South Coast Panthers
South Coast Panthers: we take a look at current South Adelaide players that came from the South Coast in preparation for Saturday's clash against Adelaide at Victor Harbor.
Just 1.5 kilometres, that is all that separates the Encounter Bay Eagles from the Victor Harbor Kangaroos.
These cross-town rivals form the biggest rivalry in the Great Southern Football League, one which stretches 100 years back to the Eagles formation in 1921.
However, the players from these two clubs put their differences aside when they take the next step in their football career and join South Adelaide.
From rivals to teammates, the Panthers senior list is currently home to six players from Encounter Bay and Victor Harbor.
This includes the 2015 David Kantilla Memorial Trophy recipient and 2020 League Trademark Award winner, Ben Heaslip, who hails from Encounter Bay.
Fellow long-time serving Panther, Sam Overall, was recruited from Slippa's rival club, Victor Harbor.
Likewise, the 2019 Reserves Trademark Award winner, Jesse McKinnon, was also recruited from Victor Harbor.
And the up-and-coming Panther pair of Marcus Lippett and Lachlan Williams were once teammates at Encounter Bay before swapping the blue and gold for blue and white.
Lastly, but certainly not least; the sixth Panther on this South Coast list is the high-flying, Mark of the Year contender, Jake Tarca, who also hails from Encounter Bay.
Although this is a talented list, it is far from the only senior listed players that the Panthers have recruited from the Great Southern Football League.
Also hailing from the GSFL is Hayden Sampson (Myponga/Sellicks), Matty Roberts (Langhorne Creek), Cooper Machin (Strathalbyn), and McLaren pair, Sam Whitbread and Liam Fitt.
There is also a trio of Panthers that were recruited from Willunga, with Liam Nye and Aaron Douglass all hailing from the Demons.
Some of these local boys will return to their old stomping ground this weekend as the Panthers face off against Adelaide at the Victor Harbor Oval on Saturday, 10 July, from 2:30pm.
