INS & OUTS 2026

[UK Fan]

My final word on the Cochrane issue.. I can’t blame our club for allowing this to happen. Resisting the request would have been a lose/lose situation. The genie was uncorked years ago allowing the AFL Reserves teams in. The SANFL’s status as a genuine state league comp is diminished and compromised further with every year and it’s only going to get worse. I’m too old to adapt or accept that and (maybe not so much on this site) in the vast minority when it comes to the SA footy follower so will admit the battle is over .. and we lost.

It will turn HD. We just need people who care for the league and not their own careers. I still hold out hope

[Booney]

Not players but 2 important off field departures are Chris Trapp from Sturt and Mark Clayton from South.
Clayton was a talent manager and u18 coach at South who achieved considerable success,
Trapp was Reserves coach and football manager at Sturt, and was basically Mattner's right hand man during a period when Sturt ran a highly regarded football program across the grades.

Any idea where Clayt's is headed?

Port Adelaide is pleased to confirm the appointment of Mark Clayton as Academies Coach - SANFL & Port Adelaide Football Club as part of a significant strategic investment into talent development in South Australia.

Clayton, who has spent the past eight years as South Adelaide's Talent Manager and Under-18 coach, brings extensive experience in developing elite young footballers and will play a crucial role in fostering the state's best talent while ensuring a greater focus on eligible players for the club's Next Generation Academy (NGA) for First Nations and multicultural players.

The highly-respected talent development mentor steered the Panthers to the 2023 SANFL Under-18 premiership, breaking a 30-year drought, and also worked as an assistant coach for South Australia's championship-winning Under-18 team this year.

https://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/ ... SntJg60aJg

[Kahuna]

My final word on the Cochrane issue.. I can’t blame our club for allowing this to happen. Resisting the request would have been a lose/lose situation.

Doesn't look like the club was able to resist Hazydog. Text from an email I received in reply to an enquiry I made on the issue.

"Thank you for your email of concern.

Once Dougie was approved by the AFL as an NGA player for Port Adelaide, the rules state that he has the right to decide if he wishes to play for the Magpies in 2026 or continue his journey with Central District.

Ideally, we would have loved Dougie to choose to stay at the Ponderosa in his draft year, however, he made this tough decision as he feels moving now will benefit his development being exposed to the AFL environment a year early.

The SANFL rules state that an NGA product has the right to choose what he wishes to do and in return we will receive a clearance fee from the AFL club.

This has occurred previously with Tyler Welsh moving from WWT to the Crows and Blayne O’Loughlin moving from North Adelaide to the Crows.

In short Ian, we have no control over the matter."

[DOC]

Jake Cresswell leaves Norwood for North.

Three SANFL clubs in four years.

[Dutchy]

My final word on the Cochrane issue.. I can’t blame our club for allowing this to happen. Resisting the request would have been a lose/lose situation.

Doesn't look like the club was able to resist Hazydog. Text from an email I received in reply to an enquiry I made on the issue.

"Thank you for your email of concern.

Once Dougie was approved by the AFL as an NGA player for Port Adelaide, the rules state that he has the right to decide if he wishes to play for the Magpies in 2026 or continue his journey with Central District.

Ideally, we would have loved Dougie to choose to stay at the Ponderosa in his draft year, however, he made this tough decision as he feels moving now will benefit his development being exposed to the AFL environment a year early.

The SANFL rules state that an NGA product has the right to choose what he wishes to do and in return we will receive a clearance fee from the AFL club.

This has occurred previously with Tyler Welsh moving from WWT to the Crows and Blayne O’Loughlin moving from North Adelaide to the Crows.

In short Ian, we have no control over the matter."

So on draft night does he wear a Port or Centrals polo?

[wild dog]

The same thing happened to the Eagles with Welsh, not sure the year of league footy helped him and his development.

It is a slap in the face of the Dogs who have developed the kid and they get one last chance to see him play for them at league level and it is taken away.

This sums up my attitude; watching Wayne Milera in a final against us, kicking a bag full to help the Adelaide reserves to a comprehensive victory and knock us out of the final was enough to stop me going to the SANFL week in, week out. Since that game I would have only attended a couple of home and away games. Such a pity that this grand old competition is now not even a shadow of its former self.

[northerner]

My final word on the Cochrane issue.. I can’t blame our club for allowing this to happen. Resisting the request would have been a lose/lose situation.

Doesn't look like the club was able to resist Hazydog. Text from an email I received in reply to an enquiry I made on the issue.

"Thank you for your email of concern.

Once Dougie was approved by the AFL as an NGA player for Port Adelaide, the rules state that he has the right to decide if he wishes to play for the Magpies in 2026 or continue his journey with Central District.

Ideally, we would have loved Dougie to choose to stay at the Ponderosa in his draft year, however, he made this tough decision as he feels moving now will benefit his development being exposed to the AFL environment a year early.

The SANFL rules state that an NGA product has the right to choose what he wishes to do and in return we will receive a clearance fee from the AFL club.

This has occurred previously with Tyler Welsh moving from WWT to the Crows and Blayne O’Loughlin moving from North Adelaide to the Crows.

In short Ian, we have no control over the matter."

Added to this, the Dogs would never want to upset the Cochrane clan who are Doggies royalty.

Regardless, for the umpteenth time we lose again, and our recruiting cannot keep up with the AFL pillaging and the lack of commitment to the SANFL from players you wouldn't expect ($3000 a game in vic/sa leagues will do that).

Personally I cannot engender any enthusiasm for 2026.

[Brodlach]

West pick up a new GM of footy from Carlton

[wild dog]

My final word on the Cochrane issue.. I can’t blame our club for allowing this to happen. Resisting the request would have been a lose/lose situation. The genie was uncorked years ago allowing the AFL Reserves teams in. The SANFL’s status as a genuine state league comp is diminished and compromised further with every year and it’s only going to get worse. I’m too old to adapt or accept that and (maybe not so much on this site) in the vast minority when it comes to the SA footy follower so will admit the battle is over .. and we lost.

Yep we lost, the manipulation of the system is almost complete. Rookie list our best, take them mid season, and take our developing exciting juniors in the only year we can expect to see them play for the clubs league side. Richard was my teacher, one of the reasons for supporting Centrals. The irony of this situation is not lost on me. We are at the stage where we either hold back elite young players or as in this case, transfer them over to the AFL reserves side, to ensure they can follow the correct pathway and not do anything to harm their chances of joining an AFL side. We all say the same thing, who can blame them, and good luck to them. They are kids following their dreams. There is little motivation for them to play for the SANFL league side beyond "playing against men" to get some experience. In this case the next generation academy rules were utilised, the next step will be based purely on who the Adelaide or Power reserves team identify as elite talent. They may as well do that and just be honest. I follow most Dogs supporters when we say good luck to the kid, his family have been great servants to Centrals and I thank them for their contribution.

[Dogs64]

The same thing happened to the Eagles with Welsh, not sure the year of league footy helped him and his development.

It is a slap in the face of the Dogs who have developed the kid and they get one last chance to see him play for them at league level and it is taken away.

This sums up my attitude; watching Wayne Milera in a final against us, kicking a bag full to help the Adelaide reserves to a comprehensive victory and knock us out of the final was enough to stop me going to the SANFL week in, week out. Since that game I would have only attended a couple of home and away games. Such a pity that this grand old competition is now not even a shadow of its former self.

Yep, and Jackson Hately. The two best for the Crows. I was so annoyed I rang the SANFL and spoke to Adam Kelly. He didn't give a rats, what sanfl supporters thought. Now suprise, suprise head of football at the Crows.

[Aerie]

Yep, the league was kicked from pillar to post since 1990 and in the last decade it has been hijacked.

35,000 to our Grand Finals still tells me there is a heartbeat though.

Would there be any viability in running the Men's League competition from October to January?

[gadj1976]

Yep, the league was kicked from pillar to post since 1990 and in the last decade it has been hijacked.

35,000 to our Grand Finals still tells me there is a heartbeat though.

Would there be any viability in running the Men's League competition from October to January?

Whilst the 35k looks good, it's heavily inflated by free tickets and the SANFL Juniors function prior to the GF.

And, no, none (to playing it Oct to Jan).

[amber_fluid]

Yep, the league was kicked from pillar to post since 1990 and in the last decade it has been hijacked.

35,000 to our Grand Finals still tells me there is a heartbeat though.

Would there be any viability in running the Men's League competition from October to January?

Free tickets will always inflate the numbers

[Ronnie]

Yep, the league was kicked from pillar to post since 1990 and in the last decade it has been hijacked.

35,000 to our Grand Finals still tells me there is a heartbeat though.

Would there be any viability in running the Men's League competition from October to January?

Free tickets will always inflate the numbers

A number of grounds would not be available for starters

[am Bays]

Yep, the league was kicked from pillar to post since 1990 and in the last decade it has been hijacked.

35,000 to our Grand Finals still tells me there is a heartbeat though.

Would there be any viability in running the Men's League competition from October to January?

Free tickets will always inflate the numbers

A number of grounds would not be available for starters

Exactly, immediately rules out Glenelg, Norwood, Prospect and Adelaide as venues

seven team comp if that's what Aerie wants

[DOC]

Why would Norwood be ruled out?

Woodville has cricket as well.

[The Hound]

would be interesting to see how many they get when the SANFL manipulates a Crows vs Port SANFL Grand Final

[Jim05]

would be interesting to see how many they get when the SANFL manipulates a Crows vs Port SANFL Grand Final

Would be a full house. They love a bandwagon and for plenty it will be the first game they have ever attended

[am Bays]

Why would Norwood be ruled out?

Woodville has cricket as well.

my bad Woodville not Norwood.

[wenchbarwer]

On the Cochrane thing, I reckon if you gave top draftees the choice to stay at their U18/SANFL/WAFL club or move a year early to get involved in the AFL system and play for their reserves team, most would absolutely jump at the chance.

Having seen first hand how determined these lads are at 16, 17 & 18 to make it to the highest level, their current SANFL/WAFL/TAC/school team is merely a means to an end to achieve their goal.

Like it or not, the SANFL is a feeder league to the AFL more than ever, and we've seen that past connections mean little when players return to the SANFL.

Yes, I know, no AFL in the SANFL thread...