2024 Think! Road Safety SA Country Championships Results

Eastern has successfully defended its Think! Road Safety South Australian Men’s Country Championship with a comfortable 36-point win against Central in the Grand Final at Encounter Bay Oval.

Finishing undefeated, Eastern finished off strongly in the title-deciding match amidst a record crowd as Best Under 21 player Jordan Hein shone in a best afield display.

Eastern – which includes players from the Hills, River Murray, Riverland and Murray Valley Football Leagues –  fittingly had six players selected in the Men’s Team of the Championship, including Don McSweeny Medallist Joel Parker-Boers.

Returning after last year’s success in the coach’s box, Eastern mentor Adam Klun – who played SANFL with Sturt and Woodville-West Torrens – was awarded the Bill Murdoch Medal as Coach of the Championships.

Former Port Adelaide rookie Yohann Wagner, representing Eyre Peninsula, won the Leading Goal Kicker trophy.

Field Umpire Alex Ker, Boundary Umpire Zane Garett and Goal Umpire Tony Maletto all had their consistent officiating recognised as the Umpire of the Championships for their discipline.

Returning to the heart of Southern Districts’ Zone in the Fleurieu Peninsula for the first time since 2021, the Think! Road Safety SA Country Championships attracted its largest crowd of 5871 across both days, with as many as 1200 people soaking up the historic introduction of Friday night matches played at Victor Harbor Oval.

Champion – Eastern

Final Standings – Eastern, Central, Eyre Peninsula, Southern, South East, Northern

Don McSweeny Medal (Player of the Championships) – Joel Parker-Boers (Eastern)

Bill Murdoch Medal (Coach of the Championships) – Adam Klun (Eastern)

Best U21 Player – Jordan Hein (Eastern)

Leading Goalkicker – Yohann Wagner (Eyre Peninsula)

SA Power Networks Leadership Award – Jack Penfold (Eastern)

Umpires of the Championships – Field – Alex Ker, Boundary – Zane Garett, Goal – Tony Maletto

Men’s Team of the Championships

F: Shay Linke (Central), Johann Wagner (Eyre Peninsula), Tyson Hone (Eastern)

HF: Luke Mitton (Southern), Ben Jarvis (Eyre Peninsula), Jesse Chandler (Eyre Peninsula)

C: Troy Blackwell (South East), Nick Kraemer (Northern), Jordan Hein (Eastern)

HB: Zane Montgomerie (Eyre Peninsula), Jack Carpenter (Central), Joel Parker-Boers (Eastern)

B: Patrick White (Central), Dom Denton (Eyre Peninsula), Campbell Watts (South East)

R: Charlie Riggs (Northern), Alex Stidiford (Eastern), Nick Gregurke (Central)

INT: Harlee Chandler (Eyre Peninsula), Troy Parker-Boers (Eastern), Sam Kennedy (Southern), Jack Elsworthy (Central), Rory O’Driscoll (Eastern), Steve Burton (Central)

Eastern has cruised to its second Think! Road Safety SA Women’s Country Championship with a 26-point win against Central in the Grand Final at Victor Harbor Oval.

Determined to avenge last year’s loss in the title-decider, Eastern managed to remain undefeated after finishing the minor round in first place.

Boasting five players in the Women’s Team of the Championships, Eastern was coached by respected Blackwood great Damien Venning, who was the Coach of the Championships.

Eastern Zone includes players from the Hills, Riverland, River Murray and Murray Valley Football Leagues.

Eastern midfielder Sarah Campbell claimed the Player of the Championships award while Central’s Ellie Ward took home the crown for Best Under-21 Player.

Three players – Jess Kirk (Southern), Lillian Bornholdt (Central), Yahna Chynoweth (Eyre Peninsula) – were joint winners of the competition’s Leading Goal Kicker trophy.

Champion – Eastern

Final Standings – Eastern, Central, Eyre Peninsula, South East, Southern, Northern

Women’s Player of the Championships – Sarah Campbell (Eastern)

Best Under 21 Player – Ellie Ward (Central)

Coach of the Championships – Damien Venning (Eastern)

Leading Goal Kicker – Jess Kirk (Southern), Lillian Bornholdt (Central), Yahna Chynoweth (Eyre Peninsula)

SA Power Networks Leadership Award – Holly Aiston (Eastern)

Women’s Team of the Championships

F: Jess Kirk (Southern), Tamika Reid (Northern)

HF: Kayla Mudge (Eastern), Lillian Bornholdt (Central), Elsie Dawes (Eastern)

C: Phillipa Worthley (Southern), Tess Andrews (South East), Kalani Bates (Southern)

HB: Sheridan Howell (Eyre Peninsula), Ella Mickan (Central), Mardi Masson (Eyre Peninsula)

B: Kendall Howell (Eyre Peninsula), Deserae Peterson (Eastern)

R: Sasha Branson (Central), Sarah Campbell (Eastern), Ellie Ward (Central)

INT: Yahna Chynoweth (Eyre Peninsula), Rebecca Deer (Northern), Brianna Burt (Eastern), Zoe Hawker (South East), Madelyn Zacher (Eyre Peninsula), Alice Tentye (South East)