Kuwarna has added more South Australian talent to its SANFL list for next season by signing five new players including Ned Atkinson, the son of former Crow Brodie, and former AFL-listed player Cameron Taheny.
Emerging midfielder Atkinson – whose father Brodie played five AFL games for the Club and won a Magarey Medal at Sturt – will join Kuwarna from the Double Blues.
The 18-year-old is a strong and versatile player who was a member of South Australia’s State Under-18 program and played three SANFL Reserves games for Sturt this year.
Former AFL-listed player Taheny also joins Kuwarna from Norwood, where he played 21 League games and kicked 28 goals.
The 23-year-old spent two years in the AFL system after being drafted by Geelong in 2019, before returning to the Parade in 2022.
The signings are part of the SANFL’s new list regulations which include AFL club access to talented SANFL players under the age of 21 who are overlooked in the AFL Draft.
Other signings include Will Crane and Thomas McCormack from Sturt and former Central District ruck Saxon Evans.
Crane and Evans, both 21, took a year off from SANFL football this season with Crane returning to his junior club Imperials in the River Murray League and Evans winning a premiership with Willaston.
McCormack, 24, is a mature age key forward who won the SANFL Reserves Leading Goal Kicker award with 43 goals last season.
Newly appointed SANFL Head Coach Matthew Wright said the players were welcome additions to the SANFL squad.
“We’re really pleased to welcome Ned, Cam, Will, Tommy and Saxon to West Lakes,” Wright said.
“All five players offer something different, but they all share common traits that we are looking to add to our SANFL squad being talent, commitment and a desire to improve.
“We look forward to our new signings joining us for pre-season training.”
Development players not returning for 2025 include Jacob Templeton, Jarman Sigal, Sam Daniele and Josh Smithson.
“We’d like to thank Jacob, Jarman, Sam and Josh for their contribution to our SANFL program,” Wright said.
“All four have made a positive contribution to our Club over the past three years and their efforts have ensured we have remained competitive at SANFL level over a number of seasons.”
Kuwarna has also bolstered its SANFL coaching panel with the appointment of two-time SANFL premiership player Matthew Panos as a SANFL Development Coach.
Panos recently retired from SANFL football after a 150-game career with Norwood, where he was Captain and best and fairest, and named in the SANFL’s team of the year three times.
