Kapunda junior footballers Joel Foster (St John’s Lutheran School - Eudunda) and Thomas Williams (Kapunda Primary) have been selected in the SAPSASA State team to travel to Melbourne in a month’s time.

Despite the fact these young men have been selected to play for their state, their families have been advised they need to come up with $800 each to get the boys to Melbourne, on top of accommodation costs as well as the expenses faced by the parents keen to see the boys in action.

The Kapunda footy club has donated $100 to each of the lads and Kapunda Primary has supported Thomas with $100.

However the families are keen to hear from anyone who could help reduce the financial burden.

Joel is a nephew of Central District and Hawthorn great John Platten.

There is also a strong football heritage in Thomas’ family, as his uncle, Nathan Gray, who grew up playing for Blanchetown-Swan Reach, won an A-grade flag with Waikerie and was involved with Norwood and North Adelaide squads in the late 80s.

Mr Mercurial

Gawler Central’s ‘Barrie Robran’ of country football Brad Taylor played his 100th A grade game against Kapunda last Saturday.

Regarded by many as the best footballer in the BL&G, Taylor has nearly achieved everything at rural level.

He has captained the association, played in a premiership in 2001, won the leading goalkicker award and been a top four finisher on Mail medal night on four occasions.

Tiger’s 2001 flag-winning coach Peter Vivian explained Taylor was an inspirational footballer.

“His dedication, desperation and desire is everything you’d want in a player – he’s hard working skilful and able to do the freakish things on the football field,” Vivian said.

“He would have got to be among the top couple of footballers in the association this decade.

“Tayls rarely misses a training and has trained and played with injuries.”

Zone squad

Now part of the expansive Murray- Mallee - Barrier - Barossa zone for the state country titles in Berri on July 5 and 6, there are no less than 15 BL&G players in the inaugural squad from a group of 34.

The players selected are Greg Bain (A)*, Andrew Pech (A), Darren Sharp (BD), Matt Stelzer (BD), Michael Haseldine (F), Darren Leske (F), Luke Howard (GC)*, Brad Taylor (K)*, Brad Valentine (K), Shawn Gibson (N), Aaron Baylis (SG), Ben Newberry (T), Andrew Prior (T)*, Luke Wells (T) and Chris McLean (W).

The * indicates under 23 players of which there must be eight in the squad.

Brad Taylor and Scott Hahn from Gawler Central and Tanunda’s Alex Kennedy have said they are not interested in playing.

Ladder-leading coach Steve Lubcke suggested he didn’t have a problem with members of his side playing but he would hope it would be a fair and equitable situation.

Hadden’s starring game

Playing for the state under 20s in the annual state youth game on Adelaide Oval for the second year in a row, Angaston’s Central District footballer Louis Hadden was a premium performer in the 12-goal win.

“Louis Hadden is a real talent, showing a lot of poise around the football,” under 20s state coach Michael Godden said.

“He is one of those players who has that ability to create time on the field and is a young man who has the talent to go all the way.”

Hadden was third best for the victors, playing as a ruck-rover, changing across half forward.

Magpie stalwart

Tanunda clubman Scott Rohlach played his 200th senior game in the reserves match against Barossa District on Saturday.

“Scott is among elite company at our club and received plenty of accolades on Saturday night,” senior coach Steve Lubcke said.

“He is a huge club stalwart and 190 of his games have been at A grade level. Scott has done some long hard yards at this club and was full back in their last premiership.”

While his body is now held together predominantly with trainers tape, this experienced club veteran is the epitome of what local football is all about, being a born and bred Tanunda lad.

Spicer charged

The BL&GFA have laid a charge against 2006 premiership player Aaron Spicer from the Barossa District Football Club.

The charge relates to not following the due process of notifying the selection panel of his inability to attend scheduled association training sessions. And also for being unavailable for selection in the final team due to work commitments in accordance to rule 4.3 of the BL&GFA constitution and association selection rules as listed in the BL&GFA secretary handbook.

The last person to receive a suspension for this type of issue was Angaston’s 2003 mail medallist and premiership player Michael Spanagel in 2005.

Not disgraced

The Lower North Golf team was defeated by a very strong Tea Tree Gully side in the final of the A2 Metro Pennant Competition played at the Thaxted Park Course last Sunday.

The result was five games to two in favour of Tea Tree Gully who now will be promoted to Simpson Cup level next year.

In a remarkable fight-back the star for the Lower North was Paul Pridham, who won 2/1 after being down five holes in the first seven.

The other winner was Richard Nairn who was playing state champion Chris Austin. They were having a very tight contest when, unfortunately, Chris was called from the course due to a family tragedy.

Due to misinformation of player eligibility rules, the Lower North’s number seven Rocco Polito, was ruled ineligible to play and that led to a poor start for our Lower North boys.