Episodes
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Rupturing his spleen, recovering from an ACL and continually being overlooked by AFL clubs - it's no surprise that Sturt captain Tom Lewis continues to play with a chip on his shoulder after 99 Hostplus SANFL League games.
The 26-year-old maintains an incredibly positive, yet humble, attitude to all of the aspects in his hectic life as he chases down more glory with his beloved Double Blues.
Speaking on the latest edition of Checkside Chats, the Magarey Medallist revealed he's chasing down the accomplishments of Sturt's dual premiership captain Zane Kirkwood, who has acted as the perfect role model.
Excited to reach his treasured 100-game milestone against arch-rival Port Adelaide at Thomas Farms Oval on Sunday, Sturt's No.2 will be desperate to pay his respect to the club's heroes of 1966 and 1976 who will be present to celebrate premiership reunions.
Set to have his dedicated parents Michael and Maureen watching on, together with his extended family and ''half the town of Meningie'', Lewis also reflected on the supreme sacrifices he made as a teenager whilst making the four-hour round trip at least three times a week from Lake Albert.
Employed as a site supervisor for Aube Projects, the construction management graduate is also planning some new additions to his popular clothing label MILK. -
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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. -
Woodville-West Torrens might be coming from fourth spot to defend its SANFL U18 crown but star duo Jevan Phillipou and Jack Cook are up for the challenge.
As the Eagles prepare to face Central District in Saturday's First Semi-Final, Phillipou and Cook declared they are excited to tackle the Bulldogs in a Grand Final rematch, after edging out their rivals last year.
Starting at 1.30pm, it will be the second contest of a salivating SANFL U18 double-header at Unley, with minor premier Sturt to host the vastly-improved West Adelaide in the opener from 11am.
Phillipou and Cook return to the Under-18 line-up after featuring as regulars in the Eagles' Hostplus SANFL League team in the second half of the minor round.
Prior to that, Cook relished the chance to vice-captain the SA U18 team to its first national title since 2018 while Phillipou was forced to sit on the sidelines with a broken arm.
Ironically, both of their fathers - Tim Cook and Sam Phillipou - were members of South Australia's victorious U17 Teal Cup winning team in 1991.
Both players will be aiming to put their best foot forward during the major round as they also have one eye on testing themselves as the AFL Combines in October. -
He's a towering figure on and off the field, a symbol of strength for Adelaide's SANFL League Team.
So it is only fitting that the club's most decorated State League player, Kieran Strachan, will be the first to reach 100 Hostplus SANFL League games on Saturday.
The 29-year-old is the first of 241 League players to reach triple figures, having won three best-and-fairests and being selected in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year on four occasions.
But the past 12 months have been particularly challenging for the boy from Bendigo, who has had to overcome a serious foot injury which placed his immediate future in doubt.
Now fighting fit, Strachan is desperate to add the one remaining prize to his bulging trophy cabinet - a premiership medallion. -
They are the queens of the Hostplus SANFLW League.
South Adelaide has well and truly stamped itself as the dominant force in South Australian women's football, claiming its fourth title from six grand finals against Woodville-West Torrens.
And now, best-on-ground Emma Charlton and acting captain Tiffany King detail the secrets to the Panthers success.
Triple premiership coach Rick Watts has been a huge driver behind the success as has special motivational tools, such as one revealed on the bus journeying to the title-decider.
Emma, just 17, details her hopes for the future such as following sister Teah into the AFLW while Tiffany, a sports psychologist, hasn't given up on her elite football dream.
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South Australia's connection at the 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships was well and truly on show as it romped to its first title since 2018.
And two of the major players behind the Croweaters' fifth national crown, forward Mitchell Marsh and wing Harley Barker, have spoken highly of how close the group was under coach Tony Bamford.
The latest guests on SANFL's exclusive Checkside Chats podcast, the pair revealed their team's motto was ''you plus me equals we'' as they remained undefeated after four contests in succession.
Left-footed Marsh, the son of Crows premiership ruckman Ben Marsh, enjoyed a consistent campaign working in with fellow tall forwards Aidan Schubert and Cameron Nairn.
Barker, who injured his ACL returning for Sturt on Saturday, displayed his athleticism and eye-catching ball use on his wing whilst using his deceptive height of 187cm to his advantage.
The pair chat about who they have modelled their games on whilst also detailing their journeys to put themselves in a position to potentially have their names called by an AFL club in November. -
The SA U18 team is flying.
And a key feature of the Croweaters' performance at the 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships has been their unselfish nature of play.
Sitting with a 3-0 win-loss record after victories against the Allies, Victoria Metro and Western Australia, SA can win its first title with a win against Victoria Country in Melbourne on Sunday June 29.
Tune in to the latest edition of Checkside Chats to hear from SA U18 coach Tony Bamford about what makes the Class of 2025 so different while also hearing in-depth player-by-player analysis.
Bamford discusses the progress of plenty of players, including captain Dyson Sharp, tall forwards Aidan Schubert, Cameron Nairn and Mitch Marsh, as well as Richmond father-son prospect Louis Kellaway. -
Only three SANFL field umpires have reached the magical 400-game milestone and now, Corey Bowen, is set to become the fourth in Sunday's Hostplus SANFL League clash between Glenelg and North Adelaide at Stratarama Stadium.
The 42-year-old began his journey with SANFL in 2002 before making his League debut in Round 22 of 2004, ironically a match between the Tigers and Roosters at the Bay.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Checkside Chats podcast, Bowen reveals the most challenging free kicks to pay, what is secret to bouncing the ball is and which games have been his most memorable to officiate.
Estimating he's covered approximately 25,000kms. the father of three also details how he maintains his fitness, his plans to further his coaching career and whether he will aim to chase down the all-time record of 459 games held by Richard Williams. -
It's every footballer's dream - kicking the winning goal after the final siren.
But whether it becomes reality is another story.
Not for Glenelg forward Kaitey Whittaker though, as she calmly slotted through her set shot to give the Tigers their first win of the Hostplus SANFLW League season in the club's 100th SANFLW appearance.
Tune in to the latest edition of Checkside Chats to learn how the 21-year-old managed to soak up the pressure against the Bulldogs at Stratarama Stadium.
Whittaker also tells of how her footy journey began in Darwin before packing up her bags an 18-year-old to pursue life as a professional footballer in Adelaide.
Idolising Port Adelaide's Gemma Houghton, Whittaker - also known as Bling Bling due to her love of gold jewellery - is embracing the opportunity to also train alongside Houghton at Alberton whilst plying her trade at Brighton Road. -
Like father, like daughter.
But if you ask Laela Ebert, she's forging her way higher up the field than dad Daniel, who played the majority of his 108 SANFL League games in the back pocket for North Adelaide.
Speaking on SANFL's Checkside Chats podcast, the 19-year-old is still coming to terms with winning the best-on-ground medal for her polished performance for the SANFLW State team in defeating the WAFLW at Adelaide Oval.
The second-year Sports and Exercise Science student is relishing her role as a play-making half-back, using her elite kicking skills to make a positive impact for the Croweaters and Roosters.
It hasn't always been easy for Laela though, she has had to fight her way back to full fitness after undergoing reconstructions on both of her knees within a 24-month period.
Younger sister Neveah is set to make her comeback from a knee reconstruction, with Laela joining Daniel in playing an advisory role in the hope she can line-up with her at Prospect this season and beyond.
Laela also speaks about her excitement for her Roosters, who are currently sitting in third spot on the ladder with a 3-3 win-loss record after collecting a rare wooden spoon in 2024. - Show more
