2022 Glenelg Pocket Profile

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

Friday March 11
Glenelg 17.14 (116) d North 6.7 (43) at Thebarton Oval

Saturday March 19
West v Glenelg at Hisense Stadium – 2.10pm

It would be easy to suggest luring former Geelong and Gold Coast veteran Jordan Murdoch back to Brighton Road would be the Tigers’ recruiting coup but perhaps another player could end up grabbing the headlines in 2022.

Former Brisbane Lions-listed midfielder Corey Lyons has joined the Bays, desperate to prove himself in the best State League competition with his consistency in finding the footy.

The younger brother of Lions star Jarryd Lyons, the 23-year-old averaged 29 disposals for Brisbane in the NEAFL and 27 disposals for Aspley last year in the shortened VFL competition.

Standing at 184cm, Lyons looms as a huge addition to Brett Hand’s centre square combination.

Glenelg’s U18 captain last season, Hugh Stagg, has impressed coach Brett Hand with his fierce attitude on the training track this summer.

The strongly-built forward won the McCallum Tomkins Medal as the fairest and most brilliant player in The U18 Torrens University Cup and is now keen to build his reputation by pushing into the midfield.

Measuring in at 180cm and 79kg, the 18-year-old is strong overhead for his size while also being able to find the goals with ease.

”He’s just a competitive beast and he always wants to improve,” Hand said.

”I think we will see a fair bit of Hugh this year in the League competition.”

Torrens University SA U18 coach Tony Bamford profiles Glenelg’s players

Jakob Ryan
Jakob will play both at Glenelg and Sacred Heart College this year. He plays primarily as a wing/half-forward for Glenelg and has performed very well for SHC and our SA U17 State team across the half-back line in 2021. Jakob uses the ball very well by hand and foot and is often setting up scoring chains for his team. Up to this stage of his development, he has had the greatest impact in games on the outside of the contest with his ability to intercept the opposition’s ball movement or get himself into really smart positions to receive the footy in offence. His challenge now is to maintain this aspect of his game while building upon his ability to win more contested footy.

Archie Lovelock
Archie is a skillful small forward/midfielder who can impact the game well at ground level and win his own contested ball. He will play U18 for Glenelg this year while also representing Sacred Heart College at First 18 level in Terms 2 and 3. His endurance, strong workrate and effective tackling will keep him in the game but he will need to improve his ball use efficiency as a top-age u18 player this year. At his size he will need to ensure he has clean hands under pressure, uses the ball well and is able to produce repeat speed often.

Jake Walker
Jake is very inexperienced at SANFL level let alone in the State talent pathway. A regional player from Mt Gambier, boarding at Prince Alfred College, Jake has had some injury concerns in the past and has only played one game for Glenelg. Having considered all that, he is still very talented and powerfully built for his age. His challenge this year will be to get himself fit and healthy and playing consistently for Glenelg or PAC. After that, he will need to adapt quickly to the higher training standards required if he is to maximise his potential.

Lachlan Scannell
Lachlan has been in the SANFL talent pathway programs for the past 2 years. In that time he has had to manage some injury concerns including his current shoulder injury suffered late in 2021. Lachlan is an elite runner – his 2km time trial in December 2021 was recorded at elite level when compared to AFL Draft combine results. From a football perspective, he must now complement his athletic ability by improving his ”footy” skills such as clean hands, decision-making and ball use.