Homecoming for Doc

STATE League football is headed to Mount Gambier with SANFL club Glenelg and VFL club Coburg converging on Malseed Park for a showcase pre-season contest as well as other associated events.

The visit will run from March 6-8, with the marquee match at 2pm on Saturday, March 7, at the West Gambier Football Club.

The Roar on the Border, as the match is being promoted, heralds the homecoming of former Roo Matthew Clarke – the 258-game AFL player, premiership AFLW coach and now head coach for the Glenelg Football Club is returning to where it all began for the qualified vet.

“We’re incredibly excited to head to the South East for our first trial match of the 2026 season,” Clarke said. “The Limestone Coast has long been a vital part of Glenelg’s catchment, producing outstanding talent over many years, including members of our back-to-back premiership teams like Matt Allen and Brad McCarthy.

“The connection to the region runs deep at our club, and we’re proud of the strong legacy and bright future that continues to come from this area.”

And Clarke won’t be the only South East born footballer heading home with plenty of locally born and bred talent part of the Glenelg program.

While the March 7 match is the centrepiece of the visit, Glenelg Football Club league team will be facilitating football clinics on Sunday, March 8, for local players.

“‘Roar on the Border’ is about giving back to that community, bringing state league football to our regional zone and putting on a great spectacle for local fans,” Clarke said. “We’re looking forward to a fantastic contest against the Lions and building this into an annual marquee event on the footy calendar.

“The club is committed to engaging with the Limestone Coast community and creating opportunities for locals to be part of the excitement as we build something special together.”

Keep an eye on the Glenelg and West Gambier social media platforms for updates and more information about the weekend.