Adelaide has finalised its SANFL development squad for the upcoming season.
Ten players with League experience feature in the 27-man squad, which the Club will call upon to help field its SANFL side throughout the year.
The group has trained together since November at Adelaide’s West Lakes base and originated from a pool of almost 300 applicants.
Former North Adelaide midfielder Dale Armstrong is the most experienced SANFL campaigner on the roster with 17 League appearances. Armstrong also won the Bill Botten Medal in last year’s MAC City v Country Challenge match at Adelaide Oval.
Ex-Fremantle draftee Justin Bollenhagen becomes Adelaide’s first development player with AFL experience. The dashing left-footer played at Hackham in the Southern Football League last year after making four appearances in two seasons with the Dockers in 2010-11.
Runner-up in the SAAFL’s Div 4 Association Medal, Matthew Stent booted 40 goals from 17 games last season with Golden Grove. Stent also notched two League games for Central District in 2013 including a bag of three goals on debut.
Brock Castree, the nephew of two-time Bulldogs best and fairest Rick Macgowan, made the final squad, as did former Port Magpies forward Luke Carey and Gawler Central ball-winner Charlie Molyneaux.
Addison Burns, Sam Pfeiffer, Myles Warmington and Justin Smart, who all made their SANFL debuts with the Crows last year, are the remaining members with League experience.
Several youngsters with great football pedigree have also been retained on the roster.
Matthew Johncock, who is the cousin of Crows legend Graham, and Kynan Betts, the cousin of popular forward Eddie, will continue to train with the Club.
Tea Tree Gully teen Dylan Schoenmakers, the cousin of Hawthorn defender Ryan, is another who has impressed. Schoenmakers booted 78 goals and won an association medal in the SAAFL’s Under 18s competition last year.
GM of Football Administration Phil Harper said the Club was happy with the depth of the squad.
“All of these players are quality footballers who want to be part of our side,” he said.
“It’s fantastic to have so many former League players coming back to the competition, as well as a number of talents from other leagues across the state.
“It’s a great opportunity. We think every player on that list can add something to the team this season.”
"There were another half a dozen other players who trained the whole summer with us who were unlucky not to make the final squad. Unfortunately, you can't fit them all in."
Ian Callinan will lead the SANFL Crows for a second season as the team’s captain.
Adelaide plays its first SANFL trial match of the year against Port Magpies at Alberton Oval at 11.30am on Saturday, March 21.
PLAYER | SANFL GAMES | CLUB |
---|---|---|
Luke Andruszkiewicz | 0 | Mt Barker |
Dale Armstrong | 17 | Pooraka |
Kynan Betts | 0 | Noarlunga |
Justin Bollenhagen | 6 | Renmark |
Addison Burns | 4 | Goodwood |
Luke Carey | 10 | Echunga |
Brock Castree | 4 | Golden Grove |
Duncan Cragg-Sapsford | 0 | Nuriootpa |
Matthew Johncock | 0 | Noarlunga |
Tyson Lindsay | 0 | Adelaide University |
Charlie Molyneux | 2 | Gawler Centrals |
Nicholas Mott | 0 | Noarlunga |
Ben O'Donohue | 0 | Kapunda |
Sam Pfeiffer | 4 | Murray Bridge Ramblers |
Dylan Ribbons | 0 | Nuriootpa |
Dylan Schoenmakers | 0 | Tea Tree Gully |
Justin Smart | 1 | Meningie |
Matthew Spencely | 0 | Kangarilla |
Matthew Stent | 2 | Golden Grove |
Jake Sutcliffe | 0 | Adrossan |
Mitchell Sutcliffe | 0 | Rostrevor |
Myles Warmington | 1 | Meningie |
Brad Watson | 0 | Adelaide University |
Steven Wellington | 0 | Broadview |
Matthew Wilson | 0 | Yankalilla |
Jordan Wilson-King | 0 | Tanunda |
Joshua Wittwer | 0 | Hahndorf |