FOOTBALL season is just around the corner, and KNTFL teams are starting their pre-season training ahead of the season kick-off in mid-April.
Grand finalist of last year Naracoorte resumed training on Tuesday and coach Dean Woosnam said his club was rebuilding after the loss of some key players.
James Dixon and Robert Jones are two big names to have left the club, among others, and he said they would be hard to replace.
“You can’t cover the loss of guys like Dixon and Jones,” Woosnam said.
“We have a few junior players who we are looking to see step up as we go through a rebuilding phase.”
On the positive side, the Demons welcome back Michael Paisley who has been living in Adelaide.
New recruits and old players coming back home are the feature for Kybybolite, who have recruited Nick Jenkin from East Gambier to the club.
Heath Nankivell and Stuart Shepherd also return after spending some time away.
Coach Scott Carberry said numbers have been good for last year’s third placed side, with 30 players coming out to the first training for the year on January 10.
Padthaway has a new coach, Tim Leehane, who returns to the club from Tumby Bay where he has spent many years playing and coaching.
Leehane was a member of Padthaway’s breakthrough 1993 premiership side, their last at A grade level.
The Lions are looking to build on last season where they finished fifth after the minor round and won one final before being knocked out in the first semi-final by Kybybolite.
They start their pre-season campaign tonight.
Border Districts finished fourth in the minor round last year but were knocked out in the first week of the finals by Padthaway.
They have been hard at it training since late last year and coach Andrew Michelmore said they had secured most, if not all, of the playing list that saw the Eagles play finals last year.
Lucindale and Penola are also into their pre-seasons, with Todd Price continuing on as playing coach for the reigning premiers with most of his 2011 intact, and Tony Porter taking over the Penola coaching job from Luke Duncan.
Kingston has appointed Tim Richards for a second stint as non-playing coach after he led the Saints in 2010. He replaces playing coach Matt Menz.
Bordertown has appointed Simon Fidge as non-playing senior coach after he coached Padthaway to the finals last year. Fidge also previously coached Keith.
The Roosters’ coach from last year, Mal Coutts, has shifted to be an assistant at Edenhope Apsley, where Naracoorte’s James Dixon will also be an assistant.
Kaniva/Leeor United has reappointed non-playing coach Alan Bennett for a second season.
The Keith Crows have also reappointed their non-playing coach Brad Richardson, a former Naracoorte premiership coach.
Mundulla has gone back to the future, appointing 2004 premiership coach Alan Milligan as on-playing leader. He replaces playing coach and former league medallist Heath Thorpe.
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