Chesty’s Charges thriving in the AFL

By PETER ARGENT

Impressively, 17 current players and a senior coach, Melbourne premiership mentor Simon Goodwin, have been through SANFL programs Shane “Chesty” Reardon has guided in the South Australia’s underage talent system.

A hard-working defender with the Woodville Peckers when the SANFL was at its pinnacle in the 1980s, Reardon has developed into one of the elite junior mentors in the code.

He was with the South Adelaide for two years in the mid 1990s and for the past decade, has been at the helm of the Woodville-West Torrens’ Under 18 squad.

Demons 2021 premiership mentor Simon Goodwin was a part of the 1994 South Adelaide flag-winning side when the SANFL senior colts was an Under 19 competition.

The competition became a Under 18s program in 2008 and Reardon returned to coaching ranks in 2015 at Oval Avenue.

“It a good feeling to be a part of the players’ football progression,” Reardon told SANFL.com.au.

“It has been a successful era at Oval Avenue.

“A key is the ability to identify talent and we have a number of unheralded heroes in this part of the program, led by Darren Hams.”

Across the previous 10 years, Woodville West Torrens has won four flags from six Grand Final appearances at Under 18 level.

From the 2019 flag winning side that beat South Adelaide on Adelaide Oval, nine of the 22 Eagles players were drafted.

A number of ”Chesty’s Charges” have enjoyed SANFL Under 18 premiership success.

Luke Beecken played in both the 2018 and 2019 title winning sides, while country lad from Mintaro-Manoora Eagles Harry Schoenberg, First Nations talent Kozzie Pickett and the Alan Stewart Medallist, Jackson Mead, were members of the ’18 triumph, along with Western Bulldogs footballer Lachie McNeil.

One of the great stories of perseverance, Michael Frederick, was the 2019 Alan Stewart Medallist, after struggling to make the side earlier in the year.

Among his teammates in 2019 were Jase Burgoyne, who at the time was still eligible to play in the Under 16, the boy from Bute on the Yorke Peninsula, Power running defender Lachie Jones, and his mate from Ardrossan, Caleb Poulter.

Developing Ruckman Henry Smith was a member of our 2020 win, while third generation WWT Eagle Matteas Phillipou was a member of the 2021 triumph.

Strongly-built key forward Charlie West, a key component in the Eagles’ thrilling 2024 Grand Final win is now on the Collingwood list.

“Both Tyson Stengle and Brennan Cox played in 2015 Grand Final loss to Norwood,” Reardon confirmed.

“Returning to the Eagles this season after three years with St Kilda, Jack Hayes also played in the 2015 Grand Final as well and was our best player.

“James Rowe who was on the Crows list for a couple of seasons, won the Alan Stewart Medal in the 2017 loss to Sturt.

“In that year’s Under 18s finals series, he was simply outstanding with 70 possessions across both the Semi and Grand Final.”

Personally, Reardon’s junior players days were in school football, including playing for the St Michael’s College First XVIII in Year 12.

He played SANFL Under 17s, Under 19s and Reserves at the Peckers/Warriors, and also played 49 SANFL League games for Woodville between 1980 and 1986.

He was also a handy wicket-keeper batsman with the Woodville District Cricket Club who played one SACA A-grade game with the Peckers.

Reardon’s first coaching venture was with Greek Camden between 1990 and 1993, which included the 1990 and 1991 flags.

The second one, the 1991 title, Reardon presided over the first undefeated season at A1 SAAFL level in more than six decades.

Other Woodville-West Torrens players drafted into AFL programs during Reardon’s tenure include Nathan Barkla, Trent Burgoyne, Kai Pudney, Taj Schofield and Martin Frederick (Port Adelaide), Andrew McPherson and James Rowe (Adelaide), Josh Morris (Hawthorn), Jack Hayes (St Kilda) and Zane Williams (Geelong).

Adelaide – Harry Schoenberg, Tyler Welsh

Brisbane – Henry Smith, Luke Beecken

Collingwood – Charlie West

Fremantle – Michael Frederick, Brennan Cox

Geelong – Tyson Stengle

GWS Giants – Jacob Wehr

Melbourne – Kozzie Pickett, Simon Goodwin

Port Adelaide – Jase Burgoyne, Jackson Mead, Lachie Jones, Jack Lukosius

St Kilda – Matteas Phillipou

Western Bulldogs – Lachie McNeil, Caleb Poulter