Former Adelaide forward Scott Welsh had no shortage of suitors once he called time on his AFL career.
At the end of 2009, Welsh left the AFL system after four seasons with the Kangaroos, eight with the Crows and two with the Western Bulldogs.
Far from ready to retire, a stint in the SANFL beckoned.
“I came straight back to SA and played for the Eagles for a year,” Welsh told AFC Media.
“I took a year off after that, then went up and played for Encounter Bay for a couple years… Ian Perrie was there for the second, we both won a flag.
“Then it was down to Padthaway in the Southeast, still with Perrie.
“We won a flag, then the following year I won again, but Perrie didn’t stick around that season.”
Before joining the Crows at the end of 1999, Welsh won an AFL Premiership with North Melbourne.
The levels of football were worlds apart, but that didn’t stop Welsh from enjoying his SA country footy flags.
“To win one out in the country, you realise how important it is and what it means to everyone in that country town,” he said.
“They follow footy hard… Padthaway in particular hadn’t won for a long time, so it put a lot of smiles on their faces.
“Obviously it’s different, but a flag is a flag no matter what league you play in.”
Now living in Findon, along with his partner and two sons, 13-year-old Tyler and 11-year-old Sonny, Welsh runs his own maintenance business - Priority One Maintenance.
“I worked for my uncle in the maintenance game for about five years, then I thought I’d give it a crack on my own,” Welsh said.
“I’ve been out on my own for the last 18 months… was a bit of a slow start but going really well at the moment.”
As for his sons, their opinions on football are more or less split.
“Eldest is into his footy, he plays for the Henley Sharks and the Eagles,” Welsh said.
“The youngests one retired a few years ago… but he’ll be playing for his school this year.”
Coach Matty Nicks with our Father Son Academy, ft. names including Bickley, Goodwin, Ricciuto, Smart, Tregenza and Welsh #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/bYwTNzNByv
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) January 16, 2020
Despite no longer playing himself, and “not missing it at all”, the former Crows No. 17 said he still enjoyed watching the games.
“I just enjoy sitting down and watching it on TV, being able to watch local league games as well,” Welsh said.
“I go to a few games each year (prior to 2020), particularly the past player reunions.
“It’s good to catch up with the old guys.
“Still see a fair bit of Rhett Biglands, Robert Shirley, Mark Stevens although he lives in Melbourne but we chat over the phone.”
