Iconic Saint honoured by the Tigers

Andrew Nitschke is regarded as one of the best country footballers to ever pull on the boots in South Australia, as well as being a giant in the junior development space and it has seen him rewarded with Glenelg Football Club life membership.

Affectionately known as ‘Billy’ he enjoyed a decorated football career with Millicent Football and Netball Club where he won multiple club best and fairest awards, and also won the Western Border Football League’s highest individual honour on multiple occasions.

It is Nitschke’s work in the junior development space that has seen his impact continue well after his playing days were over.

He began his involvement with the Lower South East (LSE) Glenelg academy from around 2008 and has developed numerous AFL players and SANFL Glenelg players, together with countless local footballers

Nitschke is always watching players, whether from the sidelines as a spectator, umpiring junior football games, or coaching at interleague level, he prides himself to be abreast of the up-and-coming junior football talent in the Lower South East.

He has been a regular junior representative coach.

In addition to the coaching of the Glenelg LSE Academy, Nitschke has coached the Glenelg Country Zone team for numerous years.

He has always set lofty goals for this representative team at the SA U15 Country Championships and consistently achieves undefeated status during the annual championships in Adelaide.

Nitschke has also coached the Glenelg U17 development team for the SANFL talent identification program.

He sacrifices his time for the betterment and advancement of AFL football players, juggling his football commitments with his full time job at KCA and running the family farm in conjunction with his parents and son Mitchell.

Time might be precious, yet Andrew commits that time because he enjoys watching players improve and go to the next level with their football.

Nitschke is an ‘old school’ operator with communication and discipline as the cornerstones of his unique coaching style.

Although football is the key focus for coaching, Nitschke aims to help the teenagers in his charge to develop into independent young people who can identify what their career football goals are and how they can achieve them.

He always makes himself available to players and families to discuss individuals on their football development and is selfless, dedicated and passionate about that development.

Glenelg is indebted to Andrew for his assistance to develop Glenelg SANFL players.