2025 Community Football League Preview – Part 3

The Great Flinders Football League is ready for another hard-fought season in 2025, with a mix of returning stars, fresh faces, and coaching changes, every club has a story and something to prove.

A Ramblers verses Cummins Kapinnie local derby also opens a new facility at the Tumby Bay Oval.

In a high-profile contest on May 3, Tumby Bay will confront Ramblers in a night game, 6:30pm start, the inaugural match under new lighting system at Tumby Oval.

Among Cummins Kapinnie Cougars’ key inclusions are Major Ackland (Lock) former SANFL player Tom Haarsma from the Cummins Ramblers, SA country ruckman from a decade age Levi Konitza, Matthew Phelps, and top it off, Boyd West from Lock is their new playing coach.

The Cummins Ramblers Magpies secured a trio of Waybackers from Port Lincoln, Saben Batterbury, Dylan Boxer and Bailey Doolan, while the mercurial Kingsley Bilney comes across from Koonibba.

Former Elliston Districts Roosters Mitchell Gum (Tweed Coast AFC), Boyd McCurry (Kimba Districts) and Jack Ramage (Sacred Heart OC) are also arriving.

Lock Roos are looking to go all the way by bringing in Fletcher Beard, Billy Byass and key forward Tynan Keeley from Marble Range, while leading goal kicker in the BLG last year, Jed Durdin, comes to the Roos from Angaston.

At the Tumby Bay Blues, Nick Bates (Eyre United) and Mackenzie Best (Balaklava) arrive.

Reigning premiers, now with six in row, United Yeelanna Eagles will be coached by Luke Duncan will be a contender again, with Tom Davis (Marble Range), Liam Gerber (Yankalilla) and Ben Glover (Ports – SGFL) coming in. Dane Habner returns after a year off and will give the Eagles plenty of X-factor.

Magarey Medallist and five-time Barrie Robran North Adelaide Club Champion, Campbell Combe, returns to Northern Areas football and will combine with his brother Will in the Crystal Brook midfield.

Will was the NAFA Mail Medallist last season and between the siblings they have five Mail Medals.

Shane Arbon is back to coach the Roosters, after last taking them to a flag in 2017.

Former premiership coach and player Nick Hewett is returning to the Broughton Mundoora Eagles as their senior coach for 2025, after a couple of years with Moonta in the YPFL.

Hewett has been a successful mentor of the Eagles, taking them to flags in 2019, 2020 and 2022, after being a member of the 2016 triumph over Crystal Brook.

Orroroo have signed former No.2 AFL Draft selection from more than a decade ago, Jack Trengove for the 2025 campaign.

There is one new coach in the Spencer Gulf Football League, with Tom Baulderstone as the 2025 mentor at the Central Augusta Bloods.

Former Adelaide Crows-listed player and ex-North Adelaide League player Tariek Newchurch is a star recruit for the Bloods.

Son of Adrian Davies, Jarrad will follow in his father’s footsteps and coach the Solomontown Cats.

Harry Williams, who played at South Clare and is on the Port Adelaide Magpies SANFL top-up list, will be wearing the blue and white of Sollys.

Max Renfrey, the son of 1980s Norwood footballer Dean Renfrey, is at the Cats.

There will be two marquee games on Friday, Lions verses Port at Memorial Oval and West Augusta play South Augusta at Central Oval.

The Raikiwaska siblings – Aseri ‘Bobby’ and Aisea “Magic” – are back together again!

Magic is coaching at Boston again in Port Lincoln and his sibling is repaying the favour from a couple of years ago at Ports and coming to the PLFL Tigers to link up again.

Fomer Central District footballer from two decades ago, Reece Francis, is the new coach at Tasmans.

He has young talents including Cooper James and Jagger Christian to nurture.

A former Ramblers coach, Hayden Parker, is in charge at Marble Range, but has endured a lot of player movement this preseason.

At Waybacks, David McPharline, a former Eyre Peninsula coach is in charge this year, along with Ian Jericho, the Wudinna ‘24 premiership captain returning to the club, is a big coup.

They have also secured the services of Jace and Kyle Daris from Christies Beach.

Looking to make club history with a third successive flag with playing coach Yoey Wagner, Lincoln South have collected an EP level ruckman in Jackson Masin from Tasmans.

Mitch Botter from Victoria will add to the Eagles’ defence, while midfielder Craig Dowse comes from Birdwood in the Hills.

Former Woodville-West Torrens legend and dual SANFL premiership player, Justin Cicolella, is the new mentor at Hummocks Watchman Eagles, while former assistant Troy Treverton is the new coach of the United Tigers, taking over from Jarrod Allmond, who is still playing for them.

Broadview utility Sam Daniele, a former a Crows top up player, is also arriving at the Adelaide Plains Tigers.

Mallala has Ryan Paget as its new coach.

Mail Medallist Jordan Clements and his brother Sam move across from Kimba Districts to play with the Mallala Magpies this season.

Matt Neumann, a South Gawler dual premiership player, will help the Magpies’ cause.

Balaklava Peckers have secured hard-running midfielder Will Gutchke from Loxton and former Eagles footballer James Batty, who played with Port Districts in the A1 Adelaide Footy League in 2024.

The new coach at the Angle Park Owls is the experienced Neil Rawlings.

Daniel Mason joins from the Gepps Cross Rams along with fellow Rams Scott Blundell and Joseph (Joey) Tahana. The Owls also bring into their program, 202cm ruckman Jonathan Wright.

The Cowell Cats have picked up Matthew Deer from the Riverina, Chase Martin and Dylan Niotis (Wallaroo), along with high profile key position player Dave Atkinson from North Whyalla and Bailey Matters from Eastern Ranges.

Eastern Ranges have appointed Eastern Eyre interleague coach Brad Woolford, while Mail Medallist Tyson Jenner is making a return as well after spending last year in Queensland.

At Port, Sid Masters has been appointed coach replacing Aseri Raikiwasa while Aeden Lyon is returning after a couple of seasons with Barmera Monash where he played in a premiership.

Eudunda- Robertstown talent and former Melbourne listed footballer from Central District, Aaron Nietschke, will play for Kimba Districts in 2025.

At the Ceduna Blues, Brodie Chandler is returning as the coach, having led them to the 2023 WEFL premiership.

They also have secured Tomas Barry from Lobethal and Josh Woollatt from Thevenard.

At the famous Koonibba Roosters, former premiership player, Jerome Newchurch is the new playing coach returning to the Roosters after playing for Wirrulla in 2024.

The trio of Cody Colbung (Thevenard), Jerome Newchurch (Wirrulla) and Ian Milera (Penshurst) add to their stocks.

Nick Faklis, a former premiership stalwart of Thevenard and past coach, is coaching this year after umpiring last year – swapping his whistle to become the coach in 2025.

Reigning premiers, the Western United Tigers, will enter this season on a 31-game winning streak, chasing down a league record 40 wins, which Thevenard achieved back in 1969-1971.

Kane Dunn (Robe), the returning Harlee Chandler (Cummins) and Brock Davis (Marble Range) add to an already power-packed team.

West Coast Hawks games record holder Aidan Whitford will be at the helm of the Hawks again this season as they look to move back into the finals in 2025, with Brandon Bottroff (Victor Harbor) coming to the club.

A consistent player at Wirrulla over the past few seasons, Joe McInnis is the new coach of Wirrulla.  Wirrulla will look to rebound after a winless 2024 by adding some impressive recruits including Dwayne Ettridge (Western United), Nick Cooper (Glenunga), Jacob Ryan (Central Eyre United), Devon Canty (United Yeelanna), Billy Where (United Yeelanna) and Callum Rees (Lock).

Hills Country League clubs, Gumeracha, the home of the Hanna family, and Kersbrook, the foundation club of Brett, Roger and Paul James, start their 2025 season with a marquee clash on ANZAC Day.

New coach, long-time Gawler Central legend and a member of the Willaston coaching staff in its flag win last year Craig ‘Wacka’ Dawe, is taking over from Mark Weaver, the ‘24 premiership coach at the Magpies.

Jake Tobin from the Barossa Bulldogs, and Matty Boag from Pooraka add to the Magpies’ playing list.

Echunga return to Hills Country Division, with former Meadows coach Scott Bailey still in charge and Glenelg midfielder Brett Turner will continue at the Demons.

Torrens Valley Mountain Lions have a new coach, Darren  ‘Stumpy” Mahlo, the 2024 Gumeracha Magpies reserves premiership coach.

Co-coached by Rod Mitchell and Daniel Trevena, Kangarilla, have a number of returning players including Jamie Grosser, Brendan Hillier, Brodie Gregory, Jordan Rees, Jack Sexton and Sam Linggood.

Birdwood, under the stewardship of former Melbourne and Norwood footballer Glenn Molloy, have collected Ben Paine from Barossa District, along with Robert Young and Dylan Rowe.

Meadows will welcome back local favourite Kris ”George” Dawe as its mentor, with Mail Medallist Luke Watson and ruckman Matt Beinke returning to the Kennel from Aldinga.

The expansive Murray Valley Football League enters its third season in 2025, with Murrayville as reigning premiers, after the Sedan Cambrai Magpies won the inaugural flag in 2023.

David Mapstone, the brother of coach James of from a soccer background, will be a player to watch for the BSR Redbacks.

Browns Well and the Murrayville Blues both have new coaches.

The Bombers’ new mentor is Nathan Francis, the brother of Sydney AFL talent Aaron Francis. A sibling Levi Francis also will be a Bomber as well.

Blues new coach for 2025 is Keenan Wilksch, a premiership player from 2024 in a player-coach role.

Defender Brock Milde returns to the Blues and they have secured Jordyn Freeman as a tall utility.

Paringa Swans have a new coach, the highly credentialed Nick Dillon, who will be looking to move this team up the ladder.

Goal kicking ace Dean Hill has arrived back at the Swans, after being at Murrayville in 2024.

At the Sedan Cambrai Magpies, Shane Cooke has taken over the senior coaching role.

Ruckman Jake Durdin has moved from Murrayville to the Ramco Roosters.

Brinkworth Spalding Redhill and South Clare start the NEFL campaign with a stand-alone clash at Clare Oval on ANZAC Day.

The Tigers are expected to be the competition yardstick, having won seven of the past eight Grand Finals in this competition.

Justin Michael has returned to the South Clare Demons as coach, after taking that mantle in the Covid season of 2020.

Angus Bruggemann, a former Port Adelaide league footballer from Mallala, is coaching Mintaro-Manoora.

The Southern Saints, who are still looking for that breakthrough first flag, have a new coach Brodie Cox, who coached through the grades at the Kapunda Bombers.

Coby Helyar, a great country lad from Kangaroo Island who has played league football with South Adelaide is a big recruit for Eudunda-Robertstown, while Gawler Central defender Dylan Bell and Jett Assender from Tanunda add quality.

The grandson of Eudunda legend Graham Minge, Jace, will add to the Eudunda-Robertstown ruck stocks.

Former Woodville-West Torrens Eagles defender Ryan Bruce has returned to RSMU Hawks.

The BBH Rams new coach for the 2025 campaign is former SA State Under 20s and SA state amateur coach Seam Jackson.

One of the biggest signings in the Riverland Football League, Steve Burton, heads to Barmera Monash for 2025.

He played in a pair of flags at South Gawler (2021 and 2023), won two Schluter Medals (competition best and fairest in 2022 and 2023) in the Barossa, Light and Gawler competitions, along with being best on ground in the Banks Bulldogs premiership in the Northern Territory during mid March.

There is a trio of marquee games in the RFL in 2025 in the first half of the season, with Loxton North Panthers facing off against the Loxton Tigers in a Proud Cup match on May 10.

The following week is Renmark verses Waikerie in the Gill/Lehmann Cup and in Round 6 on May 31, Berri tackles Barmera Monash in the Fisher Cup.

Berri’s new coach is Henry Labastida, who has a strong connection with St Mary’s Green Machine in the NTFL.

Young talent and tall defender Darcy Minchella has returned to his foundation club, the Berri Demons, from West Adelaide.

Loxton have a player coach from Robe, Nathan Brown.

An Indigenous talent originally from the South East club Robe, Nuriootpa premiership wingman Terrance Wilfred, has moved from the Barossa Tigers, to their Riverland counterparts.

Waikerie’s new mentor is Jackson Sutton, a former premiership player at the Riverland Magpies.

In the six-team Whyalla Football League competition, three new coaches take change of clubs in town.

At the Central Roosters, Greg Marshall is taking over from Mark Turner, with a number of talents Sam and Jesse Marshall, Machorin Rosalia, Kyle Colson, Frederick Ward and Kade Gale-Jones returning.

At Barrie Robran’s foundation club, the North Magpies, Daniel Colson is taking over from David Atkinson while at the South Demons, Alan Williams is the new boss, taking the reins from Matt Smith.

Marquee former AFL players, former Carlton goal sneak Brendan Fevola and Power captain Tom Jonas, will each be playing a standalone game for South.

Across Rounds 4, 7, 9 and 12 there are a number of Whyalla Football League cup and shield games, with the Weeroona Bay and Central playing the Cabban/Huish Shield Game on May 17.

South face off against North in the Hampton/Taylor Shield match on June 21.

In Round 9, West Whyalla and North play for the Robran/McInerney Shield on July 5, while North and Weeroona Bay contest the Beaton/Dempsey Shield on July 26 and West tackle Central for the Marron/Azzopardi Cup.

Roopena have secured a quartet of talents including Alex Day, Alistar Walling, Charlie Williams and Jamie Kelly.

Kade Ackland, originally from Orroroo, and Liam Vasey, from the Seaton Ramblers, will play for the North Magpies.

From the Salisbury Magpies, James Gameau, a 194cm forward/ruck who kicked 72 goals last season, arrives at the South Demons.