AAMI Rookies take centre stage in 2024

By ZAC MILBANK

SANFL clubs are continuing to invest in South Australian products with as many as 64 AAMI Rookies making their Hostplus SANFL League debut in 2024.

The class of 2024 featured a diverse array of young and mature-age talent as players were handed their opportunity to shine throughout the minor round.

Norwood key forward Finn Heard and Woodville-West Torrens defender Josh Morris were among the 20 players to line-up for their first League game in Round 1, the most AAMI Rookies unveiled in a round this year.

There was at least one AAMI Rookie chosen in each of the minor rounds this season, while one AAMI Rookie was selected each week throughout the minor round of the Hostplus SANFLW League campaign.

All AAMI Rookies to make their League debut this year earned $500 for their original Community Football Club as well as a framed picture of them to hang in the clubrooms.

Heard, who played 17 League games and booted 17 goals in his debut senior season, and West’s Wyatt Ryan were excellent examples of players displaying persistence in the Reserves before earning their opportunity in 2024.

South Adelaide’s Phoenix Hargrave and Adelaide’s Tyler Welsh were among the potential 2024 AFL draftees to be chosen at League level while 17-year-old Dyson Sharp, eligible for the 2025 AFL Draft, displayed exciting signs in his run of five League matches which stretched into the finals.

Round 1
Finn Heard (Norwood) Walkerville FC
Alastair Lord (Norwood) Athelstone FC
Cooper Murley (Norwood) Tea Tree Gully FC
Will Spain (Sturt) Onkaparinga Valley FC
Tom Wheaton (South) Strathalbyn FC
Nic Schroder (South) Willunga FC
Noah Howes (South) Port Noarlunga FC
Max Clifton (South) Flagstaff Hill FC
Jay O’Leary (Adelaide) Broadview FC
Darcy Clifford (Adelaide) Langhorne Creek FC
Tyler Welsh (Adelaide) Henley FC
Dylan Whimpress (Adelaide) Freeling FC
Josh Morris (Woodville-West Torrens) Rosewater FC
Will Neumann (Woodville-West Torrens) Kadina FC
Finn Higham (West Adelaide) Lockleys FC
Lachlan Williams (West Adelaide) Encounter Bay FC
Oscar Kregar (West Adelaide) Berri FC
Will Patton (West Adelaide) Mitcham FC
Oscar Adams (Glenelg) South Gambier FC
Beau Baldwin (Port Adelaide) Waybacks FC

Round 2
Sam Dunn (Glenelg) Angle Vale FC
Harry Boyle (Adelaide) Brighton FC
Sam Daniele (Adelaide) Broadview FC
Dylan White (West Adelaide) Renmark FC

Round 3
Kelsey Rypstra (North Adelaide) – Gaza FC
Preston Cockatoo-Collins (Port Adelaide) – Port District FC
Dustin Launer (Port Adelaide) – Southern Saints FC

Round 4
Bailey Hann (Woodville-West Torrens) – Wallaroo FC
Jayden Davis (Adelaide) – Unley Jets FC

Round 5
Jake Walker (Glenelg) – South Gambier FC
Hunter Window (Glenelg) – PHOS Camden FC
Will Stockman (Glenelg) – Renmark FC
Ky Burgoyne (Port) – Henley FC
Judd Hansen (West) – Renmark FC
Alex Morgan (West) – Brinkworth Spalding Redhill FC

Round 6
Austin McDonald (Adelaide) – Barossa District FC

Round 7
Harvey Lambert (South Adelaide) – Sacred Heart OC/Plympton
Lachlan Scott (South Adelaide) – Willunga
Will O’Brien (Port Adelaide) – Barossa District
Brayden Calvett (Port Adelaide) – Two Wells

Round 8
Lachlan Thomas (Adelaide) – Tailem Bend FC

Round 9
Sam Hindes (South) – Kangarilla FC
Bailey Pilmore (South) – Aldinga FC
Jack Wheare (Eagles) – Ardrossan FC

Round 10
Louie McLennan (Central District) – Tanunda FC

Round 11
Wyatt Ryan (West Adelaide) – Kapunda FC

Round 12
Corey Grocock (South Adelaide) – Happy Valley FC

Round 13
Rome Burgoyne (Port Adelaide) – Port District FC
Charlie West (Woodville-West Torrens) – Henley FC
Hugo Kittel (Sturt) – Mitcham FC

Round 14
Phoenix Hargrave (South) – Reynella FC
Calem Krollig (Norwood) – Waybacks FC
Darcy Scott (Glenelg) – Willunga FC

Round 15
Blake Hansen (Woodville-West Torrens) – Port District FC

Round 16
Ben Ridgway (Glenelg) – Brighton FC
Jed Dignan (North) – Orroroo FC
Louie Montgomery (Port) – Glenunga FC
Dakota Sterzl (South) – McLaren Districts FC

Round 17
Cormack O’Reilly (Port) – Unley Jets FC
Jacob Moss (Port) – Colonel Light Gardens FC

Round 18
Dyson Sharp (Central) – Barossa District FC
Todd Reid (Glenelg) – South Gambier FC
Noah Angove (Eagles) – Port District FC

Round 19
Angus Tully (North Adelaide) – Broadview FC

Round 1
Miyu Endersby (Central District) Angaston FC

Round 2
Tarly Borgas (Central District)  Golden Grove FC

Round 3
Emma Charlton (South Adelaide) Willunga FC

Round 4
Kate Alexander (Norwood) Golden Grove FC

Round 5
Tiara Hatchard (North Adelaide) Adelaide Uni FC

Round 6
Bailey Murray (North Adelaide) Modbury FC

Round 7
Ruby Cunningham (Sturt) Glenunga FC

Round 8
Jasmine Dallimore (North Adelaide) Broadview FC

Round 9
Ailene Hibner (Norwood) Golden Grove FC

Round 10
Julia Watson (Woodville-West Torrens) SMOSH West Lakes FC

Round 11
Carly Milsom (South Adelaide) Blackwood FC

Round 12
Georgie Fielder (Glenelg) Henley FC

Round 13
Dakota Kendall (North Adelaide) Broadview FC

Round 14
Mykaela Walker (Norwood) Morphettville Park FC