CENTRAL Zone has won the South Australian Country Football Men’s Zone Championships for the first time in six years after it smashed Northern Zone by 10 goals in the grand final on the weekend.
This season marked the first year the Barossa, Light & Gawler Football Association scheduled matches on the same dates as the annual competition, with each local club still providing players to represent Central.
The Adelaide Plains Football League also had players take the field for Central during the championships.
The weekend got off to the perfect start for Central as it belted Southern Districts by 41 points in game one.
Angaston’s Ryder Eberhard kicked two majors, while Balaklava’s Shane Moss and Willaston’s Tyson Irlam also chipped in.
Irlam and Barossa District’s Leigh Ryswyk featured among the best.
The star-studded Central side took it to another level in game two, as it crushed Eastern by 43 points.
Donnybrooks star Irlam again slotted two majors, while Angaston’s Ryan Carnelly also brought his goal-kicking boots.
Ryswyk’s form continued from the first game, while Gawler Central’s Andrew Wright was terrific.
The Central lads finished the job off in the grand final, largely helped by Wright’s efforts.
Wright was best on ground, while the Barossa, Light & Gawler members of the side tore apart Northern.
Irlam, Kapunda’s Joey Brown, Eberhard and Moss all kicked two majors, while Gawler Central’s Owen John and Barossa District’s Todd Miles chipped in.
Women place third
Meanwhile, Central Zone finished third in the South Australian Country Football Women’s Championships.
The Central girls got off to a perfect start by crushing Eastern by 31 points.
Sarah-Jane Jameson had a field day with three majors, as her side held Eastern scoreless.
Taryn Wills and Lauren Smith also featured among the best. However, Central then succumbed to Southern Districts by 13 points.
Despite being down by just one point at half-time, Central couldn’t contain Southern Districts any further and conceded two goals to none.
Emma Keys and Charlotte Spence were terrific for the losing team.
In the third-placed play-off, Central defeated Murray South East by one goal.
Jameson returned to form in the final game, kicking all four of Central’s majors.