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

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

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!

Round Details

What: Grand Final - South Adelaide vs Sturt
Where: Prospect Oval
When: 2:30pm Sunday, September 16
Entry: Free

Under 17 Girls

1 Mackenzie Worsley
2 Georgia  Harrington
3 Airlie Schirmer
4 Hannah Munyard
5 Tayla Levy
8 Rylee Jozwa
9 Mykala Walker
10 Leyla Mesecke
13 Heidi Barrett
14 Brina Thompson
15 Teah Charlton
16 Emogen Johnson
17 Cassandra Wilson
18 Mikayla Fyfe
19 Elouisa Thomas
20 Sarah Wright
21 Bridget Ramsey
22 Casie Coombe
24 Charlyse Quinn
25 Dakota Grantham
27 Emily Brockhurst
29 Brooklyn Kraft
30 Indy Tahou
31 Montana McKinnon

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

Round Details

What: Grand Final - South Adelaide vs Eagles
Where: Adelaide Oval
When: 10:55am Sunday, September 16
Entry: SANFL Finals ticket pricing applies

Under 18s

1 Billy Wade
2 Hayden Sampson
3 Joel Beeche
4 Max Clifton
6 Jake Tarca
7 Tyler Davies
8 Mitchell Riddle
9 Job Colwell
10 Luke Bogle
12 Jake Spinks
13 Sam Whitbread
14 Tate Coleman
16 Jonty Manuel
21 Danny Juckers
22 Zachary Dumesny
23 Reece Milsom
24 Aaron Douglass
25 Ronan Wood
26 Tate Lovering
27 Boyd Austin
28 James Grimley
32 Tom Sparrow
35 Nicholas Kraemer
36 Damon Freitag
39 Bailey Marshman
40 Daniel Sladojevic

In: 
Out: 

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

Junior Girls Match Report

Under 15s
South Adelaide vs West Adelaide
Round 3 - Hickinbotham Oval - 09/09/18

Goals: Neriah Milis 3, Georgia Pennifold, Gypsy Schirmer 2, Bridie Nye, Ella Radbone, Jorja Hooper, Lauren Clifton, Meg Bentley
Best: Gypsy Schirmer, Ella Radbone, Emily Smith, Teliya Hetaraka, Charli Leaschel, Indiana Flynn

Junior Girls Match Report

Under 17s
South Adelaide vs West Adelaide
Round 3 - Hickinbotham Oval - 09/09/18

Goals: Casie Coombe, Teah Charlton
Best: Dakota Grantham, Teah Charlton, Mykala Fyfe, Casie Coombe, Airlie Schirmer, Emily Brockhurst

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

Under-18s Match Report

South Adelaide vs Norwood
Preliminary Final - Adelaide Oval - 10/09/18

Goals: Sladojevic, Colwell 3, Sparrow 2, Bogle, Beeche, Dumesny, Wade
Best: Bogle, Sparrow, Sladojevic, Juckers, Beeche, Manuel

Our Under-18s are through to the Grand Final after knocking off Norwood by five points in their Preliminary Final clash on Sunday morning. 

Heading into the Preliminary Final, Norwood were coming off a confidence building win over North Adelaide, while we had a close loss to the Eagles.

It was important that we got the boys feeling good about where were sitting. It was decided that the game be moved to Adelaide Oval, which was a great experience for the players.

We also got to use the Crows change rooms which had staff excited as well.

We started the game well kicking 5.4 point to Norwood's solitary point. The players had followed instruction to the letter and we seemed to be the side that settled first.

Norwood started to get some run back in the second quarter. We were lucky they didn't kick straight. Fortunately for us they only managed to kick 2.5 from their seven shots on goal, while we were accurate with our forward entries, kicking four goals straight.

When Job Colwell kicked his second for the quarter we stretched our lead out to 48 points.

However, after finding ourselves 40 points up at halftime we came out with a different attitude in the third term and took our foot off the pedal.

Norwood are a good side and were always going to come back at us. We didn't take that well and dropped our heads.

Norwood kicked a couple early and we missed some opportunities to stem their momentum and they continued to press. By the end of the third quarter the margin was back to seven points and we had a fight on our hands.

The last quarter pretty much went goal for goal.

Norwood twice cut our lead to one point, but we were able to answer with a goal of our own each time. When Tom Sparrow kicked his second midway through the quarter we pushed our buffer to 12 points.

The Redlegs did pull another one back, which set up a stressful end to the game. The last three minutes felt like they took forever with a five point lead and the opposition with the ball inside their forward 50.

However, we showed some great composure at times late in the game to control the tempo. The players showed some great character to fight for the win.

It was a great experience and I'm sure the players will get a lot of confidence knowing they can win finals and have now played at Adelaide Oval ahead of next week's Grand Final

We now get our rematch with the Eagles as the top two teams 

play the Eagles in next week's grand Final, we match up well and we are confident we can get a good result.

Mark Clayton
U18s Coach

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

Round Details

What: Preliminary Final - South Adelaide vs Norwood
Where: Adelaide Oval
When: 9:30am Sunday, September 9
Entry: SANFL Finals ticket pricing applies

Under 18s

1 Billy Wade
2 Hayden Sampson
3 Joel Beeche
4 Max Clifton
6 Jake Tarca
7 Tyler Davies
8 Mitchell Riddle
9 Job Colwell
10 Luke Bogle
12 Jake Spinks
13 Sam Whitbread
14 Tate Coleman
16 Jonty Manuel
21 Danny Juckers
22 Zachary Dumesny
23 Reece Milsom
24 Aaron Douglass
25 Ronan Wood
26 Tate Lovering
27 Boyd Austin
28 James Grimley
32 Tom Sparrow
35 Nicholas Kraemer
36 Damon Freitag
39 Bailey Marshman
40 Daniel Sladojevic

In: Whitbread
Out: 

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