SANFL

The AAMI SA U18 Team is primed for its AFL National Championship defence.

After claiming South Australia's fifth title last year, the Croweaters are set to field another talented line-up with depth across every line.

Speaking on the Checkside Chats podcast, AAMI SA U18 coach Tony Bamford provides an in-depth insight into a wide range of SA players including leadership group members Kodah Edwards, Ethan Herbert and Jack Gordon.

He also provides an update on injured players such as Dougie Cochrane, Gabe Patterson and Zemes Pilot while also touching on club-aligned talent such as Anthony Long (Crows NGA), Zacky Young (Port NGA) and Jack Leys (Richmond Father-Son).

The Croweaters will start their championship defence against Western Australia in Perth on Saturday June 13 at Mineral Resources Park before hosting the Allies at Alberton on Sunday June 21 and away clashes against Victoria Metro (Friday July 3) and Victoria Country (Wednesday July 8).

The AFL Mid-Season Draft has again had a significant impact on the Hostplus SANFL League, reigniting calls for an increase to the compensation provided to affected clubs.

Speaking on the Checkside Chats podcast, SANFL Head of Talent and Football Operations Sean Toohey said the current amount of $10,000 per player was something that ''definitely needed to be looked at.''

''That's something that we have flagged with the AFL with feedback when requested. The Mid Season Draft has been in for eight seasons now and the compensation has stayed at $10,000. We all know the value of $10,000 in 2019 is not the value of $10,000 in 2026.''

Hailing the outstanding development of mature-age players by SANFL's clubs, Toohey said to have six players selected from South Australia's premier State League for the second year in succession underlined the high standard of the competition.

''It's great that we can in a sense be a destination competition,'' Toohey said on Checkside Chats.

''And for our clubs to be destination clubs because some of the players have come from interstate to realise their dream and if that dream wasn't realised, they were pretty happy playing in a really good competition in South Australia.''

Joining SANFL Senior Media Producer Zac Milbank and The Advertiser's Andrew Capel in the studio, Toohey also discusses the unprecedented situation with West Adelaide's water-damaged changerooms at Richmond Oval and the review into SANFL's State Team programs, which is already underway.

Consideration will be made to reverting back to one State Match against the WAFL next season, with other feature match options potentially to be considered during Gather Round in the talent sphere or the Men's and Women's SANFL and VFL premiers clashing as part of the festival of footy.

It started as a clothing label, now it is a vital movement. 

Something in the Water (STW) is the brainchild of Woodville-West Torrens recruit Harper Montgomery, who is now championing the ultra-important mental health cause.

Returning to Adelaide after spending time in Sydney with GWS' VFL team, the 21-year-old has developed his company to offer a ''safe space'' for teenage boys and young men to open up about the daily challenges they face.

Whether it be a sunrise session of yoga on the beach or a run club, STW is a passion of Montgomery's and there are few better environments than a football club to galvanise support.

The Eagles and their Round 6 Hostplus SANFL League opponent Glenelg, have got behind Montgomery by sporting blue armbands in this weekend's Men's, Women's and Reserves encounters at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.

Joining SANFL's Zac Milbank and The Advertiser's Andrew Capel in the studio, the son of Port Adelaide premiership defender Brett Montgomery also reveals the secrets behind his team's flawless 5-0 start to the season and what makes coach Sam Jacobs such a popular figure at Oval Avenue.

He's been a big influence behind West Adelaide's early-season resurgence.

Bloods tall forward Tom Scully is used to being described as big given he measures in at a towering 203cm and now he's casting an imposing shadow across the Hostplus SANFL League.

Booting eight goals in his opening three games, the 21-year-old also caught the eye with his three-goal effort for the West End State Team earlier this month.

The latest guest on SANFL's Checkside Chats podcast, Scully revealed he has put on an extra 4-5kg onto his frame whilst the presence of late addition and football manager Chris Burgess has also played a role in his hot start.

But the former Port Adelaide spearhead reserved his biggest praise for new coach Nathan Bassett, declaring he has ''already turned the club around.''

Admitting he lacked competitiveness during his stint with the Power, he was unable to play an AFL game, Scully said he would be well-placed to make the most of a second opportunity at elite level should it arise.

The Advertiser's Andrew Capel also comes into the studio to review and preview the Hostplus SANFL League season after the opening three rounds.

It's redemption time for the West End State Team. 

Even though debutant Oliver Davis wasn't part of the outfits which succumbed to the VFL and WAFL last year, the South Adelaide vice-captain is well aware of what's at stake against the Vics from 2.40pm at Stratarama Stadium on Saturday.

Originally from Clarence in Tasmania, the 23-year-old joins SANFL Media's Zac Milbank and The Advertiser's Andrew Capel to chat about his opportunity to represent his new State in the midfield alongside Magarey Medallist Tom Lewis, his ambitions with the Panthers in their 150th year and his flourishing career as golf course greenskeeper.

Milbank and Capel also discuss the balance of the West End State Squad whilst also reviewing the opening two rounds of the Hostplus SANFL League.

Will Sturt be as dominant in 2026? The Double Blues secured their 16th flag on the back of losing just one match in 2025.

Surely they won't repeat the dose?

And what about the elite coaches entering the Hostplus SANFL League this season?

Nathan Bassett is sinking his teeth into a three-year rebuild with West Adelaide, favourite son Josh Francou is returning to Prospect for the first time since 2013 and Matthew Clarke begins his State League coaching journey with the Bays.

Tune in to the first episode of Checkside Chats for 2026 to hear from Senior SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank and The Advertiser's Andrew Capel, as they answer the burning questions, provide in-depth club-by-club analysis and predict the award winners at season's end.

Tune in to the latest edition of SANFL's exclusive podcast, Checkside Chats, to learn about the Bachar Houli Foundation. 

SANFL's Multicultural Participation Officer Amer El Hosni explains the Foundation's Mission and Vision whilst detailing how it operates in South Australia.

BHF is providing opportunities for boys and girls from the Muslim Community to further themselves on and off the field in an elite environment.

Two such examples are Zain Baroudi and Ayman Ismail, who have been South Australian members of the BHF Academy whilst also playing at SANFL clubs Glenelg and North Adelaide respectively.

Ayman has been selected in the BHF's National Academy which will include regular training sessions in Melbourne before heading to Dubai later this year for a cultural experience.

They are at opposite ends of their Hostplus SANFL League careers but Sturt's Josh Hone and Alex Holt both revelled in the unbridled joy of playing in their club's 16th premiership.

Veteran Hone earned his third premiership medallion after being a part of the club's back-to-back success of 2016 and 2017 with coach Marty Mattner.

Rookie Holt earned his first premiership medallion after playing just 15 League games, retaining his place in the Double Blues' best 22 after making his debut in Round 6.

For Hone, it was sweet redemption after playing in the club's 2023 Grand Final loss and the straight sets exit of 2024.

And after bagging a team-high four majors in the title-decider, he put to bed any of the cheeky niggles from teammates which existed after kicking 0.5 against the Bays two years earlier.

Confirming he is set to play on in 2026, the 29-year-old is hungry to chase a fourth medallion after being energised by the youthful playing group at Unley.

At the other end of the journey, Holt is the perfect representation of that youth movement as he relished his role rotating off half-back and a wing.

It took the 20-year-old as many as 38 Reserves games to finally break into the League line-up, illustrating his persistence and willingness to display great patience along with several of his teammates at Oxford Terrace.

Racking up 21 disposals and a memorable goal near the boundary line on Grand Final day, Holt is refusing to give up on his dream of playing at elite level.