Coaching elite primed for 2026 Hostplus SANFL League

It’s not often four clubs changes coaches in one off-season of the Hostplus SANFL League. 

But West Adelaide, North Adelaide, Glenelg and Port Adelaide have all installed highly-credentialed mentors to guide their senior teams this year and beyond.

Ahead of the 2026 campaign, SANFL’s Zac Milbank profiles the four new exceptional appointments, with their presence maintaining the competition’s status as the best State League in Australia.

The dual Norwood premiership mentor returns to the Hostplus SANFL League for the first time since his stint with the Redlegs from 2010 to 2013. 

Bassett enjoyed significant success at The Parade, guiding the club to back-to-back flags in 2012 and 2013 whilst also succumbing to Central District by just six points in his first year at the helm.

The 48-year-old arrives at Richmond boasting significant AFL experience having worked with Essendon, Port Adelaide and most recently, Melbourne as an assistant.

Featuring in 210 AFL games for Adelaide between 1998 and 2008, the 2006 All-Australian lands with Westies under a three-year deal as he seeks to begin climbing the ladder in 2026.

”I’m looking forward to building a platform that can make us a successful football club for the long term,” Bassett said.

“What I like is that we can see a way forward. There are strategies in place and good young talent both at senior level and coming through the juniors, reflected in our Under-16s SANFL premiership win, and Under-18s appearance in the Grand Final, last year.

”I’m here to break the cycle.”

A second-coming at Prospect will see Josh Francou return to North Adelaide on a two-year contract.

The 51-year-old coached the Roosters in the Hostplus SANFL League from 2011 to 2013, steering the club into the title-decider in his final season at the helm.

Francou’s ties at Menzies Crescent run deep given his father Maurie played with the Roosters in 83 League games from 1964-71.

Josh’s journey with North began at League level in 1993 before winning the Magarey Medal in 1996 from his 58 League appearances.

Selected in Port Adelaide’s inaugural AFL squad, he played in 156 matches at elite level which included an All-Australian berth in 2002, the same year he was placed runner-up in the Browlow Medal.

The SA Football Hall of Fame inductee has steadily built on his coaching resume at elite level, acting as an assistant with Sydney, Adelaide and the Gold Coast.

”With his passion for the club, Josh was the ideal choice,” North Adelaide president Kris Mooney said.

”We are confident that his leadership, expertise, and commitment to player development will guide our team to success.”

All three of Francou’s sons – Will, Ollie and Ben – are lining up with North in 2026.

A new horizon awaits incoming Glenelg coach Matthew Clarke, who arrived at Tigerland on a three-year deal.

Previously Adelaide’s AFLW mentor for the past eight seasons, the 52-year-old guided the Crows to the ultimate success in 2019 and 2022.

Also performing the role of the Crows’ AFL ruck coach and development mentor, Clarke brings a wealth of experience to Brighton Road having played 258 AFL Games from 1993 to 2007 for Brisbane (130), Adelaide (118) and St Kilda (10).

A best-and-fairest with the Lions in 1997 and the Crows’ best team man in 2004, Clarke’s neat fit at Tigerland is also enhanced by his strong connections in the club’s south-east regional zone.

Clarke spent much of his childhood in Mount Gambier, making his senior football debut as a teenager for the West Gambier Kangaroos.

The reliable ruckman played two League games for the Bays in 2006 while on the Crows’ AFL list.

”It’s going to be a lot of fun, I reckon,” Clarke said.

“Glenelg is obviously a club that’s got really rich history and has had a period of really good success over the last couple of years. I’m looking forward to playing a role within that.”

Jacob Surjan returns to Alberton to take charge of Port Adelaide’s SANFL team for the 2026 Hostplus SANFL League season.

Reuniting with the Power’s first-year senior coach Josh Carr, Surjan first linked up with Carr at North Adelaide in 2018, coaching the Roosters’ Reserves to a premiership before taking the League mantle in 2020.

Surjan, who began his coaching journey with Port in a development role from 2015 to 2017, spent more than seven seasons at Prospect, leading North to the 2020 and 2022 League Grand Finals.

The small defender, who played a total of 121 AFL games for the Power between 2004 and 2012, registered an overall 53-44 win-loss record after being at the helm of North’s League team from 2020 to 2025.

Surjan has replaced Hamish Hartlett, who, after guiding the Magpies for the past two seasons, has been elevated to an AFL assistant coaching role, focusing on midfield stoppages.

”Jacob has been a successful SANFL coach leading North Adelaide to two grand finals,” Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson said.

”He will bring great energy and passion for the SANFL program and the development of our players.”