From the CEO: How You Can Help Our Future Champions

22 June 2017

With June 30 a little over a week away nearly $45,000 has been raised in the South Adelaide Football Club Junior Development Fund. While the Fund will continue into 2018, the next week represents the last opportunity you will have to make a tax deductible donation in this financial year.

So far donations have ranged from $50 to $5000 and have come from a wide range of South supporters, including judges, media personalities, long-time members, former players and coaches and sponsors such as southern-based business Seeley International.

Maintaining the integrity of our underage program is critical to the long-term success of the football club. Despite the financial challenges the Club currently faces we have been able to protect the junior program, through the use of this fund.

Under the stewardship of the soon to depart Talent Manager Tony Bamford we have made some significant improvements in recent years to our junior programs. Our Under-18s currently sit on the top of the ladder having not lost a game.

Kreugs make the cut: Talented utility Nathan Kreuger has been selected in the U18 State Squad. Image: Nick Hook Photography

Our talented junior crop has also been recognised at the next level. We have two players (Robert Irra and Nathan Kreuger) in the State U18 Squad, while five players (overage ruckman, Cameron McGree, Hayden Sampson, Sam Whitbread, Job Colwell and Eamon Wilkinson) will represent the SA U17 Futures team and three players (Daniel Sladojevic, Aaron Douglass and Kangaroo Island product Damon Freitag) will play in the U16 State Team against Western Australia this weekend.

Importantly too we have seen in recent weeks three U18 players (Henry Bruce, Liam Fitt and Hayden Sampson) progress to senior Reserves grade level and be part of their recent form turnaround. This is fantastic for their development and all have acquitted themselves well at the next level.

A key reason for the strength being exhibited in our U18s is the foundation that has been laid in our Development Squad program. They are currently on in earnest and our U13s, U14s and U15 Country teams play Friday night at Hickinbotham Oval. Panthers Captain Brad Crabb and Dual Magarey Medallist Joel Cross are among the coaching group in these grades as they look to develop the next generation of Panthers players. During the July school holiday our U15 Country and Metro, along with U17s will compete in the State Championships against other SANFL clubs.

Creating Our Future: Still eligible for U18s, Hayden Sampson (32), Liam Fitt (centre) and Henry Bruce (55) have all played Reserves level football in 2017. Image: Nick Hook Photography

At the conclusion of these programs our U14 and U17 girls will start their training, with their season set to commence in August and September.

Thank you to all those that have made a contribution so far. It is genuinely appreciated and imperative to the South Adelaide Football Club creating its future. However, we still have a long way to go to reach our target of $200,000 by October 2018.

Any contribution will help. If you can contribute something in to the SAFC Junior Development Fund before June 30 you will know you've played a part in helping the young men and women be part of the best underage program in the SANFL, while also receiving a great tax benefit.

Sincerely,