INS & OUTS 2026

[Bluedemon]

I dont understand why we are waiting, if it is Clarke

I'm hearing he is going to be CEO at Westies

I'm hearing there's going to be no CEO at Westies.

Is that good or bad for a club not having a CEO?

[Booney]

Sturt great James Battersby has opened up on his painful exit from the Double Blues, revealing he knew four months before the end of the season that he wasn’t part of the club’s premiership plans.

Admitting his stunning off-season move to rival SANFL club North Adelaide wasn’t on his “bingo card’’ at the start of the year, Battersby said he “pulled the pin’’ on his decorated 13-year, 218-game Sturt career two weeks before this year’s grand final – when he was still captain – after being told he was no chance to play.

“Marty Mattner (Sturt coach) told me four months earlier that I wasn’t going to play in the (finals) side,’’ the 30-year-old dual Blues premiership midfielder said, adding that the final chapter of his Sturt career had taken a big mental toll on him.

“Before I came back from the (knee) injury (which sidelined him for three months), Marty had a chat with me and said that he wasn’t going to pick me (in the league team), that he didn’t think I could play football anymore.

“He had lost all confidence in me, which was a really bitter pill to swallow when I hadn’t come back from injury yet.’’

Battersby said his mid-year discussion with Mattner had left him with the impression that the triple Sturt premiership coach wanted him to retire.

“He said, ‘what do you want to do from here?, I think hoping that I’d pull the pin then,’’ Battersby told SENSA.

But Battersby refused to go, saying he wanted the chance to prove that he could still play at a high level.

“I said ‘am I still up for selection, can I prove myself and hopefully give myself a chance because I thought I owed that to myself,’’ he said.

“He said, ‘yep, I can’, so I gave myself a crack for three months. I worked really hard and got my body in tip-top shape, I think I was as lean as I have been for five or six years.

“While I’d had the lingering knee injury, what really got to me was the mental toll it took, knowing I wasn’t going to get picked (for the finals) and how I was treated for those four months.

“It was like I didn’t exist for four months and it got to the point where I was having a bit of anxiety going to training, I wasn’t enjoying my football at all and I thought I was just no good to anyone there.

“I didn’t want to take away from what the boys were about to achieve or take someone’s spot in the reserves (grand final), so I made a decision that was right for me and hopefully right for the club, which it was because they won the (league) grand final, to step away a couple of weeks before the grand final.’’

Battersby – named captain of the 2024 The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year – started the season in Sturt’s league side before being injured in round 2 and returning through the reserves in round 13.

He made only one more league appearance for the season – against the Eagles in round 17 (having 22 disposals and eight clearances) – as other players jumped the queue for his league midfield spot, most notably Jack Oatey Medallist Angus Anderson.

Battersby admitted he wasn’t at Adelaide Oval for Sturt’s 31-point grand final win against Glenelg, instead watching the game on television with his family.

But he said he was “super-happy’’ for his teammates to taste the spoils of victory and claim the Blues’ first flag since back-to-back premierships in 2016-17.

“It was my dream and goal to be a premiership captain with Sturt and I got very close but I was super-happy for my teammates, who did so much hard work to get there,’’ Battersby said.

Battersby left Sturt as one of its most decorated players.

Starting his league career at Unley in 2013, he won consecutive premierships in 2016-17 (under Mattner), best and fairests in 2020 and 2023, was third in the Magarey Medal in 2017, 2020 and 2023 and was selected in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year seven times.

He also captained the Double Blues for six consecutive seasons from 2020-25.

Battersby said he wished his Sturt career could have ended on a better note but that he still had “great relationships with all the boys’’.

He said he joined the Roosters because of his close friendship with their captain Alex Spina and star big man Mitch Harvey.

“They reached out to me and I was really keen to play with them and hopefully help the club have some success,’’ said Battersby, adding he underwent minor knee surgery at the end of the season.

“Hopefully I should be running by mid-December, which will be the earliest I have been running for a few years, and can get a good pre-season under my belt because I’m really keen to get stuck into things with North and see what next year holds.’’

[wenchbarwer]

As someone mentioned earlier, Surt v North will be great viewing

[Booney]

As someone mentioned earlier, Surt v North will be great viewing

North don't have much skin in it.

[wenchbarwer]

As someone mentioned earlier, Surt v North will be great viewing

North don't have much skin in it.

Maybe, with Spina & Harvey being good mates, you'd think they'd back Battersby should it get willing.

Makes for a good story, at least

[Ronnie]

Not players but 2 important off field departures are Chris Trapp from Sturt and Mark Clayton from South.
Clayton was a talent manager and u18 coach at South who achieved considerable success,
Trapp was Reserves coach and football manager at Sturt, and was basically Mattner's right hand man during a period when Sturt ran a highly regarded football program across the grades.

[Dutchy]

Not players but 2 important off field departures are Chris Trapp from Sturt and Mark Clayton from South.
Clayton was a talent manager and u18 coach at South who achieved considerable success,
Trapp was Reserves coach and football manager at Sturt, and was basically Mattner's right hand man during a period when Sturt ran a highly regarded football program across the grades.

Any idea where Clayt's is headed?

[River Murray]

When do the Bays announce the coach?

tommorrow 19th nov.....matthew clarke has the gig.....just waited until crows were bundled out.....before announcing

[DOC]

Not players but 2 important off field departures are Chris Trapp from Sturt and Mark Clayton from South.
Clayton was a talent manager and u18 coach at South who achieved considerable success,
Trapp was Reserves coach and football manager at Sturt, and was basically Mattner's right hand man during a period when Sturt ran a highly regarded football program across the grades.

Any idea where Clayt's is headed?

SANFL

[locky801]

When do the Bays announce the coach?

tommorrow 19th nov.....matthew clarke has the gig.....just waited until crows were bundled out.....before announcing

interested to see his game plan, was heavy defensive in the AFLW

[blood bath]

The Advertiser - Aaron Francis joins Norwood Football club in SANFL recruiting coup

Norwood has emerged as the greatest threat to Sturt’s premiership crown, pulling off another recruiting coup by signing former top AFL draft pick Aaron Francis from Sydney.

The high-flying 28-year-old – drafted by Essendon from West Adelaide at pick 6 in 2015 – has turned his back on a reunion with the Bloods and joined a club that went within a straight kick of playing in this year’s SANFL grand final.

Francis is the third major signing for Norwood in the off-season, joining 2024 joint Magarey Medallist Harry Boyd, who is returning to The Parade after a one-year stint in the AFL with St Kilda, and star Central District midfielder Kade Dittmar.

“We are rapt to have Aaron commit to our club,” said new Redlegs general manager of football Daniel Menzel.

“He has some outstanding experience at AFL level, so he will offer our club so much next year and into the future.

“Aaron is an extremely accomplished player who has played a number of key roles down back and up forward at the highest level, which was extremely enticing for us.

“He reads the game really well and adds a great dynamic and balance for us at both ends of the ground, while he is keen to take the next step leadership-wise.’’

Francis, a 193cm utility who can play as a key defender or key forward, played 54 games and kicked 12 goals for Essendon from 2016-22 before being traded to Sydney.

He spent three years at the Swans, playing 30 games and booting six goals, before being delisted after a total of 84 games in 10 years in a career curtailed by injuries.

He said he chose Norwood because of his affinity with the area and the fact that he had played with a couple of its stars, Billy Cootee and Alastair Lord, at Essendon.

“It’s great to be back in Adelaide and playing for Norwood,” Francis said.

“I know the Norwood area very well, having gone to school at Prince Alfred College, which is just down the road, and some players like Billy and Alastair.

“The club is highly regarded and respected, so it was a pretty clear choice for me.’’

Francis described his 10 years in the AFL as having “a lot of highs and lows’’.

“As an AFL player I experienced a lot and overall I am very proud of myself,’’ he said.

“I’m hoping to use the experience that I have gained from 10 years in the AFL system at Norwood, while I feel I’m in the prime years of my football career and can hopefully help the club push for finals and more.’’

[Brodlach]

I think I’m done with West. I’ve tried to remain positive but to not get Burgess and/or Francis it’s broken my will for the club.

[pmackk]

Can’t really blame players wanting to try and have success at other clubs. Norwood attempting to catch up with sturt.

[Jim05]

The Advertiser - Aaron Francis joins Norwood Football club in SANFL recruiting coup

Norwood has emerged as the greatest threat to Sturt’s premiership crown, pulling off another recruiting coup by signing former top AFL draft pick Aaron Francis from Sydney.

The high-flying 28-year-old – drafted by Essendon from West Adelaide at pick 6 in 2015 – has turned his back on a reunion with the Bloods and joined a club that went within a straight kick of playing in this year’s SANFL grand final.

Francis is the third major signing for Norwood in the off-season, joining 2024 joint Magarey Medallist Harry Boyd, who is returning to The Parade after a one-year stint in the AFL with St Kilda, and star Central District midfielder Kade Dittmar.

“We are rapt to have Aaron commit to our club,” said new Redlegs general manager of football Daniel Menzel.

“He has some outstanding experience at AFL level, so he will offer our club so much next year and into the future.

“Aaron is an extremely accomplished player who has played a number of key roles down back and up forward at the highest level, which was extremely enticing for us.

“He reads the game really well and adds a great dynamic and balance for us at both ends of the ground, while he is keen to take the next step leadership-wise.’’

Francis, a 193cm utility who can play as a key defender or key forward, played 54 games and kicked 12 goals for Essendon from 2016-22 before being traded to Sydney.

He spent three years at the Swans, playing 30 games and booting six goals, before being delisted after a total of 84 games in 10 years in a career curtailed by injuries.

He said he chose Norwood because of his affinity with the area and the fact that he had played with a couple of its stars, Billy Cootee and Alastair Lord, at Essendon.

“It’s great to be back in Adelaide and playing for Norwood,” Francis said.

“I know the Norwood area very well, having gone to school at Prince Alfred College, which is just down the road, and some players like Billy and Alastair.

“The club is highly regarded and respected, so it was a pretty clear choice for me.’’

Francis described his 10 years in the AFL as having “a lot of highs and lows’’.

“As an AFL player I experienced a lot and overall I am very proud of myself,’’ he said.

“I’m hoping to use the experience that I have gained from 10 years in the AFL system at Norwood, while I feel I’m in the prime years of my football career and can hopefully help the club push for finals and more.’’

Aaron will be very good at SANFL level. Hopefully 2-3 more with AFL experience to be announced in the coming week or so

[Wolf Pack]

I think I’m done with West. I’ve tried to remain positive but to not get Burgess and/or Francis it’s broken my will for the club.

Don’t blame you.
I’m also walking away from the club.
There is no future.
They rarely get ex players back to play for the club.
7 spoons from the past 10 seasons is enough for me.
I’ll keep my $240 in my pocket next year.

[southernbulldog]

Call off the 2026 season Sturt v Norwood GF inevitable

[am Bays]

**** that

No one gave us a shot in 2019 or 2023 and we were Monty’s for last season this time in 2024

Not everyone is finished recruiting. Long way to go yet

[southernbulldog]

Jim05 lots of players playing for not much if you have more afl players coming

[Jim05]

Jim05 lots of players playing for not much if you have more afl players coming

Hopeful for all 3 Norwood lads to come back but wouldn’t be surprised if one ends up in the ammo’s

[Jim05]

**** that

Not everyone is finished recruiting. Long way to go yet

Yep, plenty more recruiting to be done