts’ outside chance of finals, and more.

Hearts win fourth consecutive cup

Sacred Heart came from three goals down early in the second term to get home by 10 points over rivals Price Alfred College in the final of the annual All Schools Knockout competition last night.

A goal just seconds before the half time siren by Port Augusta talent Aziel Stuart reduced the margin at the long break to 14 points.

In the third quarter a miracle snap by Jack Kluske drew the Hearts to within a straight kick at lemons.

Sacred Heart, West Adelaide and SA under 18 footballer from Roxby Downs Jayden Brind was awarded the Colin Steinert Medal as best on ground in the grand final.

Not far behind him was a the hard working Kluske, followed by skipper Jack Agostino, Connor Noonan, Mitch Hinge (the brother of 2004 Steinert Medallist John Hinge) and big ruckman Patrick Kitschke.

What made this performance even more meritorious was that Sacred Heart played its annual intercollegiate game against Assumption College in Melbourne on Sunday, where they went down by a couple of goals.

“We played twice as well as we did on Sunday,” Hearts coach Anthony Goodrich said.

“A couple things went our way as well tonight.

“The goal in the third quarter by Jack Kluske was a special effort.

“There were a number of good contributors over the course of the contest.”

Best for the PAC lads were Joel Thiele, hard-working skipper Will Combe and expected top 10 draft pick, Aaron Francis.

South star reaches the ton

South Adelaide joint vice-captain Joel Cross will play his 100th SANFL League match this weekend against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval.

Already a Magarey Medallist and Knuckey Cup winner (South’s best and fairest) Cross has been a star of this competition since his arrival in Adelaide in 2011.

Along with being a consistent high possession winning player and a match winner, he also possesses tremendous durability.

“Joel is the ultimate professional, a fierce competitor, the clearance specialist but can also hurt opposition sides on the outside and hits the scoreboard,” said Panthers senior coach Brad Gotch.

“He is so consistent, but is completely driven for team success and loves the big moments to strut his talents.

“He’s stuck with the club and many of his long-serving teammates because of his close friendships he has developed over the past five years.

“Joel longs to get some success with them all.”

South Adelaide's Joel Cross. Photo: Peter Argent

South Adelaide’s Joel Cross. Photo: Peter Argent

Roy does his finals calculations

With two rounds of the 2015 regular season left, Central District coach Roy Laird can see a path to the final round for the  Bulldogs.

Centrals are four points out of the five, but confront fifth placed South Adelaide in the final round.

“I would call our chances are outside at the moment because we need to rely on Port Adelaide defeating South,” Laird told InDaily.

“But if the Magpies can do the job – and they would be favourites going into that game at Alberton – and we can knock off Glenelg by seven goals, going down to Noarlunga to play South in the last minor round game is an interesting proposition.”

Laird confirmed that he is expecting key forward Bryce Retzlaff back for this game, which strengthens his forward structure.

Currently Central District is four premiership points and 1.25 per cent behind the Panthers.

Regional comp votes against new regulation

In a landmark decision, the Barossa, Light and Gawler (BLG) club presidents have voted nine-zero against accepting a new regulation governing player payments.,

After a presentation from the South Australian Community Football League (SACFL), clubs rejected the new rules.

“Firstly it should be noted we (the BLG) have not voted to disaffiliate from the Community Football League,” BLG president Mick Brien said.

“We’ve voted not to accept the whole of regulation 31, because of legal anomalies.

“It was unified decision with the vote being nine-zero.

“Each club also suggested if these regulations came in a number of committee members would walk out of roles, especially treasurers.

“Our league understands the need for our clubs to work within their means and is confident this is happening.”

The proposed Regulation 31 states that all players must be contracted to a club under the SACFL “Playing Contract” with payment terms and conditions nominated clearly.

These payments must not exceed $3000 per week with a marquee player (nominated before the start of the season) allowed to earn a maximum of $1000, while the most any other player can earn is $500.

There is a travel allowance of 50 cents per kilometre, after the initial 50km of travel.

Sign on fees were not permitted under this regulation and club incentives were to be capped at $250 per week.

It was also proposed that a Zone Register be formed with a raft of penalties for any clubs that contravenes the regulation.

Freeling president Dominic Shepley, who has a strong football administrational background at both community football level and with the Norwood Football Club in the SANFL had serious question marks about the regulation.

“What became evident from the presentation last Tuesday night is the regulation is incomplete,” Shepley said.

“In its current form it would make it very difficult for clubs to adopt.”

The SACFL was expecting to roll this structure out across all of South Australian community and regional football in 2016.

SACFL CEO Leeanne Grantham said regulation 31 had been passed a board level and becomes effective from November 1 this year.

“We are expected a letter from the BLG outlining their concerns, which will be tabled at the next appropriate meeting,” Grantham explained.

“Regulation 31 has been adopted by the CFL.

“All leagues need to adhere to the regulations of their governing body in all sports around this nation. That is normal procedure.”

In the expansive Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara League in the South East, seven of the 11 clubs had a meeting on Monday night to discuss the same issue.

League president Michael Mourbey confirmed his member clubs had a number of concerns they wanted to discuss with the SACFL.

The next SACFL meeting is scheduled for 13 September.

Mason’s amazing 12 months

It has been a huge 12 months for Mason Redman and last Friday night the 17-year-old make his SANFL league debut for Glenelg against Port Adelaide at Gliderol Stadium.

Not bad for a lad who was playing country football for the Millicent Saints in the Western Border League last year.

“It was an awesome experience,” Redman said of his first league game, which Glenelg lost by one point.

“There was certainly a step up in pace and you didn’t have time to select a second option.

“We were pretty disappointed after the game in the rooms – it was a pretty quiet and sombre place.”

Redman had a huge clan of extended family travel up from Millicent to watch him.

Mason Redman takes a strong mark for SA against Vic Metro.

Mason Redman takes a strong mark for SA against Vic Metro.

For the Saints last season he was in their ‘best player’ lists in nine of 11 matches, and was “best on ground” in the side’s only win of the season over West Gambier.

He finished third in the club best and fairest, playing the majority of the season as a 16-year-old.

One of the youngest players at the 2014 State Country Championship in Kadina, Redman was involved in the Murray South East’s first state title, showing composure and poise well beyond his tender years.

He also played five SANFL under 18 games as a bottom-ager in ’14, being in the best players on three occasions.

This year he has continued to develop his game and was a part of the South Australian Under 18s, firstly with the Academy and the State National Championship program.

Redman recently was also selected to go to the national draft combine.

Along with impressive performances with the SA Under 18 side, Redman has been consistent with the Bays reserves as well, playing seven games and being among the best players four times.

Redman will turn 18 on the 28 August and is a Year 12 student at Concordia College this year.

Grassroots is published on Wednesdays during the football season.

 

 

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