2022 West Adelaide Pocket Profile

SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Bloods heading into the 2022 Hostplus SANFL League season.

2021 Snapshot

Finished – 10th

Record – 2 wins and 16 losses

Neil Kerley Medallist – Logan Hill and Tom Keough

Keith Reynolds Memorial Trophy – Best First Year Player from Junior Grades
Bailey Chamberlain

Most Improved Player
Connor Fairlie

Grant Fielke Award – Outstanding leadership, team focus, commitment and consistency
Josh Ryan

Player Movement

COMING
Hamish Hartlett (Port Adelaide), Kaiden Brand (Sydney Swans), Josh Carmichael (Merbein), Liam Delahunty (Port Melbourne), Michael Mattingly (Kyabram), Clayton Gay (Dandenong Stingrays), Blair Rubock (Labrador), Riley Corbett (Canberra Demons), Callum Park (Glenelg), Darren Walters (Williamstown), Jackson Edwards (Glenelg)

GOING
Kaine Stevens (retired), Patrick Levicki (retired/Pembroke OS), Tom Murphy (Frankston), Mitch Duval (Woodville-West Torrens), Kieran Lovell (Tasmania), Nathan Batley (retired/Kadina), Josh Schiller (retired/Edwardstown), Elliot Dunkin (South Adelaide), Aaron Anderson (retired/Edwardstown), Angus Rana (Goodwood Saints), Kyle Kirk (Goodwood Saints), Hamish Gordon (Lucindale)

Kaiden Brand returns to West from the Sydney Swans. Picture – David Mariuz

2022 Trial Matches

Saturday March 12
Norwood 11.8 (74) d West 7.7 (49) at Hisense Stadium

Saturday March 19
Glenelg 13.9 (87) d West 13.5 (83) at Hisense Stadium

Star Signing

Clearly the star signing at West Adelaide, Hamish Hartlett is arguably the prized signature of the Hostplus SANFL League in 2022.

A veteran of 193 AFL games with Port Adelaide, the 31-year-old will also bring his football nous at the ideal time for the Bloods, who are rebuilding under second-year coach Brad Gotch.

Having made his name chiefly across half-back with the Power, expect the man known as ”Hammer” to spend plenty of time in the centre square whilst also acting as a playing midfield coach.

On the Rise - Powerade Breakthrough Player Candidate

Key forward Harry Lemmey got a taste of the Hostplus SANFL League last year after featuring in two matches and now he’s hungry for more in 2022.

Likening himself to Richmond premiership forward Tom Lynch and the King twins, Max and Ben, Lemmey knows his aerobic capacity needs to be at a high level to lead up the ground like those he’s trying to emulate.

The 199cm teenager is also aiming to improve his contested marking this season as he pushes his case to be one of the first South Australians selected in this year’s AFL Draft.

”What a quality young man he is,” West coach Brad Gotch said of Lemmey.

”He leaves no stone unturned in wanting to be the best version of himself. He plays real team footy and is adding different traits to his game as well.

”He’s building on his contested marking and his tackle-pressure so he’s trying to play the modern game.”

Ones to Watch - Torrens University State Talent Hub Members

Torrens Uni SA U18 coach Tony Bamford profiles West Adelaide’s players

Harry Barnett
Big-bodied ruckman who had an impressive start to the 2021 SANFL U18 season considering he was a bottom-age player. He was able to develop his ability to impact the game in general play as the season progressed. He played ruck in our SA U17 State team last year and will be pushing for the role as lead ruck in the SA U18 state team this year. He will have his hands full with several other talented developing tall ruckman chasing the same spot. Harry has been involved in the senior preseason program at West Adelaide.

Kobe Ryan
Tough medium-sized midfielder who plays above his weight and can also impact from the half-back line. Kobe showed last season his ability to provide inside grunt and ball-winning ability around the contest as a midfielder at U18 level for West and Sacred Heart College. He also displayed an ability to provide rebound from the half-back line in the U17 futures and State program. Kobe has completed a full preseason at senior level with West and this experience against bigger SANFL League bodies will prepare him well for higher levels of footy in 2022.

Harry Lemmey
Harry made his debut at SANFL League level in 2021, playing as a tall forward. He also played State level footy at SA U19 and SA U17 level last season and was rewarded for his season with inclusion in the AFL National Academy program for 2022. Harry’s strength currently sits in the lead/mark aspect of the game. Harry is a very athletic and mobile key position player who has rare endurance for his size. He is focused on improving his contested marking ability along with his ground level contest impact.

Tom Scully
Big Tom is the tallest player in our State Talent Hub, measuring in at 204cm. Playing mainly as a deep tall forward, he is still very raw in terms of his physical maturation and general skills but has a strong appetite for improvement. When he launches up into the air and gets to full extension in the marking contest, he is very hard to defend. Tom is working hard to add some weight to his light frame and develop his core and lower-body strength to enable him to hold his position in the contest.