By Trevor Jackson
WHILE sport in the South East is somewhat quiet this weekend, it is not the case for some of the best football players in the region.
The SA Country Championships are set to kick off tomorrow in the Barossa Valley, with a strong squad assembled for the South East side as it looks to defend its 2022 crown.
The squad is made up of players from the three leagues in the South East, the Western Border, Mid South East and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara leagues.
Coached by Mundulla’s Nick Davis, with assistance from Millicent’s Clint Gallio and Kalangadoo’s Ben McGregor, the players have plenty of experience to draw from.
Gallio has been named as co-captain, along with Naracooorte’s Matt Willson.
The lineup includes six of the best Under 21 players from the region and will be a test not just for those, but for every player in the team.
While it is the first time at the helm for Davis, he assisted last year and said he is excited about the weekend ahead.
“I enjoyed helping out last year and feel privileged to be asked to do it this year,” he said.
“We had good numbers at training on Sunday and trimmed the squad down to the 24.
“I am very happy with what we have come up with in the end.
“It is a young side because we have to take six Under 21s this year, so young and fast is the plan.”
The selection process included the three coaches, Scott Duncan and Peter Mitchell, which helped Davis considering his lack of knowledge of some of the Mid South East players.
“I have coached the KNT the last two years so I have really only seen the ones who played interleague those two years,” he said.
“There are a few of the Mid South East boys this year I haven’t seen because we didn’t play them this year.”
Despite coach Mundulla for the past five years, Davis said the KNT selection process threw up a different set of issues.
“It is a bit harder up here because we have so many travellers from Adelaide and not many put their hand up for interleague or this type of stuff,” he said.
“We would have 40 or 50 who didn’t put their hand up, but we still have some handy players.”
About 10 players return from last year’s squad and Davis said everything was well covered, from forward through to backs and a few versatile players who could have a run at either end.
Because the South East won the carnival last year the squad has to include six Under 21 players.
Davis said that could be a slight disadvantage, but he felt the six selected were up to the challenge.
“Callan Bevan comes with big raps for a 16-year-old, so it will be very interesting to see how he goes,” he said.
“It was exciting to meet Colby Munro on Sunday.
“He has kicked 15 goals in the last two weeks so I am sure he will go well.
“Jacob (Campbell) has just turned 21 and was selected as a ruckman.
“It is a good effort for him to be in there as a ruckman.
“For a lot of them it will be the highest level of footy they play, so it is exciting to go and test themselves and see how they go.”
The South East faces Southern first up on Saturday morning, then the Eyre Peninsula in the afternoon, with the games comprising two 25-minute halves.
Once the minor rounds are completed a ladder is formulated, with the top two heading into the grand final over a full game.
It adds plenty of pressure to the minor rounds, with a real need to hit the ground running.
“That is the hard part,” Davis said.
“If you stuff up the first half of the first game it is nearly carnival over.
“But it is always surprising how well the players come together.
“You think it would be an issue not knowing names and not knowing how people play, but it seems to work pretty well.
“Because they are good footballers they adjust fast and know what they are doing.”
Those interested can keep track of the carnival on PlayHQ.
SOUTH EAST ZONE TEAM
Millicent: Clint Gallio – Captain; Kade Bradley; Kade Varcoe (U21).
North Gambier: Sam Stafford.
South Gambier: Brayden Kain; Mitchell Sims (U21).
West Gambier: Daron McElroy; Brandon Newton.
Kalangadoo: Mitch Lowe; Ben Gregory.
Mount Burr: Kallan Bevan (U21).
Port MacDonnell: Colby Munro; Wade Chant.
Glencoe: Dylan Childs – Emergency.
Nangwarry: Joel Virtanen (U21) – Emergency.
Bordertown: Jacob Eats.
Keith: Blake Read; Jack McAuley (U21); Daniel Bibby.
Lucindale: Henry Tregoweth.
Mundulla: Tom Gaden; Jacob Grosser (U21).
Naracoorte: Matt Willson – Captain; Josh Gregg; Rory Taggert.
Kingston: Campbell Watts (U21).
