2024 AFL Open Results

By ZAC MILBANK

South Australia has finished second in the Inclusion competition and fifth in the Wheelchair tournament at the inaugural AFL Open held in Brisbane.

Tackling Tasmania in a Grand Final rematch of last season, the APM SA Inclusion team was unable to overcome the Tasmanians, who enjoyed a 50-point win in the title-decider played at South Pine Sporting Complex.

SA was on the back foot early in the contest, with Croweater Zac Georg-Dent managing his team’s solitary goal in the final term.

Coached by David Couzner and captained by Josh Weetra, the APM SA Inclusion team enjoyed a strong lead up to the Grand Final, defeating Western Australia by 44 points and Northern Territory by 67 points to earn qualification.

Harry Philp capped off a memorable tournament by not only being named as SA’s MVP but also an All-Australian, joining seasoned campaigner Jesse Goodman in the elite Inclusion line-up.

The Novita SA Wheelchair team finished in fifth place, after holding off Western Australia by seven points in the fifth-place playoff.

SA veteran Trevor Jarrett hit the scoreboard with six majors while Stewart Webster booted four in the decider.

Jarrett was awarded South Australia’s MVP of the tournament while also earning a berth in the All-Australian team.

Coached by Giang Danh and captained by Grant Leonard, the Novita SA Wheelchair team also cruised to a comfortable minor round victory against the Sandgropers by 55 points.