SA Footy

South Australian football champion Sonny Morey has been named the AFL's 2024 Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree.

The Central District legend will be recognised at this year's AFL Dreamtime clash between Richmond and Essendon on the 25th of May at the MCG.

Morey was born at Yambah Station near Alice Springs and faced plenty of hardship growing up as a member of the Stolen Generations.

He is a revered figure of South Australian football after playing 213 SANFL games for the Bulldogs between 1964 and 1977 and becoming the first player at the club to reach the 200-game milestone.

The Arrernte man represented South Australia on four occasions and also produced tremendous football up in the country.

He man won the Norm Russell Medal as Central's best-and-fairest player in 1970 and was runner-up in the 1972 Magarey Medal.

After retiring from the SANFL, he joined Barossa and Light Football League club Eudunda as captain-coach and led the club to its first premiership in 18 years.

Morey would later play for the Salisbury Football Club in what was then known as the Northern Metropolitan Football League.

He said being the first player to reach 200 games at Central District was an "absolute honour".

"It's a lot different today – you can get 200 games up really quickly," Morey said.

"Not playing in finals, and if you're injured you might play ten out of the 18 games.

"To do it, I was pleased but somebody had to set a benchmark for the footy club."

Last year, he was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 inductees during the Magarey Medal awards night in Adelaide.

The AFL will celebrate and recognise those moments forged by First Nations people throughout Sir Doug Nicholls Round, which will be held over two weeks across Round 10 and 11.

DOC wrote:

Booney wrote:After much deliberation the SANFL has accepted the AFL’s new guidelines for a minimum 21 day return to play protocol.

AFL and AFLW listed players featuring in the SANFL will still abide by the 12 day protocols.

sAnFL.

The number of reported concussions this year will be significantly down.

Match day concussions which are visible, won’t be. But, training session concussions will be, guaranteed……

Wedgie wrote:Would make sense as the reserves are after the game at 4.20pm, you'd think they'd have it the other way around if not for TV.

I only make sense

Post your sides best 22 IYHO

South have given up on 2024 and are not trying to win the flag.
They aren't paying the full salary cap and are goning down the path of a full rebuild. Not sure why you have a coach in there 7th year and not a brand new coach. Wright can't coach to score South always struggle to kick a score this year will be brutal.

Panther Pack wrote:South have given up on 2024 and are not trying to win the flag.
They aren't paying the full salary cap and are goning down the path of a full rebuild. Not sure why you have a coach in there 7th year and not a brand new coach. Wright can't coach to score South always struggle to kick a score this year will be brutal.

Some interesting names in the league squad, a few players who struggled in B grade over the past couple of years have been named.

wenchbarwer wrote:

Panther Pack wrote:South have given up on 2024 and are not trying to win the flag.
They aren't paying the full salary cap and are goning down the path of a full rebuild. Not sure why you have a coach in there 7th year and not a brand new coach. Wright can't coach to score South always struggle to kick a score this year will be brutal.

Some interesting names in the league squad, a few players who struggled in B grade over the past couple of years have been named.

It's tough when almost all your leaders/senior players depart at once. No SANFL club wants that to happen. I can't recall a less experienced side.
Could they have phased in the exodus instead of a bit hit come 2024? Feels like South have tried everything and have felt a little burnt by the lack of buy in from a few ex AFL players over the past couple of years.

Ronnie wrote:

wenchbarwer wrote:

Panther Pack wrote:South have given up on 2024 and are not trying to win the flag.
They aren't paying the full salary cap and are goning down the path of a full rebuild. Not sure why you have a coach in there 7th year and not a brand new coach. Wright can't coach to score South always struggle to kick a score this year will be brutal.

Some interesting names in the league squad, a few players who struggled in B grade over the past couple of years have been named.

It's tough when almost all your leaders/senior players depart at once. No SANFL club wants that to happen. I can't recall a less experienced side.
Could they have phased in the exodus instead of a bit hit come 2024? Feels like South have tried everything and have felt a little burnt by the lack of buy in from a few ex AFL players over the past couple of years.

They always go down the ex-AFL path, though, and it's never really worked. Every year they have great recruits on paper, then, nothing.

Can't blame the draft, either, they have a couple get picked up, but surely this much-heralded junior development program should bear fruit? Why do so many 18/19/20 year old players leave to go play local footy, once they are done with the underage stuff?

wenchbarwer wrote:
Can't blame the draft, either, they have a couple get picked up, but surely this much-heralded junior development program should bear fruit? Why do so many 18/19/20 year old players leave to go play local footy, once they are done with the underage stuff?

Simply because only 10-20% of the u18's get invited out to senior preseason training at every club. Some haven't developed enough to play senior footy, even reserves as 18-19 yo's, some need to go back local to build their bodies and develop their game, if they improve they will get noticed and get another opportunity.

Dutchy wrote:

wenchbarwer wrote:
Can't blame the draft, either, they have a couple get picked up, but surely this much-heralded junior development program should bear fruit? Why do so many 18/19/20 year old players leave to go play local footy, once they are done with the underage stuff?

Simply because only 10-20% of the u18's get invited out to senior preseason training at every club. Some haven't developed enough to play senior footy, even reserves as 18-19 yo's, some need to go back local to build their bodies and develop their game, if they improve they will get noticed and get another opportunity.

Look, speaking from personal experience, that's not the case, especially not with South. They're not leaving because they're not physically capable, they're just choosing to go.

Additionally, you build bodies better & faster in an SANFL environment, again, from personal experience.

Do we know when the State side will be selected for the game on Saturday ?

southernbulldog wrote:Do we know when the State side will be selected for the game on Saturday ?

I read an Instagram post this morning that the squad will be announced later this afternoon but I'm not sure if it's an April Fools joke or not.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5MZqNhMXTU ... ZyaTZlamQx

SANFL squad here - https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/selectors-name-west-end-state-team-to-face-vfl/

VFL squad here - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1090379/smithys-vfl-state-team-squad-announced

Channel 7 have just reported that Norwood “would like to be the 20th AFL club commencing in 2028.

I would like to date Megan Gale.

Same chance.

or we could get sanfl to put the RAVENS in.

what a joke,

Should have been Nw and Port from the start

anyway i can get 6.50 for the ravens to win the flag. See you in heaven

DOC wrote:Channel 7 have just reported that Norwood “would like to be the 20th AFL club commencing in 2028.

I would like to date Megan Gale.

Same chance.

Hope not in 2028
I want Norwood win 6 more SANFL flags before they play in an AFL competition

It will never happen.

SA not large enough to hold 3 teams. Would also be my worse nightmare

DOC wrote:Channel 7 have just reported that Norwood “would like to be the 20th AFL club commencing in 2028.

I would like to date Megan Gale.

Same chance.

You’re selling yourself short there.

I love that now that Port are leaving the vfl is apparently a better league than SANFL.

Vfl Grand final crowd last season : 7000
SANFL Gf crowd : 33000