SA Footy

Over the years, I can think of quite a few SANFL debutants (young blokes, not those who have already played senior footy in the WAFL or VFL) who made a big impact in their first game and/or season. Some went on to become absolute champions, whilst some failed to maintain lofty standards.

Starting with my club:
PORT ADELAIDE
* Russell Ebert
* Greg Anderson
* Craig Bradley
* Gavin Wanganeen
* Nathan Buckley

PAMFC
* Aaron Fiora

STURT
* Peter Motley
* Jack Trengove

NORWOOD
* Gary McIntosh
* Craig Kelly
* Tony Francis

GLENELG
* Stephen Kernahan
* Tony McGuinness
* Rod Jameson

NORTH ADELAIDE
* Barrie Robran
* Andrew Jarman
* Darren Jarman
* Peter Turner (possibly the most disappointing career of anyone I've listed given the way he burst on the scene when making his debut)
* Ben Hart
* David Kupsch
* Adam Saliba

CENTRAL DISTRICT
* John Platten
* Peter Krieg

WEST ADELAIDE
* Mark Ricciuto
* Adam Cooney

SOUTH ADELAIDE
* Dan Moriarty
* Mark Bickley

WEST TORRENS
* Bob Hank
* Lindsay Head
* Bruce Lindsay
* Andrew Payze
* Chris Lindsay
* Dominic Fotia
* David Neimann

I can't think of too many Woodville and WWT players in this category but i'm sure there are a few

I would have missed quite a few players obviously.

I'm not sure about what impact Michael Aish had in his first year, also Kerley (although i do know he was already a successful player coach at country level as a teenager).

The Sziller lads would probably fit the bill for WWT.

Niemann, Fotia and Jason Sziller all debuted in the one year (1988?) as 16 year-olds for Torrens, and think this is why there was a lot of excitement/attention about it.

In recent times James Boyd from South, Broadbent from Eagles maybe, and Bernie Vince who made a big impact in a couple of games in the 2005 finals, and obviously got drafted from there. Zac Hier, holding down full-back as a 17 yo in a premiership side.

Justin Staritski and Richard Anderson at Norwood in late 80's.
Would be a few other from Norwood that played in their 1993 GF side.
Matthew Pavlich in 1999 at the Eagles

Phil Carman, round 1 1970. Best first game ever.

David Kupsch now there was a lad who could play.

Wayne Mahney was a livewire for the Pies in 84. Heaps of pace and goal sense and kicked a heap of goals that year.

Michael Wilson debuted about 6-7 weeks into the 1995 season at Alberton and didnt look back. Was high in the best players in the GF that year (and the next).

Che Cockatoo Collins kicked around 40 goals in his first year in 93 before heading off to Essendon the year after.

Troy Olsen, Simon Pedler and Andrew Mcleod all played in a flag in 94 in their debut seasons. Pedler kicked 5 goals in the Prelim and was handy in the GF. Olsen had a poor GF but had an impact during the year. Mcleod went from U17s to the seniors halfway into the year and debuted in the Bay massacre halfway through the year. Kicked 4 goals and had 20 odd touches on debut. 2 goals in the GF...ended the year the most sought after talent outside the AFL.

Andrew McLoed debut v the Bays at the Bay was memorable three goals at least I thnk his last quarter was sensational.... BOoney has razzed me about that before on this forum....

Tony Symonds made his debut whilst Glenelg had six players off in Perth for a State game, got in best players IIRC and got 2 goals at least...

What about Dennis Sachse, 90 goals in his first SANFL season. Played in a state game against Victoria after seven SANFL games and had Wesley Lofts shifted off of him.

Another North player who had an outstanding debut season was Matthew Campbell in 1983. Actually Andrew Jarman debuted as a 17 year old that year, but he didn't make an impact until 1984 and then had a huge start to 1985.

North had 5 first year players in their 1971 premiership. Adrian Rebbeck, Gary Sporn, Alan Howard, Terry Collins and Barry Stringer. Can't have a much bigger impact as a player than to play in a premiership in your first year.

Bruce Abernethy and Greg Boyd would have done that for Port in 1979, I reckon and Gavin Wanganeen and SImon Tregenza both also would have done it. David Payne would have also for Norwood in 1984 and Norwood may have had a few in 1982

robranosgod wrote:What about Dennis Sachse, 90 goals in his first SANFL season. Played in a state game against Victoria after seven SANFL games and had Wesley Lofts shifted off of him.

Another North player who had an outstanding debut season was Matthew Campbell in 1983. Actually Andrew Jarman debuted as a 17 year old that year, but he didn't make an impact until 1984 and then had a huge start to 1985.

North had 5 first year players in their 1971 premiership. Adrian Rebbeck, Gary Sporn, Alan Howard, Terry Collins and Barry Stringer. Can't have a much bigger impact as a player than to play in a premiership in your first year.

Bruce Abernethy and Greg Boyd would have done that for Port in 1979, I reckon and Gavin Wanganeen and SImon Tregenza both also would have done it. David Payne would have also for Norwood in 1984 and Norwood may have had a few in 1982

Like Paul Stewart in 2006, playing second or third game and did his shoulder after five minutes?

Craig Bradley would be another one.

FlyingHigh wrote: Craig Bradley would be another one.

Yep - 1981.

Debuted early in the year then missed most of the season with glandular fever (or something like that).

Came back just before the finals.

Only played five games in his debut season.

Some other recent Port debutant premiership players...

Warren Tredrea (1996)
Simon Pedler (1994)
Andrew McLeod (1994)
Troy Olsen (1994)

Corey Jones for Sturt in 2000
Matt Cooper for Sturt in 2002

John Clarke on the half back flank for Norwood in 1977. Probably the best debut season I can recall from a Norwood player. Won all the rookie awards in the media and at Norwood. Would have been a great player had his career not been cut short with injury.

robranosgod wrote:I reckon and Gavin Wanganeen and SImon Tregenza both also would have done it. David Payne would have also for Norwood in 1984 and Norwood may have had a few in 1982

Trigger played in a few games at the end of 88 before his excellent 89 & 90. I think the Port/Sturt double header one point game was his second match.

Tim McNeil at Norwood -won Rookie of the Year in 88 (?)

Faded away pretty quickly after that I seem to recall.

FlyingHigh wrote:

robranosgod wrote:What about Dennis Sachse, 90 goals in his first SANFL season. Played in a state game against Victoria after seven SANFL games and had Wesley Lofts shifted off of him.

Another North player who had an outstanding debut season was Matthew Campbell in 1983. Actually Andrew Jarman debuted as a 17 year old that year, but he didn't make an impact until 1984 and then had a huge start to 1985.

North had 5 first year players in their 1971 premiership. Adrian Rebbeck, Gary Sporn, Alan Howard, Terry Collins and Barry Stringer. Can't have a much bigger impact as a player than to play in a premiership in your first year.

Bruce Abernethy and Greg Boyd would have done that for Port in 1979, I reckon and Gavin Wanganeen and SImon Tregenza both also would have done it. David Payne would have also for Norwood in 1984 and Norwood may have had a few in 1982

Like Paul Stewart in 2006, playing second or third game and did his shoulder after five minutes?

Craig Bradley would be another one.

Stewarts' 2nd match, and Hiers' 5th. Fairclough also in his first season at the age of 17 was there as well.

Rick Neagle and David Payne had pretty big years after their debut

Peter Darley - IIRC he had 2 games in the A's whilst still at PAC. His first full season was pretty OK - as was the rest of his long career

Bob Simunsen - does his first season in '64 count???? Or can we count his couple of season pre-league debut?!!!

Then there is that other household name from Pecker Park - Jimmy Brenton. '72 SANFL Rookie of the Year

Andrew Taylor & Jakovich - someone refresh me memory of their first season in SANFL

FattyLumpkin wrote:
Andrew Taylor... someone refresh me memory of their first season in SANFL

Pretty sure it was '86.

Definitely had a big impact that year.

But didn't he come from Footscray?

Magpiespower wrote:

FattyLumpkin wrote:
Andrew Taylor... someone refresh me memory of their first season in SANFL

Pretty sure it was '86.

Definitely had a big impact that year.

But didn't he come from Footscray?

One game in 1983. Very high quality recruit.