2019 SA Country Championships Wrap

By ZAC MILBANK

Central Zone claimed its first SA Country Championship since 2013 with a comprehensive win against Northern Zone in the Grand Final on Sunday.

Winning their third title since the Championship’s inception in 1994, the Eagles won by a comfortable margin of 60 points as former North Adelaide star Leigh Ryswyk played his way toward a three-way tie for the Don McSweeny Medal as Player of the Championships.

Ryswyk was joined by Western Zone pair Xavier Watson and Sidney Masters, with the former captaining his side to victory last year and the latter winning the Goalkicking Award with seven for the tournament.

Central Zone coach and former SA Country mentor Steve Lubcke was a fitting recipient of the Bill Murdoch Medal as coach of the carnival while Eastern’s Troy Parker-Boers was recognised as the Best Under-21 Player.

Southern Districts avenged its loss in last year’s Women’s title-decider, this time cruising to a comfortable 33-point win in the Grand Final against Northern.

Coach of the Southern Districts side, Kiefvar Zohar, claimed honours as Women’s Coach of the Championships while Central Zone’s Tegan Nottle was awarded the Player of the Championships crown as well as being selected on the wing in the Women’s Team of the Championships.

Champion – Central Zone

Final Standings – Central, Northern, Western, Southern Districts, Murray South East, Eastern.

Don McSweeny Medal (3-way tie) – Xavier Watson (Western), Sidney Masters (Western), Leigh Ryswyk (Central)

Bill Murdoch Medal – Steve Lubcke (Central)

Best U21 Player – Troy Parker-Boers (Eastern)

Leading Goalkicker – Sidney Masters (Western) 7 goals

Umpire of the Championships – Nathan Clarke (Central)

Men’s Team of the Championships

F: Tyson Irlam (Central), Sudney Masters (Western), Jackson Murphy (Western)

HF: Dylan Hewett (Northern), Shane Ballantyne (Central), Thomas Phelps (Central)

C: Lukas Kangur (Northern), Leigh Ryswyk (Central), Kriston Thompson (Northern)

HB: Giles Ellis (Central), Jaxen Norton (Western), Jayden Eldridge (Murray South East)

B: Damian Hynes (Central), Bradley Eagle (Northern), Tyson Hoffman (Southern Districts)

R: Justin Schahinger (Central), Xavier Watson (Western), Scott Merrett (Murray South East)

INT: Andrew Wright (Central), Jordan Fuller (Northern), Gary Warren (Northern), Damon Arnold (Southern), Jordan Hind (Western), Sam Pfeiffer (Murray South East), Troy Parker-Boers (Eastern)

Champion – Southern Districts Zone

Final Standings – Southern Districts, Northern, Central, Murray South East, Western, Eastern.

Statewide Super Women’s Player of the Championships – Tegan Nottle (Central)

Coach of the Championships – Kiefvar Zohar (Southern Districts)

Women’s Team of the Championships

F: Layla Rogers (Southern Districts), Sarah-Jane Jameson (Central), Paige Cuy (Northern)

HF: Charlotte Spence (Central), Soriah Moon (Southern Districts), Tahlita Buethke (Southern Districts)

C: Indianna Paull (Northern), Rebecca Deer (Northern), Tegan Nottle (Central)

HB: Britt Tangey (Northern), Jamie Griffith (Southern Districts), Lauren Kenney (Southern Districts)

B: Lauren Smith (Central), Kiara Woodhouse (Central), Scarlett Jarrad (Murray South East)

R: Jamie Norup (Southern Districts), Sheridan Howell (Western), Katrice Turner (Southern Districts)

INT: Kendall Howell (Western), Tracey Long (Murray South East), Caroline Burgess (Eastern), Georgina Shirley (Western), Emmasson Lisley (Murray South East), Tia Rowland-Fox (Eastern)

CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW By ZAC MILBANK

Western Zone will be desperate to prove it is no flash in the pan when it defends its South Australian Country Championships crown in Port Pirie on Saturday July 13 and Sunday July 14.

The boys from the Eyre Peninsula claimed their first title since 2011 and second since the turn of the century when they defeated Central by 30 points in Renmark last year.

After winning three of the first five titles on offer since the Championships restructure in 1994, the Hawks will be looking to return to their winning ways at the redeveloped Memorial Oval.

And for the first time, Western will field a team in the Women’s SA Country Championships which will enter its second campaign after a highly-successful introduction in 2018.

Eastern – led by player of the championships Jiarna Zerella – will be seeking to repeat its victory last year on the neighbouring Port Pirie West Oval.

Qualifying matches will be played on Saturday morning and evening with the Round 13 Statewide Super League Showdown between Adelaide and Port Adelaide taking centre stage at Memorial Oval from 2.40pm.

Things will get serious when the SA Country Championships finals matches, including Grand Finals, are held on Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon.

A Team of the Championships will be selected for the Men’s and Women’s dvisions at the conclusion of the two-day tournament, with those selected in the Men’s Team in the mix to represent SA Country against WA Country in Perth on Saturday July 27 at Optus Stadium.

Individual awards such as Player of the Championships and Best Under-21 Player will also be revealed on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday 13 July 2019

Central (Blue, Green & Gold)
Adelaide Plains FL
Barossa, Light and Gawler FA
North Eastern FL
Yorke Peninsula FL

Eastern (Black & Red)
Hills FL
Mallee FL
Riverland FL

Murray South East (Black, Red & White)
River Murray FL
Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara FL
Mid South East FL
Western Border FL

Northern (Red & White)
Far North FL
Broken Hill FL
Northern Areas FA
Spencer Gulf FL
Whyalla FL

Southern (Navy & White)
Southern FL
Great Southern FL
Kangaroo Island FL

Western (Brown & Gold)
Eastern Eyre FL
Far West FL
Great Flinders FL
Mid West FL
Port Lincoln FL

Champion, Best Player, Best U21 Player
1994- Eyre Peninsula (Western)
1995 – Southern Districts
1996 – Southern Districts
1997 – Eyre Peninsula (Western)
1999 – Eyre Peninsula (Western)
2001 – Mid North
2003 – Southern Districts
2004 – Southern Districts Matt Joraslafsky (SD) Adam Merrett (SE)
2005 – Southern Districts Justin Henscke (SD) Todd Miles (C) & Leighton Wilksch (C)
2006 – Central Adam Merrett (SE) Ryan Darling (C)
2007 – Southern Districts Damien Stevens (MMB) Tyrone Hill (SD)
2008 – Murray Mallee Todd Miles (C) Ryan Bennett (MMBB)
2009 – Southern Districts Mitchell Portlock (SD) Greg Bain (Eastern)
2010 – Southern Districts Josh Vick (SD) Ben Yeomans (C)
2011 – Eyre Peninsula (Western) Matthew Woolford (N) Levi Konitzka (EP)
2012 – Southern Districts Tyson Wait (MSE) Tom Johnson (SD)
2013 – Central Michael Liebelt (Central) Patrick Barrett (Eastern)
2014 – Murray South East Liam O’Neil (MSE) Jack Kenny (EP) & Ben McIntyre (MSE)
2015- Southern Districts Jack Kenny (EP) Campbell Combe (Northern) & Xavier Watson (EP)
2016 – Murray South East Brian Fenton (MSE) Campbell Combe (Northern)
2017 – Murray South East Jack Kelly (MSE) Domenico Costanzo (Central)
2018 – Western Jesse Kemp (Western) Scott Merrett (Murray South East)

Champion, Best Player

2018 – Eastern  Jiarna Zerella (Eastern)

What time do the gates open?
The gates will be open from 8:30am on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July 2019.

Where do I get tickets?
Tickets are available for purchase at the gate. There will be 2 gates in operation – Gate 4 located on Mary Elie St and Gate 2 on the corner of Gertrude St and Memorial Drive

What is the cost of a ticket?
Saturday 13 July (two day pass)
Adults $14
Concession $8
Under 18 Free

Tickets purchased on Saturday permit access to Sunday’s matches.

Sunday 14 July
Adults $8
Concession $5
Under 18 Free

Where can I park?
Limited parking will be available in the ground on the Eastern side of Memorial Oval around the boundary and behind the grass mounds. Parking attendants will be on hand to direct vehicle traffic.
Overflow parking will be available around the ground as per normal traffic conditions.
Is there a cost to park inside the oval?
There will be a $2 charge to park a vehicle inside the oval

Is there disabled access?
Designated disabled access parking is available with Government issued disabled parking pass displayed. Disabled access is via Gate 4. Parking attendants will direct you to the designated area.

Can I bring my own chair to watch the game?
Yes, patrons are able to bring their own chair to sit and watch the game.

What can I expect at the gate?
Security will be present at each gate and will be conducting bag searches and vehicle searches.

Can I bring my own alcohol?
No. Alcohol will not be allowed to be brought in to the venue or taken out. This will be an alcohol go easy event.

Are Eftpos facilities available?
Eftpos will be available at the gate for the purchase of tickets however Food & Beverage sales at the ground will be cash only.

Smoking?
No Smoking will be allowed within the grounds. Pass outs will be available.

What can I bring in?
Personal eskies will be allowed, however please note no glass will be allowed.

What can’t I bring in?
No pop up shade/marquees. No alcohol. No glass.

Where can I get further information?
Like the 2019 SA Country Football Championship Event on SANFL’s Facebook Page for more information