South Adelaide can confirm defender Scott Taylor is departing the club.

Taylor played 61 league games in his eight years in Noarlunga after joining the Panthers from NT Thunder in 2011.

During his time at South Adelaide, 'Scooter' established himself as a much loved character within the playing group and well respected clubman.

Perhaps best epitomising his team-first attitude is the additional 81 Reserves games he played during his time at South Adelaide, never shirking his duties on the field at any level.

The South Adelaide thank Scott for his contribution at the Panthers and wish him well in the next chapter of his career.

Scott Taylor

Playing Career

2011 - 2018
61 games
5 goals

Accolades

Dr Jim Harley/Frank Brown Trophy (Best Clubman) - 2015
Runner Up Reserves Best & Fairest - 2011 & 2013

South Adelaide is pleased to welcome Emmanuel Irra back to the club for the 2019 season.

Ugandan born Irra returns to the Panthers after spending two years on Port Adelaide's AFL list as a Category B Rookie.

"It is great to have E-Man returning to the club," said South Adelaide Senior Coach Jarrad Wright.

"Our supporters will be familiar with his exciting style of play and we look forward to him bringing that eye-catching run and carry and flair back to Noarlunga.

"He's spent the last two years in an AFL environment and played a lot of footy across halfback for the Magpies. So he's coming back to the club a more refined and experienced player than when he left us.

"We expect him to add some flexibility to our side and are excited by the prospect of injecting his explosiveness and pace into our group."

The fleet-footed Irra played 38 SANFL games for South Adelaide between 2011-16 before adding a further 33 senior appearances with the Magpies.

Irra made his SANFL debut as a raw teenage in 2011 before steadily developing his game.

He was crowned the Panthers Reserves Best & Fairest in 2014, before cementing his place in the League side and earning Most Improved Player honors the next season.

He enjoyed his best season at South in 2016 under the guidance of Brad Gotch, earning selection into the initial SANFL State Squad and culminating in becoming the first Ugandan drafted to an AFL list after being selected by the Power.

South Adelaide welcome Emmanuel back to the club and look forward to seeing him dashing across the wide expanses in Noarlunga once again.

Emmanuel Irra

Playing Record
South Adelaide 2011 - 2016
38 games
18 goals

Port Adelaide 2017 - 2018
33 games
1 goal

Accolades
Reserves Best & Fairest - 2014
League Most Improved Player - 2015
SANFL State Squad - 2016

The South Adelaide Football Club mourns the passing of premiership forward Bruce Alexander.

Named at centre-half forward in the 1964 South Adelaide premiership team, Bruce passed away on Thursday 27th September aged 80 years after a battle with cancer.

As a student at Sacred Heart College, Bruce was College Head Prefect, Captain of the First 18, Captain of the First Eleven, Captain of the Athletics team and played in the Firsts Baseball and Tennis teams.

After three seasons and 25 games with Glenelg up to 1961, Bruce was persuaded by Tony Shaw and Bill Sutherland to come to South in 1963, where he believed he was made very welcome and would go on to play 26 games, including that 1964 grand final.

Bruce always believed that the time he spent playing at centre-half back for Glenelg enabled him to work out what a centre-half forward should be doing in a game.

'I made up my mind to always tackle hard, shepherd hard and keep the ball in our area so we will have more chance to score,' he said in an interview when he flew back from his home in Tweed Heads for a reunion a few years ago.

Apart from the invaluable contribution he made to our club in his short but significant time here, Bruce served in the navy, in government administration in Papua New Guinea and Australia (where he acted as secretary to federal ministers including Lionel Murphy and Don Chipp for 13 years), travelled widely and held a commercial pilot's licence.

South Adelaide send their condolences to Bruce's extended family, friends and former club mates.

South Adelaide bid farewell to a pair of Panthers.

Experienced South Adelaide campaigners Tarak Redigolo and Matt Rankine have called time on their SANFL careers.

A beloved clubman during his 11 senior seasons with the Panthers, tough and uncompromising defender Redigolo announced his retirement at Saturday night's Knuckey Cup count.

Recruited from McLaren in the GSFL, Tarak's time with South Adelaide extends back to completing the club's Development Squad programs before progressing into the junior grades where he claimed the 2006 U17s Best and Fairest.

He made his senior debut in 2008 before winning South Adelaide's Reserves Best and Fairest and the Reserves Magarey Medal in 2011. He established himself as a senior player in 2012 and finished third in Knuckey Cup voting.

Admired by many at South Adelaide for his work ethic and leadership, Tarak has overcome several significant injuries to become a 100 game player with the Panthers and has served as vice captain on several occasions.

He also claimed the coveted Knuckles Award in 2012 and was named Best Clubman in 2011 and 2014.

The elusive Rankine joined the Panthers in 2014 from West Adelaide, seeking more opportunities at senior level.

He quickly established himself as a fan favourite through his penchant for the spectacular and versatility to play in a range of positions around the ground.

In his five seasons at Noarlunga, Rankine added 80 games and 53 goals to his resume to push himself past the 100 SANFL games barrier in 2018.

Senior players Alex Moyle and Matt Raitt have also informed the club they will depart Noarlunga in 2019.

South Adelaide thank each of these men for their contributions at Hickinbotham Oval and wish them well in their future endeavours, both on and off the field.

Tarak Redigolo

Playing Record
2008 - 2018
126 games
13 goals

Accolades
U17 Best & Fairest -  2006
Reserves Best & Fairest - 2011
Reserves Magarey Medal - 2011
Knuckles Award - 2012
Third Place Knuckey Cup - 2012
Best Clubman - 2011 & 2014

Matt Rankine

Playing Record
2014 - 2018
80 games (104 total)
53 goals (66 total)

Alex Moyle

Playing Record
2011-2015, 2017 - 2018
6 games
4 goals

Accolades
Reserves Best & Fairest - 2017
Runner-Up Reserves Best & Fairest - 2012 & 2018

Matt Raitt

Playing Record
2017 - 2018
9 games
8 goals

Evergreen Panthers midfielder Nick Liddle has taken out the 2018 Knuckey Cup at Saturday night's best and fairest count.

The flame haired Liddle chalked up 127 votes to finish five clear of ruckman Keegan Brooksby (122) and sophomore Panther Abe Davis (114).

It marks the fifth time Liddle has claimed the Panthers best and fairest, having also earned top honours in 2010, '12, '13 and '17.

It further solidifies his legacy amongst South Adelaide's greatest players, with only club legends Jim Deane (six - 1948, '49, '51, '53, '56 and '57) and Peter Darley (seven - 1963, '64, '66, '67, '68, '72 and '73) claiming more best and fairests during their careers.

The ball magnet from Coburg put together yet another stellar season in blue and white, averaging a team-high 25.8 touches per game and kicking 17 goals through his 19 games in 2018. His play was a key factor in seeing the Panthers return to finals action in 2018.

Earlier in the evening Kangaroo Island native Coby Helyar was awarded the J.L. Brown Trophy as the Reserves Best & Fairest, while Danny Juckers was rewarded for a consistent season to take out the Centre of Excellence Under-18s Best & Fairest.

See below for a full list of award winners and leader boards from all grades:

Senior Award Winners

Knuckey Cup (Best & Fairest)
Nick Liddle

Mark Rawlins Memorial Trophy (Runner-Up Best & Fairest) 
Keegan Brooksby

Third Best & Fairest
Abe Davis

Milestone Chemicals Players' Player Award
Nick Liddle

Player Trademark Award (peer voted)
Jake Summerton

Flinders University League Most Improved Player
Joseph Haines

League Leading Goalkicker
Nathan Kreuger (22 goals)

Knuckles Award (Best Defender)
Jake Summerton

Dr Jim Harley/Frank Brown Memorial Trophy (Best Clubman)
Bradley Crabb

David Kantilla Memorial Trophy (Best First Year League Player)
Mark Noble

Junior Award Winners

Best & Fairest
Danny Juckers

Runner-Up Best & Fairest
Tate Lovering

Third Best & Fairest
Tyler Davies

Leading Goalkicker
Daniel Sladojevic (37 goals)

Flinders University Most Improved
Joel Beeche

Best Team Man
Tyler Davies

Colin & Peter Haines Trophy (Best Junior Clubman)
Sam Whitbread

Fred & Mavis Whitwell Trophy (U18 Rising Star)
Tom Sparrow

Knuckey Cup Leader Board

1. Nick Liddle - 127
2. Keegan Brooksby - 122
3. Abe Davis - 114
4. Joel Cross - 113
5. Joseph Haines - 111
6. Tom Fields - 105
7. Jake Summerton - 101
8. Alex Cailotto - 100
9. Ben Heaslip - 96
10. Tyson Brown - 92

Knuckey Cup voting: following each game, South Adelaide's senior coaches grade every player on a scale of 0-10 based on their performance during that game. The player who polls the most total votes throughout the season is declared the winner of the Knuckey Cup.

Reserves Leader Board

1. Coby Helyar - 92
2. Connor Fairlie - 86
2. Alex Moyle - 86
4. Scott Taylor - 81
5. Tarik Illingworth - 79
6. Cameron McGree - 77
7. Aiden Baker - 73
8. Jesse McKinnon - 72
9. Jackson Elmes - 70
10. Ben Millman - 66

Under-18 Leader Board

1. Danny Juckers - 57
2. Tate Lovering - 46
3. Tyler Davies - 45
4. Damon Freitag - 44
5. Luke Bogle - 42
6. Joel Beeche - 39
6. Aaron Douglass - 39
6. Jake Tarca - 39
9. Daniel Sladojevic - 38
10. Jonty Manuel - 37

South Adelaide cult hero Jake Veide is returning to Noarlunga.

After stepping away from SANFL football in 2017, the man affectionately dubbed 'The Robot' will look to add to his 114 games with the Panthers in 2019.

"We are super excited to welcome Jake back to the club," said South Adelaide Senior Coach Jarrad Wright.

"A year away from the State league has allowed his body to recover to a point he feels comfortable that he can return and impact games.

"Jake's an experienced campaigner, admired by many for his professionalism and dedication to his craft.

"We look forward to seeing what he can add to our group moving forward."

Veide made his League debut in 2009 against the Gowan brothers-led Bulldogs under then coach Clay Sampson and soon established himself as a valuable cog in the Panthers engine room.

A hard-running, physical presence around the ground, Jake flourished under the tutelage of Brad Gotch, claiming the 2014 Most Improved Player award.

In 2016 his perseverance and determination was rewarded as he played his long-awaited 100th SANFL game after overcoming surgeries on his hip, shoulder, knee and twice on a broken leg through the first eight years of his career.

This season Veide returned to country football, lining up for Mount Compass in the Great Southern Football League and earning selection in the Team of the Year.

However, after a year away he has decided to give SANFL football at his beloved Panthers another crack.

The club welcomes Jake back into the fold and looks forward to seeing his iconic number 62 guernsey in action once again.

Jake Veide

Playing Record
2009 - 2017
114 games
73 goals

Accolades
Most Improved Player - 2014
100 game player

Young Panthers spearhead Nathan Kreuger will get a crack at the AFL with Geelong in 2019.

Kreuger, 19, drew the attention of AFL scouts during his top age Under-18s campaign in 2017, earning an invite to the National Draft Combine, but was ultimately overlooked on draft night.

However, after his first full senior SANFL season, his freakish athleticism and size proved too irresistible for Geelong to pass up.

"We are all very proud of Nathan's development both as a person and a player over the last 12 months," said Panthers senior coach Jarrad Wright.

"He was overlooked at the draft last year, but was back out at preseason training the next night and has shown great maturity and resilience through his commitment to his footy this season.

"His natural ability and talent was never in question and he grew into a key part of the senior team by the back end of our season.

"We wish him the best of luck at the Cats."

The Cats snap up the 196cm, 88kg swingman after trading for one of Carlton's priority mature-age picks that give them access to mature age state league players ahead of November's national and rookie drafts.

"We have been tracking Nathan through the year and have been impressed by his athleticism, skill and versatility," Geelong's national recruiting and list manager Stephen Wells said.

"The new rules allowing Carlton and Gold Coast to sign mature players has given us the opportunity to secure Nathan ahead of the draft. We would have been happy to select him with pick 42 but have been able to reach a fair deal with Carlton.

"Nathan played well at senior level this year for South Adelaide and we are excited to add him to our list."

After being handed Peter Darley's famous number 16 guernsey, Kreuger made his senior appearance in Round 6 against Central District, kicking two goals on debut.

By season's end he topped the Panthers goal kicking, nailing 22 majors from his 13 games.

 

 

A trio of Panthers stars have been selected in the 2018 Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

South Adelaide ruckman has been recognised for his outstanding season by being named the captain of the SANFL's best 21.

After returning from three years with the Gold Coast Suns, Brooksby has been an immense force on the field for the Panthers, leading from the front in every game this season.

It marks Brooksby's second selection to the Team of the Year, after getting the nod from selectors in 2014.

The 28-year-old led the Macca's League in total hit outs (620) and average hit outs (34.4) while also averaging 15 disposals and five marks, he also proved a damaging target up front as he drifted forward to boot a career-high 16 goals for the year.

Joining Brooksby in the Team of the Year are evergreen Panthers stars Nick Liddle and Joel Cross.

The tenacious Liddle enjoyed one of his finest seasons in Noarlunga in the twilight of his decorated career, already claiming the R.O Shearman Medal and finishing third in Magarey Medal voting this season.

The slightly built, but fearless red head has been named on the ball after collecting a career-high 25.8 touches a game, while laying 5.6 tackles and winning 6.2 tackles per contest to go with 17 goals for the season.

The four-time Panthers best and fairest winner now boasts a remarkable seven Team of the Year selections to his name, after also winning a jumper in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2017.

Dual Magarey Medallist, Cross enjoyed another stellar season in blue and white, as he stepped up to co-captain his side for the first time with counterpart Brooksby.

A ferocious competitor, Cross won 25.1 possessions (12.8 contested) per game, while also muscling his way to 6.1 clearances and 4.1 tackles. 

The three-time Knuckey Cup winner also finished a narrow second in the Panthers goal kicking, slotting 21 majors for the year, just one shy of Nathan Kreuger's haul of 22.

Cross now has six Team of the Year gongs under his belt after nominations in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017.

All three men are expected to poll well at South Adelaide's Knuckey Cup best and fairest evening next month. Click below to secure your seat to the Panthers night of nights.

Players in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year were selected on their form across the entire minor round, with AFL-listed players eligible for Macca's League finals also considered eligible for selection.

This year's team was selected by SANFL's Adam Kelly, Tom Hurley and Zac Milbank, Channel 7's Mark Soderstrom and The Advertiser's Chief SANFL Writer, Warren Partland.

See the full selected team below.

2018 ADVERTISER SANFL TEAM OF THE YEAR

 

Under-17G Match Report

South Adelaide vs Sturt
Grand Final - Prospect Oval - 16/09/18

South Adelaide	2.1	4.4	5.8	9.10	64
Sturt	1.0	1.1	1.2	2.2	14

Goals: Mykala Walker, Emily Brockhurst 3, Hannah Munyard, Charlyse Quinn, Brooklyn Kraft
Best: Teah Charlton, Hannah Munyard, Tayla Levy, Sarah Wright, Emily Brockhust, Airlie Schirmer, Mykala Walker

South Adelaide's Under-17 girls have claimed their third consecutive premiership after a 50-point win over Sturt at Prospect Oval yesterday afternoon. 

The Panthers controlled much of the contest before a final term goal spree sealed a 9.10 (64) to 2.2 (14) win.

Both sides flexed their physicality early, with goals hard to come by.

However, South's class and slick ball movement soon began to open up the contest and once Hannah Munyard kicked her first the Panthers were out to an early two goal lead.

To their credit, Sturt came into the 2017 Grand Final rematch a much improved side and they answered late in the term with their first goal through a quick transition from a turnover.

The Panthers put the clamps on in the second term. Skipper Teah Charlton began to get her hands on the football, while the run and carry of Munyard and Tayla Levy soon started to cut holes in the Double Blues defence.

Emily Brockhurst and Mykala Walker were the most damaging forwards on the ground, booting three goals a piece. The latter threatened to blow the margin out if not for some wayward kicking.

South added two more goals in the second, while holding Sturt to a single behind and headed into halftime very much in control.

The third was a physical and dour affair, with both sides combining for just 1.5, but South getting on the end of the important major score.

Sarah Wright and Airlie Schirmer impressed around the stoppages and the Panthers turned for home with a five goal lead.

The final term was all South Adelaide, as the Panthers began to pile on the goals to the delight of the cheer squad in attendance.

Sturt did pull one back late in the term from long range, but it would prove too little, too late.

Help support our juniors with a donation to the SAFC Junior Development Fund!

Under-18s Match Report

South Adelaide vs Eagles
Grand Final - Adelaide Oval - 16/09/18

South Adelaide	3.2	7.3	9.5	12.12	84
Eagles	3.2	6.3	8.10	13.11	89

Goals: Tarca 4, Wood, Sparrow, Freitag, Whitbread, Dumesny, Sladojevic, Bogle, Colwell
Best: Sparrow, Bogle, Tarca, Douglass, Sampson, Lovering

Our Under-18s fell to a heartbreaking five-point defeat in the Grand Final clash with Woodville-West Torrens at Adelaide Oval yesterday. 

In a pulsating contest that saw the momentum ebb and flow between the two sides, it was the Eagles that found themselves on the right side of the 12.12 (84) to 13.11 (89) ledger.

A fortnight ago they played out a tightly contested Semi Final that saw Woodville run out seven-point winners on their home deck, so it was clear both teams would be evenly matched heading into the rematch.

True to form, it was an intensely competitive game between the two best sides in the competition this season, with the lead never pushing beyond two goals either way.

The Eagles started the brighter of the two teams, kicking the first two goals of the game to the southern end.

South quickly answered through key forward Daniel Sladojevic and once Jake Tarca banged home his first two goals of the afternoon the Panthers found themselves in the lead.

However, a classy finish from the dangerous Jackson Mead in the dying stages of the term would see the scores locked at 20 heading into the first change.

Sam Whitbread and Tom Sparrow combined to put South back into the lead in the opening minute of the second term, before Mead again answered for the Eagles.

Big Ronan Wood had the reply as he crumbed a ground ball well to snap his first on his left boot moments later.

The classy Hayden Sampson and tough onballers Sparrow and Luke Bogle started to get their hands on the footy for South and once Zac Dumesny and Whitbread kicked their first goals for the day the Panthers would take a six point lead into the change rooms.

The third term was a much more dour and physical contest, with both sides struggling to fully capitalise on their forward entries.

Key defender Aaron Douglass stood tall for the Panthers in several pressure situations to cut off many Eagles attacks, while Kangaroos Island native Tate Lovering also began to impose himself on the game physically.

Tarca continued to be the most dynamic forward on the ground, as he kicked South's only two goals for quarter, bringing his tally to four for the afternoon, his second giving his team a 10-point buffer.

However, once again the Eagles would not roll over as they peppered the goals with seven minor scores before finally breaking through late in the term.

Only one point could separate the sides as they turned for home.

The Panthers again started well. Imposing Kangaroo Island ruckman Damon Freitag converted an early set shot to push the margin back to two kicks.

However, Woodville would kick the next three major scores to put their noses in front.

Bogle pulled one back with a classy snap in traffic, before Job Colwell bobbed up out the back to run into an open square and all of a sudden put South back into the lead.

Sadly, it would be the young Panthers last goal of the game.

The Eagles responded quickly as Domenic Pratico jumped on a loose ball to kick his third, before Mead capped off a classy transition play with his fourth and what would prove to be the sealer.

The South boys refused to give in and clawed their way to four more scoring shots in the last three minutes, but could only manage four behinds.

Once the ball was finally cleared to the members wing and the final siren sounded it would be the Eagles hanging on for a narrow five-point win.

Mead was awarded the Alan Stewart Medal as the best player on the ground, racking up 21 touches and seven tackles to go with his four goals.

Help support our juniors with a donation to the SAFC Junior Development Fund!