by limb » Wed Mar 27, 2019 2:07 pm
Great little preview from Simmo on the Times website:
Great Southern football looks stronger in 2019 with big names signing on
The 2019 Great Southern Football League season starts on April 6 and clubs have been busy in the off season boosting their lists with the headline signings being AFL star Ryan Griffen, Brad Helbig, Simon Phillips and Xavier Gotch.
Langhorne Creek won the 2018 flag and coach Clint Godwin will be concerned the club does not suffer the dreaded premiership hangover. The Hawks have lost Lachlan Earl, Ben Warren and Ben McLeod, but have picked up Beau Walkom, Ryan Haylock, Dale Chandler, Phil Cleggett and hopeful of South Adelaide star Coby Helyar signing on.
McLaren were runner up in 2018 and were the Cinderella story of the competition and coach Gianni Petrucci has picked up Cody Ellison, Max Wakefield and Billy Gregory and lost speedster Oliver Dowling.
Mount Compass have been the benchmark in the competition for the past five years and look to be strong once again in 2019 under coach Peter Galbraith, who is in his eighth year at the helm.
The Dogs have lost Bernie Veide, Stuart Hill, Duane Schultz and Dale Ellis, but recruited Adam Hunter back to the club, Dwayne Ruddock, Shane Heatley and Steve Copestick.
Willunga have changed coaches with Steve Jaggard making way for prodigal son Mitch Portlock. The Demons look stronger in 2019 with the acquisitions of Scott Hunt, Daniel Lee, Nick Scanlon, Josh Dawson and Brett Miegel.
Encounter Bay will miss the ball winning ability of Ben Davis, Charlie Sharples and Rigby Barnes, but picked up some class with Patty Barrett, Tyler Baldock and Harry Toole. Coach Jed Wilson will also utilise the youth at the club which won the senior colts flag in 2018.
Victor Harbor will demand finals action in 2019 and Clint Alleway is the man to deliver it. The Roos have picked up Brock Schubert, Ben Yeomans, Jack Lang, Kurt Lindner, Jordan Bohnsack, James Bramley, Pat Conti, Ryan Jeffries and Jack Manning.
However, they have lost Doug Proud, Matt Beveridge, Matt Kreuger and Brad Borrillo.
Strathalbyn coach Todd Price will be excited with the return of Ben Simounds. The Roosters have also acquired Tom McNamara, Ethan Bell and Sam Luckett and lost Chris Clark, Sam George and Beau Walkom.
Myponga-Sellicks have a new coach in Wayne Deacon and picked up former Power listed player Simon Phillips, Tyler Harmon, Jack Fitzpatrick and Jordan Kennedy. The Mudlarks have lost the Merrett brothers, Josh Miller, Ty Allen and Scott Carpenter.
Yankalilla have outstanding inclusions for 2019 with South star Xavier Gotch, Chris Clark, Zac Edwards Joe Tyllis, Luke Durdin and Ben Pulbrook hopping on the list. Coach Joel Kay will have the Tigers surging up the ladder in 2019, although they have lost Luke Bartlett and Josh Barras.
Goolwa-Port Elliot has the biggest name return to the GSFL in Ryan Griffen and coach David Carnevale will enjoy having a stronger list in 2019. Brad Helbig, Matt Weise, Todd Marsh, Kyle Stoldt and Ryan Sutter join Griffen in gaining the club more wins this season and getting off the bottom.