By Colin MacGillivray

New Edenhope-Apsley senior football coach Adi Campbell believes his team has what it takes to be the ‘surprise packet’ of the 2024 season.

The Saints finished sixth on the ladder last year and were dispatched by Noradjuha-Quantong in a lopsided elimination final, but Campbell said the team displayed renewed motivation during pre-season training, with a handful of recruits sprinkled among a core group of local players.

“The way the locals have been training, I’m looking for us to finish pretty high. I reckon we’re looking at a finals team,” he said.

“I’m not sure what the other clubs are doing or what they look like because I’m new to the league, but from what I can gather, especially with the way our boys are training at the moment, we’ll be looking good.

“We’re getting about 30 to training and the boys are really committed to having a crack, so I’m quietly optimistic that we’ll be right up the top somewhere.”

Campbell was tight-lipped about the Saints’ recruiting process, saying he preferred opposing teams to know as little as possible entering the season, but confirmed former SANFL junior player Brock Summerhayes would join the club.

Also bolstering the Saints’ line-up will be 2023 Kowree-Narracoorte-Tatiara Football League, KNTFL, under-17 best-and-fairest Heath Keatley, who crosses from Bordertown.

Midfielder Adam Hood will step into the senior squad from the Saints’ under-17 ranks, while Charlie Campbell was tabbed as a player to watch.

Edenhope-Apsley president Lizzie Kealy said some families had chosen to depart the club during the summer, with rumours circulating an Apsley-based contingent of the club would look to join with KNTFL team Border Districts.

Earlier this month the KNTFL announced Border Districts would play two home games at Apsley in 2024.

Ms Kealy acknowledged the departure of some players from Edenhope-Apsley and wished them well.

“As with all clubs there is movement of players and families,” she said.

“A few families chose to depart the club and join another club, which is fine. That’s a personal choice for them.

“There was a lot of misconstrued information and rumours going around, and I think it would be remiss of me to brush over it, but we’re hitting the ground running.”

Ms Kealy said enthusiasm was high at the Saints.

“We’re just looking forward to pushing into 2024 and having as much success on and off the field as we can,” she said.

“We want to ensure our sporting clubs can continue for our kids and our communities going forward, because that’s the most important thing.”

Coaches: 

Seniors: Adi Campbell

Reserves: Mitch Linto

Under-17s: Ben Muir

Under-14s: Allan McIntyre

Under-11s: Adam Dunstan

Auskick: Brad West and Grant Coxon

The entire March 27, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire March 27, 2024 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!