2026 SA Community Footy League Previews – Part 3

In Part 3 of the 2026 Community Footy League preview series, Peter Argent casts his eye over the coaching changes and major player moves from across the State.

Reigning Premier – Barmera Monash

Barmera Monash has first year coach and former premiership captain Matt Leyson in charge after 2025 premiership coach Fraser Sampson has left Riverland due to employment prospects.

He is a former Roos’ club premiership captain in 2013, who spent a number of years in Northern Territory Football League with the Banks Bulldogs and has returned to the Riverland.

A couple of returning Roos’ locals are sibling Mason and Lachlan Middleton, while Steve Burton is a key as well, having enjoyed more premiership success in Darwin during March.

At the Berri Demons, second year coach Henry Labastida has secured the services of former West Adelaide footballer and Renmark premiership player Bailey White.

Champion Nathan Brown again coaches Loxton.

The big recruit at the Loxton Tigers is Mail Medallist from Kowree Naracoorte Tataira Daniel Bibby, who also played South East Zone footy in 2025.

The Tigers also see Hudson and Oliver Voigt, along with Jake Durdin arrive.

At the Loxton North Panthers, Ben Miller, a former Panthers A grade player and junior grades coach with strong club loyalties, is in charge this year.

Also donning a Panthers jumper is Zac Wooldridge, Ethan Wagner, Zac Kelly, Josh Taylor, Liam Watson, and Riley Hammerstein.

At the Renmark Rovers, the 2025 Whillas Medallist, the evergreen former RSMU and Central District player Josh Vater is to coach again, with Hayden Stevens one of his main recruits.

Waikerie Magpies will have second year coach and Local legend Jackson Sutton in charge, with Jesse Potts, Charlie Hay, and Brad Calvett amongst his charges.

Reigning Premier – Solomontown

Covering the major townships of Port Pirie and Port Augusta, the six coaches employed in 2025 all kept their jobs in the Spencer Gulf Football League for the 2026 campaign.

Last year’s beaten Grand Finalists, Ports Bulldogs, have worked hard on their recruiting.

Connor Dodd and former Central District talent Josh Habel come to the Ports Bulldogs from Golden Grove, while South Broken Hill premiership player in 2025 Tyler McKenzie also will don the green and white.

His brother Lachie Mckenzie also arrives at Ports from Orroroo, with big man Fraser Smith comes back the Bulldogs, after a season with PHOS Camden.

First Nations lad, who was on Carlton’s list and played for North Adelaide, Kym Lebois, will travel down from Coober Pedy to play for the West Augusta Hawks.

South Augusta has gained the services of Luke Paparella, a noted goal kicking forward from Adelaide Football League.

Jamie Kovacoc from the Hummocks Watchman Eagles, a 50-goal forward that pushed through the middle also has landed in the SGFL.

Premiers – Central Whyalla

Having played in the past seven Grand Finals and winning against Roopena by one-point last season, Central Whyalla has gained former Rooster Mitchell Schwerdt from Cowell Cats while Deakan Jackson from Woodville-West Torrens is in negotiations with the club.

Callan ‘Gumby’ Everett steps in as senior coach at West Whyalla replacing Ben Butler who has gone to South Whyalla.

The retiring Brannan Everett will take om the role as the West Dragons assistant coach.

At Roopena, Nathan Head replaces Waylon Nielson as the senior coach, while three-time Jim Hewitson Medal Winner Kyle Crompton will return late in the year from a leg injury.

Major signings at the South Whyalla Football Club include Brandon Ewings from Elizabeth Eagles, Liam Ryan from Unley Jets and Corey Tetlow, although they have lost key forward James Gameau.

Weeroona Bay, who finished at the base of the table has Jarrad Starkey returning as coach once again. They have expanded their coaching department to include Daniel Colson and Christian Hines as assistants, and Matt Smith as a coaching director.

The Tigers have gained the Colson brothers, Kyle, and Brendon, along with Austin Taylor from Roopena, Jason Dare-Ryan and Clayton Milera.

North Whyalla has Jason Speck as its new head mentor, being the fourth club in the league with a new coach.

North’s biggest recruit is Archie Rowe who played Division One Hills league football for Echunga.

Reigning Premier – Roxby Miners

Premiership favourites each year for the past three seasons, the Hornridge Magpies, have been rolled in the past three Grand Finals and will want to break that hoodoo.

A former premiership coach at the club, Les Myles returns to the Olympic Dam Devils, while  club legend, Ricky Prosser, returns to be playing coach at the Roxby Miners.

Hornridge Magpies have Tim Feltus and Jack Ridgen in charge, while at the East Roxby Roos, First Nations talent Cameron Miller is their coach.

Naturally with transient nature of the district and its mining connections, there is a large number of Fly-in Fly-out footballers, up to 50 per cent of the player base.

The FNFL have relaxed legislation for clubs to play four permit footballers during the 2026 finals series, with a minimum requirement for qualification of two regular season games.

Reigning Premier – Lincoln South

The Port Lincoln Football League has four coaches with SANFL experience, Boston Tigers Aisea “Magic” Raikiwasa, reigning premiership coach at Lincoln South – Johann Wagner, Harry Miller Junior, who is returned to coach at the famous First Nations club, Mallee Park and Reece Francis at the Tasman Imperials.

There is only one new coach in the A grade competition – long term Waybacks clubman Joshua McKenzie, while Marble Range has Hayden Parker in charge again.

It is the 90-year anniversary of the famous Eyre Peninsula representative competition; Mortlock Shield this year.

It started back in 1936, held on June 6 and 8 at Centenary Oval in Port Lincoln.

There is another Norwood verses West Adelaide Hostplus SANFL League match to be played on May 9, also at Centenary Oval.

The Tigers, who made it to the penultimate weekend last year under “Magic” are looking for a second premiership, 40 years after their first back in 1986.

They have members of the Bilney clan, 34-year-old Kingsley and nephew Wes Bilney, looking to write some more family history.

Stalwart Jimmy Neil will captain the Boston Football Club, while key forward Harry Phelan has relocated to Port Lincoln and will play at the Tigers, after a flag with the Plympton Bulldogs in the Amateur League.

One-time South Adelaide player Jacobs Collins returns to Tasmans, now called the Tasman Imperials, wearing red, white, and teal.

Multiple Mail Medallist Billy Haybich also returns to the Imperials.

Jonty Seal is a key inclusion for the Waybacks Redlegs.

Reigning Premier -Murrayville Blues

Both the Ramco Football Club and the Browns Well Bombers have new coaches in 2026.

Andrew Bevan is the new mentor at Ramco, a former leader and player.

Former Berri Demons and Cobdogla Premiership coach at different points, Rodney Hankin, oversees the Browns Well Bombers.

Among the key incoming players at the Bombers are Austin Karpany, James Davis, and the Hankin Brothers.

Grand Finalists in 2025, Wunkar, have siblings Lachie and Daniel Hample returning.

The Paringa Swans have Cohen Roberston, James Abdulla, Jacob Cook and Kallan Head in their program this year.

Reigning Premier– South Broken Hill

In a unique piece of fixturing, the Broken Hill Football League, still under the command of Sturt premiership legend from the 1970s and 1980 Colin Casey, started over two weekends.

West played South last Saturday, before the Roos had a special night to celebrate their team of the first 25 years of the 21st century in BHFL competition, with Glenelg great Lyndon Bow as the guest speaker, along with Essendon and West Perth footballer Russell Ellen and NSW Hall of Famer Peter Johns.

Nash Mitchell is new coach the North Bulldogs, after previously leading the clubs Under 17s to flags in 2024 and 2025.

South premiership coach in 2025, 200cm ruckman Mitch Henderson is back in charge of the reigning premiers.

Central Broken Hill Magpies have signed a new coach, Peter Zelesco.

West Broken Hill have Collingwood premiership player Oleg Markov as a marquee player in June.

The Broken Hill Football League play 15 rounds up to Mundi Mundi music festival, with the finals following that event.