by goddy11 » Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:46 pm
WOODEN spooner West Adelaide has lost two key players to rival SANFL clubs –
and given them a public spray on the way out.
Rebounding half-back Elliot Dunkin has signed for preliminary finalist South
Adelaide and lockdown key defender Mitch Duval is poised to put pen to paper for
premier Woodville-West Torrens, sparking outrage at the Bloods.
In a message to members on the club’s website, West Adelaide football director
Derek Bonner wrote: “This week the West Adelaide Football Club lost two talented
footballers. Both chose to walk away from the club that gave them their senior
opportunity. I want to let the members and supporters know that both players were
offered comprehensive playing contracts for 2022 but they chose not to accept them.
They chose themselves over the playing group, coaches, support staff and you, our
loyal members and supporters.
“We will move on and focus on the players who have committed to this great club
and are invested in our plan, which is to play finals football and build sustained
success.’’ The loss of the ace pair, who finished fifth and eighth in the Bloods’ bestandfairest voting this season, is a significant blow to the club and follows the
retirement of midfield ball magnet Kaine Stevens, who finished joint runner-up.
South Adelaide confirmed the signing of Dunkin, 23, to The Advertiser, describing
him as “a really good player who will help shore up our defence’’.
“Elliot’s in a good age profile for our group and we think he can have a very good
immediate and long-term impact,’’ Panthers chief executive Neill Sharpe said.
Dunkin, whose camp is understood to be upset by West’s public outburst and have
questioned whether he had been offered a “comprehensive contract’’ to stay,
averaged 22 disposals and five marks in 15 games this year.
Duval, 24, has been on the radar of AFL clubs since debuting as a mature-age
product for the Bloods last season.
He averaged 15 disposals and five marks in 18 matches this year.
The Eagles, chasing a hattrick of premierships next season, are expected to
announce his signing this week.
South Adelaide, meanwhile, has further beefed up its playing stocks by signing
former Adelaide SANFL midfielder Oliver Davis after the Tasmanian spent this year
trying to earn an AFL spot with the Crows.
The club is in talks with a pair of its former ruckmen, Keegan Brooksby and Paul
Hunter, about a return to the club after Brooksby was delisted by Hawthorn and
Hunter by St Kilda.
It has re-signed two veterans, Magarey Medallist Bryce Gibbs and star half-back
Matthew Broadbent, but failed in its attempt to sign retired Crow David Mackay,
who will return to his home state of Victoria to take up a school football
coaching/development position