Great Southern’s best of the best are gearing up for the opportunity to represent the local association and join forces with players they usually do battle with to bring home the Pilmore Cup.
The annual June long weekend clash between the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) and Southern Football League will see the much-anticipated contest played at the Bice Oval, Christies Beach, on June 11.
After careful consideration, the GSFL Association Squad was last week announced, encompassing the cream of the crop from all 10 clubs.
A leadership group driving interest and momentum comprises six players: Matt Dominish,
Jesse McKinnon, Adam Hunter, Brett Ellis, Sam Renney, and Tyson Davis Neale.
The Pilmore Cup is named after Barry Pilmore who has been involved with both leagues as an elite player (Southern) and coach (Great Southern).
Gianni Petrucci has been appointed as the GSFL Coach for the next two years, bringing a wealth of experience to the role.
Petrucci is the current McLaren A grade coach, and has previously coached in the Southern Football League at Reynella Footy Club, followed by a stint in the SANFL coaching Sturt in the reserves.
“We are really excited, the names the coaches have put forward for us are a talented bunch of players, and to have the ability to work with them at trainings and obviously formulate a strong team will be really good for the league,” Petrucci said.
“We are just going to have two trainings the week of the game, at Strathalbyn and Encounter Bay, because players are already involved in their own club trainings.
“(The clash) is a showcase of our league, so we would love supporters from all the Great Southern clubs to come and support the guys on the day and really put on a show as to how strong our country league is.”
GSFL Vice President Grant Levy similarly acknowledged the importance of this level of competition.
“Association football is an opportunity for the GSFL to showcase its competition, further promote its strong brand in SA regional and community football and at the same time provide players an opportunity to play at a higher-level,” he said.
Meanwhile, the input of all GSFL A grade coaches was welcomed when putting the squad together.
While Petrucci is headlining the A grade men’s team as Senior Coach, he is supported by Assistant Coach Andrew Cook, Assistant Coach/Runner Michael Kilsby, and Team Manager Matt Smith.
The Under 17s will be coached by Encounter Bay’s Tom Pearson, Under 15s by McLaren’s Bryn Loots, Willunga’s Wade Phillips will coach A grade women, and Willunga’s Todd Steele will lead the Under 17 girls.
Last year, Great Southern A grade women ran away with a 49-point victory, and Great Southern Under 17 girls similarly triumphed by 41 points over Southern.
A Golf Promotion Day is booked at Mt Compass Golf Club on June 5 for the association squad in the lead up to trainings on June 7 and June 9, before the big game at Christies Beach Football Club on the Saturday.