South East claims country title

SOUTH East has claimed its fifth THINK! Road Safety South Australian Men’s Country Championship with a hard fought 15-point win against Southern Districts in the Grand Final at Memorial Oval in Port Pirie, while the South East Women finished runner up in a successful weekend for the South East Zone.

Finishing undefeated across its three appearances, the South East Men earned their first crown since 2022 as the championships’ leading goal kicker – Frazer Bradley – shone with six majors in the title decider.

Other better players in the men’s title decider were Will Schreiber who played on ball, Zac Richards in the centre, Darcy King up forward, Mitch Pulmer in the backline and Daniel Bibby who played on ball.

South East – which includes players from the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara, Limestone Coast and Mid South East Football Leagues – fittingly had six players selected in the AAMI Men’s Team of the Championship including Bradley, who booted nine goals for the championships.

South East mentor Daron McElroy was awarded the Bill Murdoch Medal as Coach of the Championships.

McElroy was elevated from assistant to head coach after appointed coach Jack Kelly was unable to make the trip.

South East co-captain Todd Reid was adjudged the winner of the SA Power Networks Leadership award.

Returning to the heart of Northern Zone in Port Pirie for the first time since 2019, the THINK! Road Safety SA Country Championships were played across three days at the Memorial Oval and Port Pirie West Oval with matches returning to the Friday night after their successful introduction last year.

South East Country Zone Committee chair Scott Duncan was thrilled with another successful campaign.

“We had a great group of players who really connected well as a team, everyone played the role they were given and our teamwork over the weekend was outstanding,” Duncan said.

“Daron McElroy and his coaching staff did a great job after Daron had to step in to replace Jack Kelly on Friday morning after Jack had a family issue arise. The plans Jack put in before the championships just continued with Daron taking over the role, stepping up from his previous role as assistant coach along with Zac Richards who was our other assistant coach.”

Duncan also praised the leadership of captain Todd Reid and vice captain Kade Bradley, with the support staff that kept the players on the park for three matches also coming in for his gratitude.

“For the South East the carnival was successful with our men’s and women’s teams making the grand final, our women’s team were outstanding as their season finished last December, so they haven’t for played for seven months,” Duncan said.

The women travelled to Adelaide on Thursday night as they had to play on Friday night, playing again on Saturday then the grand final on Sunday.

“The coach Chris Boston has done an outstanding job with the team along with Scarrlet Jarrad as assistant coach and all the support staff,” Duncan said. “We should be very proud of the way both teams represented the South East and the way they combined as teams and while the men were successful the women’s team played well with seven players under 18 our future looks great.”

The South East chief said the carnival was well organised and Port Pirie turned on the weather with Friday night and Saturday perfect for football and Sunday having a bit of wind blowing but this dropped of later in the day.

“We had the longest travel to the championships but this allowed our players to build on there connection,” Duncan said.

The six players who made the Men’s Team of the Championships, were Frazer Bradley (Full Forward), Nathan Studham (Half Forward Flank), Zac Richards (Centre), Todd Reid (Half Back Flank), Jayden Eldridge (Back Pocket) and Will Schreiber (Interchange).

Frazer Bradley was also the Men’s Leading Goal Kicker for the Carnival and Todd Reid was awarded the SA Power Networks Men’s Leadership award.

The South East Women lost the title decider by 12 points to Eastern with Chloe Newton; Hinemo Biddle-Maitland; Erin Horsnell; Evie Sealey; Tess Andrews & Caroline McGrath all being named in the Women’s Team of the Championship.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PETER ARGENT