2025 Hostplus Pocket Profile – Glenelg

SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Tigers heading into the 2025 Hostplus SANFL League season.

Friday March 7
Glenelg 9.9 (63) d Sturt 8.10 (58) at the Summit, Mount Barker

Saturday March 15
Glenelg 12.8 (80) d Central 7.10 (52) at X Convenience Oval

While retired Brisbane Lions midfielder Jarryd Lyons will get his fair share of the spotlight returning to Glenelg, Patrick Parnell was also considered a very good get by the Tigers late last year.

Chased by multiple SANFL rivals, Parnell opted to play for the Bays after meeting with dual premiership coach Darren Reeves and Head of Football Paul Sandercock.

The speedy half-back is a beautiful kick, ensuring he will certainly be used heavily as a distributor at Tigerland, while also possessing the ability to play up on a wing.

Having sat the majority of 2024 out while listed by the Crows, where he played a total of 17 AFL games in three seasons, Parnell is itching for some continuity at Glenelg.

And he will relish the opportunity to play with teenage friend Will Chandler, who featured prominently in last year’s finals campaign for the reigning premier.

One player has been giving Glenelg’s champion premiership captain Liam McBean plenty of grief in match simulation this summer – Harry Ramm.

Measuring in at a massive 204cm, Ramm has been thriving on the opportunity to stand the Bays skipper, regularly using his extreme reach to spoil in overhead marking contests.

A member of SA’s U18 team at last year’s AFL National Championships, the 18-year-old key defender is a genuine chance to get an early opportunity in Round 1 with Oscar Adams suspended from last year’s Grand Final and Will Gould departing to pursue an NFL punting career.

Long-term, Ramm is viewed as having potential to play as a mobile ruckman, potentially in tandem with premiership bigman Cameron McGree.

SA U18 coach Tony Bamford profiles the Tigers’ players in 2025

Luke Candy
Luke is an experienced talent pathway player who is highly skilled and can hurt the opposition with his ball use from the back half. He plays mainly across the half-back line and has a proven ability to intercept the ball and set up scoring opportunities for his team. Luke is also gifted with some high-end speed that he uses very well in games. He has focused hard on improving his balance between defence & offence when the ball is in dispute. Luke has worked hard to get his body right and completed a very solid preseason training block that now has him ready for a big season.

Harry Franz
Big Harry was the youngest player in the Academy program and is still learning what the game requires from a key defender’s perspective. He is a well-built, developing tall who has shown that he is fully invested in beating his direct opponent and competing hard in his one-on-one contests. This is a fantastic starting point for any key defender. Harry will need to keep working on improving his endurance and decision making, chiefly on when to leave his opponent to help a teammate in the aerial contest.