Parto’s path to 100 games

By ZAC MILBANK

Luke Partington has rekindled his love of footy as he approaches his 100th Hostplus SANFL League game.

Set to reach triple figures against North Adelaide at Stratarama Stadium on Sunday, Partington knew he needed a circuit-breaking experience at the end of 2023.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 28-year-old spent six months in Darwin before travelling through Europe with friends and his sister Shae throughout 2024.

It was the best thing for the Magarey Medallist, who had spent the majority of his life living in the footy bubble of being on an AFL list with West Coast before joining the Bays for the 2019 season.

Now, after sitting in the grandstand for last year’s epic SANFL title-decider, Partington is eager to add a third premiership medal to his collection after successes with the Tigers in 2019 and 2023.

He will need to wait before he can join the likes of Chris McDermott on the No.10 locker at Brighton Road after playing the first six matches of his career for Norwood in 2015.

Growing up in Roxby Downs before relocating to Tumby Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, Partington was originally part of Port Adelaide Magpies’ development squads before the Redlegs claimed that part of regional SA under a boundary realignment.

Experiencing country footy fostered Partington’s initial love of the game as he began to develop into a talented midfielder who can find the footy with ease whilst carrying it across lines in devastating fashion.

Winning SANFL’s highest individual honour in 2019, Partington is keen to pass on his wisdom to the next brigade of midfielders queuing up at Glenelg such as Ben Ridgway and Jake Walker.

Currently enjoying his pastoral care role in supporting peer leaders at Reynella East College, Partington will share his milestone with premiership teammates Max Proud (200 games) and James Bell (50 games).