Jez goes back to where it began

By PETER ARGENT

Dual Fos Williams Medallist Jez McLennan played his football for Tanunda in the Barossa during his teenage years.

This Saturday, he triumphantly returns as one of the leading players in the Hostplus SANFL League.

Tanunda secretary Kirstin Falkenberg (the mum of three Magpies footballers including former Central District and state junior player, Ryan) confirmed that between 2012 and 2018 McLennan played through the junior grades at the Barossa, Light and Gawler Magpies.

“A decade ago, back in 2015, Jez (McLennan) won the club’s Bill Rowe Rising Star Award as a 15-year-old,” Falkenberg explained.

“This is an award that is open to players from all grades.

“It’s awarded to a player who exhibits a high level of ability with football skills and applies themselves diligently to develop these football skills to the highest possible level.

“The winner accepts and promotes the team disciplines and philosophy of the Tanunda Football Club – ‘Pride Passion Respect’.

“Jez exuded all those attributes.”

His coaches at Tanunda Under 15s level included Bob Smart and Bert Mudge in 2015.

Against the advice of a number of people around the club, the Tanunda Junior Colts coaching staff played McLennan at centre half-back, instead of in the centre.

“He was among the best readers of the ball that I coached at junior level,” Mudge told SANFL.com.au during the week.

“Jez was quiet, not rowdy or outspoken, he’d go about his business and do most of the work himself.

“From a playing perspective he was outstanding with his lateral movement and his ball handling skills both sides of his body were phenomenal.

“Very rarely would he be beaten in the air either.

“Jez would create goal-scoring opportunities from defence.

“He was a sponge on the track, at training he took everything in and was a delight to coach.

“I wish had more kids like him that I coached over the years.

“I loved the kid!”

As a lad, Jez and his family lived overseas in Nepal for six months, along with having a month in India.

He was the born in Renmark, having a house boat in the Riverland and lived in Derby, WA as well.

McLennan was a part of the talented South Australian Under 18s program which won the 2018 National Championships and was drafted to the Gold Coast Suns later that year.

After four injury-frustrated years at the Suns, McLennan returned to South Australia.

He is again wearing black and white this season, as a marquee player for Port Adelaide in its SANFL program.

“At Tanunda was first time I played in that key defensive role,” McLennan recalled, when chatting about his time in the Barossa.

“Bob Smart, Bert Mudge, Daniel Eggleton and Chris ‘Spud’ Murphy were amongst my coaches that a big influence in my time in the Barossa.

“It’s pretty surreal felling to come back to Tanunda and playing a state game there.

“It’s a full circle moment.

“Playing for SA; every time I put it (the state jumper) on, I wear it with pride.

“Hearing how excited everyone in our squad is to play at this level adds to the vibe.

“At Port Adelaide, Hamish Hartlett has been using me through the midfield as well this year.

“That added another string to my bow, but in the state game I’d expect to have my role across half-back.”

The winner of the Fos Williams Medal as the South Australian team’s best player in both matches against the VFL and WAFL last year, McLennan is still undefeated in his career in the prized blue, gold and red South Australian state jumper across all grades.

He is looking for this to continue at Tanunda Recreation Park on Saturday afternoon.