In this week’s round-up of South Australian local footy news, a SANFL journeyman gets some good news, the All Schools competition, SA’s latest all Australians and much more.

Mickan gets another two years

Mark Mickan has been reappointed as senior coach of West Adelaide for the next two seasons.

After leaving the Riverland in his teens, Mickan was best and fairest in West Adelaide premiership year of 1983, but missed the finals series due to injury.

He was an inaugural member of the fledgling Brisbane Bears squad, including being the club’s first captain, and was the Adelaide Crows’ best and fairest in its first season in the AFL in 1991.

After time as an assistant coach at both the Crows and the Power, Mickan took Glenelg to the 2008 SANFL grand final where, in one of the best deciders in that decade, the Bays matched it with Central District for two and a half quarters before the Bulldogs ran away with the gam. He was sacked seven games into the 2011 season.

Mark Mickan’s achievements have been rewarded with a two-year contract extension. Photo: Peter Argent

Mickan returned to his foundation SANFL club in 2014 and currently the Bloods are sitting in second place, ahead of Norwood and Port Adelaide on percentage.

“For me to coach this (club) is a real honour.” Mickan said.

“I see some really possibilities with this current playing group.

“The ultimate aim is lift up the Thomas Seymour Hill Cup.”

SA’s latest All Australians

South Australia finished a commendable third – with five wins and two defeats – in the National Inclusion Championships held in Melbourne last week.

The championships are for players with an intellectual disability.

Three members of the side won All-Australian honours – half back flanker Lindsay Drowley, captain Chris McQueen and the Croweaters best player in the tournament, Shane Smith.

“They were a passionate group who really loved their football,” team coach (and Glenelg mentor) Matthew Lokan said.

“It was great to give them the opportunity to experience elite football and coaching.

“Most are currently playing in the SAAFL C7 competition.

“It was also an education for me, learning to communicate effectively with the team.”

During the carnival the South Australians played at Punt Road, Victoria Park and ‘The Borough’ – Port Melbourne’s home ground.

PAC bound for All Schools final

Prince Alfred College had an emphatic victory over Brighton Secondary School yesterday in the All Schools knockout semi final.

PAC won the Glenelg Oval match by 93 points – 16.18 (114) to 3.3 (21).

PAC captain and state under 18 talent Will Combe was best on ground, followed by Joel Thiele, Cole Gerloff, Charlie Hay, Patrick Davies and Aaron Francis.

Brighton High’s best was draft bolter Bailey Williams, although he occasionally tried to do too much while endeavouring to keep his side in the game.

Brad Evans, small man Brodie McLeod and Jay Boyle all were competitive, while Blake Muller’s impressive kicking skills were on show in the first half.

PAC now takes on long-time rivals Sacred Heart in the All Schools grand final at Norwood Oval next Tuesday night.

Last year Sacred Heart defeated PAC for the title, with Ryan Burton receiving the Colin Steinert Medal for best on ground.

Hearts have dominated this tournament in recent years. Last year’s victory featured 2015 AFL recruits Keenan Ramsay and Corey Gregson.

PAC enjoyed a comfortable victory over Brighton. Photo: Peter Argent

Heaven and heartbreak for Schmidt siblings

West Adelaide captain Chris Schmidt, originally from the tiny Mid North hamlet of Robertstown, plays his 100^th league match against South Adelaide this Saturday.

His coach Mark Mickan is thankful the Bloods star is in the West Adelaide program.

“Chris is a player who could have easily played 100 AFL games, when you consider his aptitude and versatility,” Mickan explained.

“I believe his career at that level was cut short.

“The AFL’s loss is a bonus for the West Adelaide Football Club.

“He has been a wonderful skipper for us who has led by example.

“Chris has athleticism, ball skills, game sense and a toughness you admire.

“On top of that he’s a genuine and affable man.”

Chris Schmidt in state colours.

While Chris will be endeavouring to take his side to victory over South, older brother Nick has just been in for arthroscopic surgery after injuring his knee in the second quarter of Tanunda’s clash with Freeling last Saturday.

Often travelling down to watch his sibling play for the Bloods, Nick is an accomplished footballer in his own right, and is the current captain of Tanunda.

Over the past couple of season he has been a regular SA country representative player.

The extended family include cousins Tim, who played 36 games with Sydney, and Sam, a former Bloods league footballer and Mail Medallist with Mintaro-Manoora in the North Eastern competition.

Tim and Sam’s father, the late Lindsay “Foxy” Schmidt, was a triple Mail Medallist, playing with Robertstown in the 1960s and 1970s.

Mitchell racks up possessions

A former Sandover Medallist in the WAFL, Kane Mitchell was comfortably the leading possession winner in the SANFL’s abridged three-game round 17 matches last weekend.

In the Port Adelaide Magpies 59-point victory over cellar dwellers North Adelaide, Mitchell’s performance should demand attention from the Power selectors.

He had a commanding 38 touch game (18 kicks and 20 handballs), took five marks, laid six tackles and won a round-high 15 clearances and just to top things off, kicked a goal.

The lion tamer

One of the great cross town rivalries in country football is the twice-annual clash between Gawler Central and South Gawler in the Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association.

Last year they were grand final opponents at Tanunda Oval, with the Central Tigers enjoying their fourth premiership since World War II.

This season both teams are in the top four.

Last Saturday, the second placed Tigers took on the third placed South Gawler Lions.

Again Damien Herzick’s Tigers enjoyed a significant victory, winning by 56 points.

Their ace full forward Brad Mercer kicked a lazy 11.6, and provided some theatre in his interactions with the crowd.

After he got to double figures with a freakish snap as he was tackled to the ground in the final quarter, Mercer bowed to the South crowd.

This haul was on the back of a 15-goal performance in the round one clash against the Lions at the ‘Dog Track’ (Gawler Oval).

Brad Mercer bows to the opposition crowd. Photo: Peter Argent

Rule change needed for junior comp

A rule that has been used during the national under 18 and under 16 championships over the past two seasons’ should be enacted in SANFL underage football.

To open the game up, at all stoppages each team must have two players in their forward 50 metre arc and a minimum of another three members of the team in the front half of the ground.

It has proved successful at the very elite underage level and would improve the SANFL game locally.

Grassroots is published on Wednesdays during the football season.