MILLICENT premiership player Matt Duldig has reached new heights in the SANFL, with his appointment as general manager of football.
Duldig kicked off his senior football career with the Saints at the tender age of 14, while attending Millicent High School.
His family are also committed members of the Millicent Football Club.
His brother Steve is a former A Grade coach, while his parents Brian and Tracie are life members.
Now a highly respected SANFL employee and past player, Duldig will progress into the senior executive role at SANFL after four years as community football manager and more recently head of community football.
Duldig joined SANFL in 2010 as the State League’s football operations manager after three years as a development officer with the Adelaide Football Club.
The 35 year old started his career in football administration with a traineeship in game development with Glenelg Football Club while studying a degree in sports management at the University of SA.
Duldig’s playing career included 94 games and 163 goals for Glenelg between 2003 and 2009, along with 73 games and 173 goals for Sturt from 2011 to 2015.
As general manager of football, Duldig will be responsible for overseeing all football competitions and programs delivered by SANFL across the state.
He replaces Adam Kelly who announced his resignation in December after he was appointed head of football at Adelaide Football Club.
SANFL CEO Jake Parkinson said the role attracted a large and diverse field of high-calibre applicants from both within South Australia and interstate.
“After a rigorous recruitment process, Matt emerged as the best candidate for the role as a result of his outstanding breadth of football knowledge, strong connections across football and leadership experience,” he said.
“We are thrilled to see him develop into a leading sports administrator over the past decade and into this significant role in football – one which will enable him to lead football at all levels in South Australia.”
Duldig is privileged and excited to be given the opportunity to lead the future direction of football in SA.
“The game is in a really healthy position in South Australia,” he said.
“At the elite level our State League competitions, both men and women, continue to reinforce themselves as the best state leagues of any sport in Australia and with over 55,000 club participants, footy remains the most popular community club sport in the state.”
Duldig’s passion for football is without doubt and he looks forward to being involved in the continued development of the sport at all levels in the state.
“Footy is the heart and soul of communities right across South Australia,” he said.
“I’m extremely passionate about ensuring all South Australians have an opportunity to participate in our great game – whether as a player, coach, umpire or volunteer – from grassroots to elite.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with the SANFL clubs in ensuring our state league remains an aspirational competition for young males and females and a league competition of which South Australians can feel very proud.”
