SANFL honours 2024 Life Members

By ZAC MILBANK

SANFL is hailing the tremendous service to South Australian football of its outstanding stalwarts  recognised with Life Membership at the League’s Annual General Meeting at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night.

West Adelaide great and former Woodville-West Torrens chief executive John Kantlifatas had his 40 years of involvement in the game fittingly recognised, becoming SANFL’s first League Life Member since 2020.

Kantilaftas, a reliable member of the Bloods’ memorable 1983 premiership team, played 134 League matches across his career, in which he earned the 1981 best-and-fairest award.

Off the field, Kantilaftas made his mark as the Eagles’ chief from 2001 to 2008, playing a major role in establishing the club’s gaming operations before returning to Richmond where he acted as Bloods CEO from 2013 to 2016, overseeing the club’s drought-breaking 2015 flag.

In 2021, Kantilaftas was inducted into West Adelaide’s Hall of Fame.

Three incredibly loyal fan favourites earned SANFL Player Life Membership in 2024, each lining up in a combination of at least 200 SANFL League or State matches.

Triple Glenelg premiership rover Matthew Snook was joined by dual Double Blues premiership pair James Battersby and Guy Page in being elevated into SANFL’s illustrious 200 Club.

A four-time best-and-fairest with the Tigers, Snook made his League debut in Round 21 of 2011 before retiring with 207 games and 46 goals to his name after earning his third premiership medal after the 2024 Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final.

A Jack Oatey Medallist in 2019 for the Bays’ long-awaited triumph against Port Adelaide, Snook also registered four The Advertser SANFL Team of the Year selections.

Current Sturt captain Battersby is preparing for the 2025 Hostplus SANFL League season, having notched 215 appearances, including the last 147 in succession since Round 7 of 2017.

Making his League debut in Round 3 of 2013, Battersby was a key midfield member of Sturt’s 2016-2017 back-to-back premiership outfits.

Skipper of Sturt since 2020, the clearance-winning ball-magnet has been named in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year on seven occasions, earning the captaincy last year.

Also a member of Sturt’s twin premiership successes in 2016 and 2017, reliable backman Page retired at the end of last season after playing 207 SANFL League games.

Making his debut in Round 1 of 2013, Page earned memorable accolades across his career which included the Len Fitzgerald Best First Year Player award, Peter Motley Best Finals Player in 2017 and selection in the 2022 The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

Three long-serving SANFL League umpires reached their 200-game milestone in 2024, earning richly-deserved life membership.

To be awarded SANFL Umpire Life Membership, a player must play a combination of at least 200 SANFL League or State matches.

Goal Umpires Thomas Sharpe and Matthew Williams, together with Boundary Umpire Martin Elsegood, were fittingly recognised at SANFL’s AGM.

Making his debut between the posts in 2010, Sharpe reached the 200-game milestone in Round 13 of 2024.  

Over the course of his career, Sharpe officiated in four SANFL League Grand Finals, two SANFL State League Games and earned two SANFL Goal Umpire Golden Flag awards. 

With a total of 206 games under his cap, Tom waved the flags for the last time in the 2024 SANFL League Grand Final.

Veteran goal umpire Williams has been a dedicated member of the SANFL umpiring cohort since making his debut in 2009.  

He reached the impressive milestone of 200 games in Round 15 of 2024.  

His career highlights include winning the 2023 Andrew Vickers Medallion and goal umpiring the 2024 SANFL State Game in Western Australia.

Since making his League debut in 2012, Elsegood has officiated five SANFL League Grand Finals, including the 2024 State League decider, where he notched up game 200. 

In recognition of his stellar 2024 season, Martin was awarded the Silver Whistle for the second time, having previously won the prestigious honour in 2022. 

Andrew Darcey has served as the Woodville West Torrens Football Club’s physiotherapist for more than 15 years, providing exceptional care to players and staff on and off the field.  

Starting with the Eagles in 2007 with the League and Reserves squad, Darcey’s business, Leading Edge Physical Therapy, became the club’s official physio provider in 2009.  

In recognition of his highly-appreciated long service, Andrew was awarded Woodville-West Torrens Football Club Life Membership in 2020.  

Joining the Norwood Football Club in 1992, Alan “Al” Hughes followed in the footsteps of his father-in-law, renowned trainer Reg Swingler, who was a fixture at The Parade for 33 years.  

Hughes has given 27 years of service to the Redlegs through two stints at the club – 1992 to 2005 and 2012 to present.  

Starting as a trainer, he has since taken on roles as team manager and property steward, showing unwavering commitment in every position he tackles. 

There is very little Belinda Schell hasn’t done for the Glenelg Football Club since serving hot dogs at the Bays in 1998.

An embodiment of the important value volunteers bring to clubs, Schell progressed to be a junior and senior trainer – a position she has held since 2015 while juggling Reserves Team Manager, scoreboard attendant and even the mascot.

Together with her husband, David, Schell assists with packing and unpacking the club’s property van for away games.  

Her passion for Glenelg has remained unwavering over the past 26 years, and she has played a key role in preparing banners for milestone games and grand finals, both for the men’s and women’s teams.