There is no shortage of familiar names, both from an ex-VFL and ex-AFL perspective, in the South Australian National Football League squad that faces the VFL this Saturday.
Headlining the former AFL contingent is ex-Tiger/Crow Richard Tambling, who was taken at number 4 in the 2004 AFL National Draft.
Tambling played 125 AFL games in a career that never reached the dizzy heights that his draft selection may have indicated.
But, the 27-year-old showed he still has much to offer at the SANFL level with his performances this season with Sturt.
The SANFL squad, coached by Michael Godden, also includes a JJ Liston Trophy winner - Ian Callinan, who won the VFL’s highest individual award in 2005 when he played with Tasmania.
Callinan, 29, played 32 games with Adelaide after making his AFL debut in 2011.
Former North Melbourne small forward Matt Cambell, who played with the Roos’ aligned club North Ballarat, is another ex-AFL player in the SA squad.
The squad also includes another ex-Rooster, Michael Wundke, who spent several seasons on North Melbourne’s list, but is best remembered as a dual North Ballarat premiership player.
Wundke, now playing for Woodville-West Torrens, proved a pivotal forward for the Roosters in its 2008-09 flags.
Matthew Panos (Williamstown), Nick Liddle (Coburg Lions), Brett Eddy (Collingwood/Sandringham) and Joel Cross (Box Hill Hawks) all played in the VFL in recent years.
Cross is an interesting case study as he graduated from Old Xaverians, played a season with Old Camberwell before spending the 20008-09 seasons with Box Hill Hawks.
During his time with the VFL Hawks, Cross won the ’09 A. Todd Medal for the fairest and best player in the VFL Development League.
Unable to secure a permanent position in Box Hill Hawks senior team, Cross moved to Eastern Football League club Scoresby.
For the past few seasons, Cross has been playing with South Adelaide and in 2012 he tied with Brad Symes for the Margarey Medal, the SANFL version of the JJ Liston Trophy.
SANFL squad:
Adelaide: Ian Callinan
Central: Jarrod Schiller, Luke Habel, Paul Thomas, Tim McIntyre,Tom Collier
Glenelg: Ruory Kirkby
North: Jay Shannon, Leigh Ryswyk, Matt Campbell, Todd Miles
Norwood: Sam Baulderstone, Jace Bode, Matthew Panos, Simon Phillips
Port: Steven Summerton
South: Brett Eddy, Joel Cross, Keegan Brooksby, Nick Liddle
Sturt: Kory Beard, Michael Coad, Zane Kirkwood, Richard Tambling, Ben Hansen
West: Chris Schmidt, Daniel Caire, Daniel Webb, Jonathon Beech
Woodville-West Torrens: James Boyd, Luke Jarrad, Luke Powell, Matthew Goldsworthy, Michael Wundke, Andrew Ainger
Saturday May 31, 1:10pm
VFL vs SANFL
North Port Oval
Last Modified on 26/05/2014 12:42