SA Footy

Kym Morgan @ Messenger Community News wrote:
Boyd knows his place in the pack


James Boyd want to make his mark at Central

WHEN James Boyd signed on with Central District late last year coach Roy Laird made him an offer that might also have been a test.

``Roy said to me `the older blokes don’t start (preseason training) until a week later, so you don’t have to start until then if you don’t want’,’’ Boyd told the News Review Messenger last week.

``But I said `no, I want to do the first week with the younger blokes’.

``I don’t want to come in here thinking I’ve made it.

``It’s a fresh start for me and I have to re-earn the respect of my teammates.’’

It was a symbolic decision from the 20-year-old, who starred in two seasons of senior football at South Adelaide and finished runner-up in the 2008 Magarey Medal.

Boyd said he came to Central District because he wanted to learn more about the game from the Bulldogs’ senior players.

``I came here to develop my footy and learn from the Gowans boys and Thomas and some of the other senior blokes.

``I’m only 20 and I want to take the next step with my football and I believe Central is the club that can teach me.’’

He is yet to pull on a Bulldog jumper in anger but Boyd said the decision was already paying dividends.

``I’m as fit as I have ever been in terms of my running and my strength.

``The thing that has stood out for me since I’ve been here is the professionalism and how hard they work. In my short career I have never worked this hard.’’

Boyd said he would play an in-and-under midfield role at Central and try to fill the void left by Matthew Slade’s retirement. He expected to spend more time up forward and wanted to become a goal scorer, to add another dimension to his game.

As for the reason for his departure from South, Boyd said there were no hard feelings but admitted he would have stayed on at the club had Clay Sampson not been sacked as coach at the end of last season.

``I went in for a meeting at the end of the year with Clay and told him I was happy and wanted to keep playing here (South).

``Clay wasn’t reappointed and a few things happened and I went in for a meeting with Ronny Fuller and it came to a head that to develop more as a footballer personally for me it was the right time to go.’’

Kym Morgan @ Messenger Community News wrote:

Collins’ Coburg coup


Jarrod Silvester and Travis Ronaldson

IF THE statistics alone don’t sum up the impact Andy Collins had at Coburg in the VFL in 2006-07, the mass of players that have followed him to West Adelaide certainly does.

After taking the Tigers from 12th to eighth in 2006, Collins exceeded all tipsters’ expectations by leading the side to a grand final in 2007.

Six ex-Coburg players have since followed him over the border to the Bloods, including three at the end of last season - Travis Ronaldson, Jarrod Silvester and Nat Caruso. Ronaldson and Silvester are both upfront about the weight Collins’ involvement at the Bloods held in luring them to the club.

``We had a great year under Andy in 2007,’’ said Ronaldson, who captained Coburg that year.

``I don’t think anyone tipped us to finish as high as we did and I’ve been in constant contact with Andy ever since.’’

Silvester and Ronaldson, who are living together in Richmond, will add much needed key strength to a Bloods outfit which was knocking on the finals door for much of 2009.

At 192cm and 92kg, Silvester, 25, has played state football for VFL at fullback. He played five AFL games for Richmond last season including an impressive debut performance on Saints star Justin Koschitzke, but was cut at the end of the season.

``It was disappointing,’’ Silvester said. ``But that’s the way AFL football goes.

``Andy gave me a call and I decided I wanted to play SANFL football rather than in the VFL, where it is so heavily influenced by the AFL.’’

Ronaldson, who stands at 196cm, spent an injury-riddled year at Central District in 2004 and rucked at Coburg in 2007 before returning to his home town to captain-coach Woodside in the North Gippsland league last year.

``I’m fully aware of how strong the SANFL is,’’ he said. ``That Centrals side in 2004 was the best state league side I’ve ever seen.’’

saintal wrote:Parry shirtless...now there is a surprise

I enjoyed the article on O'Keefe.

Jai Bednall @ Messenger Community News wrote:
Unlucky O’Keefe ready to go at Panthers



New Panther Guy O'Keefe

HE won’t admit it, but South Adelaide recruit Guy O’Keefe was pretty stiff not to get an AFL game last season.

In his second year on the Western Bulldogs’ list, the 20-year-old played every game at VFL club Williamstown and was named in the best players on 12 occasions.

But with the Bulldogs overloaded with small, pacy midfield/half-forward types and pushing hard for a Grand Final spot, O’Keefe found himself locked out of the side.

``I was emergency five or six times but never cracked it for a game,’’ O’Keefe said.

``Obviously the boys were going really well.

``All the players in the position I play were always fit and the number one goal was to win a premiership.

``I don’t hold any bad feelings toward the club, I understand it’s a ruthless business.’’

O’Keefe was delisted at the end of last season and despite training with Geelong for three weeks was overlooked in the AFL Rookie Draft.

So along with Williamstown team-mates Xavier Gotch and Dylan Joyce, O’Keefe joined the Panthers this year looking for a fresh start.

He looks set to add a touch of class to the Panthers forward line and midfield rotations with his damaging left foot.

``I played in the midfield most of last season so I’d love to get involved in the rotations here with a few of the new boys and some of the older guys who have had big preseasons,’’ O’Keefe, who has signed a two-year deal said.

``Hopefully we can be a force.’’

Jai Bednall @ Messenger Community News wrote:
Ivens back to finish the job


Luke Ivens is back at Prospect

LUKE Ivens is returning to North Adelaide with unfinished business.

The 127-game veteran, who missed last season while travelling overseas, is desperate to win the premiership that narrowly eluded him, and the Roosters, in 2007.

``That’s still definitely a goal. I’d love to win a premiership and I’m definitely still motivated to play at this level and I feel like I’ve still got something to offer,’’ Ivens said.

Ivens, 27, admitted to feeling slightly out of place when he returned to training at Prospect in January, with few familiar faces from the Andrew Jarman era.

But he’s feeling fit and ready for a return to the Rooster backlines, where he won the club’s defender of the year award from 2006-08. ``That’s where I’d like to play.

``But there’s a lot of young talent coming through at the club so I might have to start in the Reserves and work my way back in. We’ll just have to wait and see.’’

Ivens, a teacher, lived and worked in London last year.

He played for the Wandsworth Demons in the AFL London competition, leading the side to the Grand Final.

And all though the Demons went down by seven points, Ivens was named best on ground.

``It’s a good competition, they have seven teams with three grades playing.

``There were a couple of guys from the VFL there too, the standard’s not too bad.’’

Kym Morgan @ Messenger Community News wrote:
Parry pumped to have finals back on the cards



New Eagle Craig Parry couldn't be happier at his new club

CRAIG Parry has barely trained with his new teammates since arriving at Woodville Oval but the move has helped him ``rediscover the love’’ of football.

The former Panther, who crossed to the Eagles at the the end of last season, had shoulder surgery soon after arriving but it hasn’t dampened the excitement of being part of a legitimate finals contender.

``I’ve rediscovered the love of the game, which I had lost for the last couple of seasons,’’ Parry said.

``That’s nothing against South Adelaide, but just because of where the club was it was hard to enjoy your football…

``It might sound selfish but I think that I’ve got about three years of good football left and I want to get as much out of them as I can.

``It’s great to be part of a squad I think can play finals.’’

So motivated is Parry, a multiple state ruckman, that he has not allowed himself a single beer this year, in an effort to assist his shoulder recovery.

``It can be a bit tough when you are at new club and you want to bond with your new teammates and you’re not drinking but the boys have been really supportive of the decision.’’

Parry crossed to the Eagles as a timely replacement for Brad Dabrowski, who left the club during the preseason due to work commitments, but the ex-Panther said he was not assuming the number one rucking spot was his.

``I’ll have to come back through the reserves,’’ said Parry, who hoped to be playing by round six.

``I want to be the number one ruckman but I have to prove to my new club that I’m good enough.’’

Kym Morgan @ Messenger Community News wrote:
Stuart’s homeward Bown



Stuart Bown has returned to the parade

WHEN retired Redleg Stuart Bown got the urge to pull back on the boots at the end of last season, returning to the Parade was the only option that interested him.

``I played Samboy Cup (under 15) football with Norwood and it was basically my home for 12 years, so this place means a lot to me,’’ said Bown, 31.

``This (my comeback) is not for financial gain.

``I could play amateur football and there would be opportunities to make money but that’s not why I’m here.

``I want to be a part of making this club (Norwood) successful and see it play finals again.’’

Bown was a part of the Redlegs’ last successful era, from the late 90s through to 2002, when the club was a consistent finalist.

But at the end of 2002 a mass of senior players retired or left the club.

Unable to recruit because of of crippling financial problems, Norwood became a cellar dweller for five seasons and Bown, along with stalwarts James Gallagher, Scott Borlace, Matthew Dawes and Matthew Bartemucci, played his prime years in a losing side.

In 2008, reward finally came for the club veterans when Norwood made an Elimination Final and knocked off Port before being knocked out by Sturt the next week. But frustrated with the team’s game plan, Bown walked away from the club.

``There were a few things that were frustrating me and that’s why I pulled the pin, because things weren’t going the way I wanted them to go because of influences from up above,’’ Bown said.

Bown watched on last year as the side finished seventh despite having a seemingly talented squad.

When Nathan Bassett was appointed coach Bown decided to return to the club.

``Last year was a terrible year and we haven’t been able to recruit anyone because of the salary cap penalties but to be honest I don’t think the boys are too fazed,’’ Bown said.

``We’ve got the talent, we just need a solid game plan that is stuck in to place and I think under Bass (Bassett) we are establishing that.’’

``At training it hasn’t been the same old round the grounds sort of stuff, it’s been quite competitive the training, and very match specific.’’

Bown spent last year in an assistant coaching role and Pembroke Old Collegians and said he gained a renewed enthusiasm for the game.

He is unsure what position he will play in this year but said he is happy to play anywhere, even as back up rucking option for Stephen Doyle.

Jai Bednall @ Messenger Community News wrote:
History repeating for Hassan



Salim Hassan is expected to be one of Sturt's boom recruits

SALIM Hassan has been where his new Sturt team-mates are going this season.

A member of West Adelaide’s 2003 Grand Final side, Hassan saw how quickly things can change at a footy club when a few key players are drafted.

After losing Adam Cooney, Sam Fisher and Shane Tuck to the AFL, the Bloods went from second in 2003 to fifth in 2004. The next four seasons they finished bottom.

Similarly this summer Sturt lost stars Jack Trengove (Melbourne) and Michael Coad (Gold Coast) after losing to Central District in the Grand Final.

But Hassan, 27, doesn’t see the same fall from grace occurring at Unley in 2010.

``I don’t think so. Getting Gilesy (Central ruckman Jon Giles) and Hingey (Glenelg utility John Hinge) will make a difference,’’ Hassan said.

``And all the other boys are looking really sharp on the training track.’’ Hassan’s impact at the Double Blues has been immediate. Supremely fit, he has led from the front in training and was last week added to an expanded 10-man leadership group.

It is nothing less than coach Luke Norman, who was a team-mate of Hassan’s at West Adelaide, would expect. Hassan said he had put the ``personal issues’’ which prompted him to leave West midway through last season behind him and was primed for a big year.

``I’ll play my usual role. Spend a bit of time up forward and a bit in the midfield.

``But I don’t expect to spend too much time in the middle because of the quality of midfielders Sturt has.’’

Kym Morgan @ Messenger Community news wrote:
Kane’s main aim to erase the pain



Kane Tenace watch five grand finals from the side line while at Geelong

NOBODY talks about it but Kane Tenace can tell his new team-mates are still hurting over last year’s finals failure.

``It’s not spoken about too much at training but obviously it’s still in the back of everyone’s minds,’’ Tenace, a former Geelong midfielder who joined Glenelg a month ago, said.

``The past is the past but you’re not human if you don’t think about it, and I think it is good that they are hurting so they can use it as motivation.

``At Geelong, after 2008, the players were still hurting until they put it right last year.’’

Tenace has his own past to put right.

In seven seasons and 59 games with the Cats he watched five Grand Finals (three AFL and two VFL) from the sidelines because of injury, ineligibility or non-selection.

Two of the AFL grand finals resulted in premierships.

``I know what it is like to miss out, that’s for sure,’’ he said.

``Hopefully we can put things right for (Glenelg) and for me.’’

Tenace was delisted by the star-studded Cats at the end of last season but said he would have asked to be traded in any case.

With stars like Gary Ablett, James Bartel, Joel Selwood and Joel Corey competing with him for spots, Tenace had been told he was not in the club’s best 22 and knew it was time to move on.

He trained with Melbourne over the preseason but was overlooked in the draft and decided Glenelg was a good fit for him.

Tenace is living at Henley Beach, working for the club and says he is enjoying the pace of life in Adelaide.

He will join the Bays’ midfield group, which has been decimated by the loss of Lucas Block, Adam Fisher and Brett Backwell over the preseason, and says he has been impressed with what he has seen.

``I was told Glenelg was one of the hardest training clubs in the SANFL and so far I’ve been really impressed with the work rate and the attitude of the guys.’’

Jai Bednall @ Messenger Community News wrote:
Biacsi back home


Returning Magpie Shayne Biacsi says he is reinvigorated after having a year away from Alberton.

PORT Adelaide wingman Shayne Biacsi says he is refreshed after taking a year off and ready to light up the field for the Magpies this season.

A regular member of the Magpies’ League side between 2005-07, Biacsi played country footy last season after struggling with injury and form in 2008.

``I just needed a break. I was starting to get a few injuries and had a lot going on outside of footy so I was struggling to get to training,’’ the 25-year-old said.

Biacsi played with his brother Chris for Eudunda in the North Eastern Football League, helping the club win its first game in two years and taking out the best and fairest. ``They hadn’t won a game for about 100 weeks but we managed to get a couple and get off the bottom of the ladder.’’

A former under-17 captain at Port, Biacsi returns to a playing list that has changed remarkably since he left.

``I think we’ve only got five guys over 25. It’s a young list but that’s exciting. It keeps us older guys excited.’’

Chris Day @ Messenger Community News wrote:
Crows fly to Elizabeth



At home ... Central District star Jonathon Griffin will be looking
to show the Crows his Bulldogs form at Elizabeth Oval.

THE Crows are coming to Elizabeth.

About 10,000 footy fans will flock to Elizabeth Oval this Saturday, March 6, when the city hosts its first ever AFL pre-season game at 4pm.

The pre-season clash between Adelaide and Melbourne is expected to feature Crows stars Andrew McLeod, Scott Thompson, Tyson Edwards and Simon Goodwin.

Adelaide’s football operations manager Phil Harper said the northern suburbs was a “Crows heartland”, with about 20 per cent of the club’s season ticket-holders based in the region.

“The exciting thing is, we can actually come to them, instead of them coming to us,” he said.

“It’s always good for us to go out and see the people that travel a long way to support us all the time.

“We haven’t won either of our first two (pre-season) games this year, so we are keen to go out and get a win, and that’s always helped by crowd participation.”

Playford Mayor Martin Lindsell said the council was “very excited” to welcome AFL action to the city for the first time.

“This is a great opportunity for the community to see this level of football being played in our local area,” he said.

Kym Morgan @ Messenger Community News wrote:
Bamford: ‘we’re not distracted’



Tony Bamford says his young playing squad has not been distracted by POrt's off-field dramas.

THEY are unsure whether their club will exist beyond this season but Port coach Tony Bamford says the Magpies playing squad is as focused and united as he has seen it in his time working for the club.

Bamford, who worked as Port’s talent manager for five seasons before taking the senior coaching role late last year, says he has been inspired by the way his players have bonded together since a proposed merger with the Power was rejected last week.

``When I took the job I told the players they needed to improve the intensity of their training and their attitudes and, to the credit of the group, they have responded brilliantly to that,’’ Bamford said.

``Even in the last week, when they could have used everything that has been going on as an excuse they’ve stayed focused, which has been inspiring for me as a coach.’’ Port’s senior squad is one of the youngest in its 140-year history, after experienced players Joel Perry, Brad Murray, Daniel Elstone and Corey Ah Chee - all of whom finished top six in the club’s best and fairest last season - left the club.

Bamford says he hopes to use his group’s youthful enthusiasm and the club’s uncertain future to play with a new vigour this season. ``You can’t replace experience but there are players on our list who have the potential to fill the roles of the guys we’ve lost and even do it better,’’ he said.

``We’ve talked about the need for every player to improve because if you stop striving for improvement you’re dead in the water in this game…

``We’re upstairs in the football department away from everything that’s happening downstairs but when I’ve popped my head downstairs over the last few days the girls have been flat out processing new memberships.

``You can’t help but be inspired by that show of support, and we will try to draw off that extra help from the other side of the fence.’’

Port’s first match of the minor round will be a Saturday, March 27, night match against Central District at Elizabeth, and Bamford called on all Magpie fans to support the side as it went up against the SANFL’s measuring stick.

Jai Bednall @ Messenger Community News wrote:
Three-legged captaincy race


LEADER: Kangaroo Island product Bradley Crabb is in the Panthers' three-man leadership group.

SOUTH Adelaide coach Ron Fuller has named a three-man leadership group for the upcoming SANFL season but is yet to decide on a captain.

Ben Warren, Michael Handby and Bradley Crabb will be the Panthers on-field leaders in 2010, and the trio will effectively audition for the captaincy during a February 27 trial.

``Those three are all terrific South Adelaide people who have shown real leadership,’’ Fuller said.

``But we certainly haven’t made up our mind yet on who the captain will be.

``Their performances over the next few weeks and in our first trial on February 27 against the Eagles will be factored into the final decision.’’

Fuller will name his captain during a ``camp-style’’ weekend of training at the club over the March 6-7 weekend, when the Panthers are the only SANFL team not playing an official trial game.

Meantime, Fuller says the club’s latest string of recruits including AFL-experienced Guy O’Keefe and Kade Klemke were settling in well.

O’Keefe, a forward/midfielder who spent the past two seasons on the Western Bulldogs list, joined the Panthers after completing preseason training with Geelong.

Klemke spent an injury-hampered year on Essendon’s rookie list in 2009 and is a former captain of the Murray Bushrangers.
``They’re both showing leadership as well and have fitted in really nice,’’ Fuller said.

The pair signed just before Christmas along with former Port Adelaide Magpies key position player Josh Taylor, Sam Livingston (Murray Bushrangers) and Taylor Whitford (North Launceston).

Taylor had post-season knee surgery and isn’t expected to resume training for a number of weeks.