Turner’s unique journey to 100 games

By ZAC MILBANK

Brett Turner came close to playing his 100th Hostplus SANFL League game with Adelaide in last year’s Grand Final.

Instead, the clearance-winning midfielder will notch up his memorable milestone with Glenelg in Round 1 this Saturday against Sturt at Wigan Oval.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 27-year-old is now comfortable his footballing fate panned out the way it has as he relishes life back at the Bay in 2023.

Selected by Adelaide in last year’s AFL mid-season draft, Turner has since returned to Brighton Road after being delisted by the Crows at the end of 2022.

And, after refreshing his mind in the past three months, he couldn’t be happier.

Making his SANFL League debut with original club West Adelaide in Round 1 of 2016, Turner recalled how the unfurling of the Bloods’ 2015 premiership flag didn’t go to plan after suffering a comfortable loss at home in his first outing.

Initially playing as a half-back while also switch-hitting as a third tall forward option throughout the majority of his time with West, the Flagstaff Hill junior has since blossomed as a big-bodied midfielder breaking clear in the centre square.

Nominating former West coach Gavin Colville as a trusted confidant in, and outside, of football, Turner was initially not planning to continue playing at the end of 2020, coinciding with Colville’s departure at Richmond.

But chats with great mate Tom Schott, who he previously played with at West, Tigers star Liam McBean and Glenelg Head of Football Paul Sandercock ensured Turner would realise his full potential at Brighton Road.

Primed for a strong season with the Bays, the junior BMX star is hoping to play in front of a big crowd at Oxford Terrace as he hopes to see plenty of black and gold in enemy territory.