Warren Foster, A Grade coach of Heathfield Aldgate United for 5 years in the 1970’s, took the side to 5 Grand Final’s, winning 4 during the club’s amazing achievements over its 12-year history in the HFL. Between 1967 and 1978, 30 Premierships were won across all grades including 9 A Grade flags, missing the Grand Final in only one year and winning 87 matches without loss, an Australian record which stood for over 40 years.
Warren, or Sherg as he is affectionately known, instigated a reunion in 2024 and this year 39 former players, partners and officials gathered at the Balhannah Hotel which is managed by Greg Ryan whose children play for Mt Lofty. It was a wonderful day, made even more special by the attendance of 5 Onkaparinga Valley players who played in the legendary United v Onka’s matches which were the HFL equivalent of the AFL Showdowns back in the day.”
We would like to thank Leith Dawes who did us the honour of tossing the Life Member Coin for the A Grade match against Nairne Bremer on Saturday 20 June 2026. Leith was escorted through a players guard of honour formed at the end of the B Grade match to the centre circle by his mother Jill, also a Life Member and was joined by his wife Jacqui, daughter Charlotte and sons Tristan and Seb. His son Callum lives in Exmouth and could not be there.
Leith was made a Life Member in 2001 and when brother Bruce joined this special group in 2010, the Dawes family became unique with four Life Members – the late Harvey, Jill, Leith and Bruce. The incredible family contribution throughout Mt Lofty’s entire 47-year history is further recognised through the naming of the A Grade Men’s Best and Fairest – the Coventry Dawes Medal. Leith played his first match at just 6 years of age, with Heathfield Aldgate United because his father Harvey’s club, Stirling, could not accommodate him at such a young age. 42 years later at 48 he played his last match when he and his son Callum were in the Devil’s B Grade midfield with brother Bruce and his son Ostyn for the last 10 minutes. His playing career was outstanding with many highlights, including as a member of multiple Premierships – 1990 and 2006 A Grade, 1988 and 2010 B Grade and 2012 C Grade as Captain Coach. Playing a total of 289 senior matches, the vast majority at A Grade level, Leith held the club record of 256 A Grade matches which was only broken in 2017 by Brad Burch. Always putting the club and team first, he also won the A Grade Best and Fairest on 2 occasions in 1993 (shared with Ian Willmott) and 1997. This long-term football career has also been recognised with the awarding of Life Membership of the Hills Football League.
His contribution off the field over the decades, however, is almost unbelievable, beginning as a young boy as boundary umpire for the C Grade and manning the gate and scoreboard. From an influential committee member to coaching, Leith has contributed so much to the success of the club. While coaching at all levels, including A Grade Captain Coach in 1997 and 1998, he won South Australia’s Junior Coach of the year in 2021 after coaching all junior grades including junior girls. Perhaps Leith’s biggest contribution was leading the Auskick Program for over 20 years where he has attracted hundreds of boys and girls to the Devils, many becoming long time club people playing, volunteering and supporting the club. A passion to attract young players where they had so much fun, was backed up as a person who’s easy going manner and football knowledge saw him provide development in football and life to players at all levels from 6 to 46 years. The critical importance of this role is often overlooked in clubs, but it is fundamental to club survival and success, regardless of how successful club recruiters of A Grade players might be.
There are few roles Leith has not carried out for the Devils, across Senior and Junior Committees where he has co-ordinated and acted as MC for so many important activities over 30 years, including annual Presentations, the Chairman’s Lunch, Club Reunions, Ladies Days and many more.
While his contribution to football and to the club is exceptional, Leith also umpired HFL matches, including a Junior Grand Final, from Under 14 to A Grade for 3 years before pausing for cricket involvements. With a lifelong love of Australian Football, he has been equally passionate for Cricket and in later life has committed to the game at national and international level. He is the Cricket Australian Masters A Team Captain and recently returned from a tournament in America where the team defeated Cricket Australian Masters over 50’s team in a 45 over format as well as both American teams.
Outside the support and development of Mt Lofty Footballers and Mt Lofty Cricketers, Leiths hard work extends throughout the sporting communities sharing the Heathfield Sporting Complex. A very balanced approach when representing these clubs has served clubs well in negotiations and in maintaining and developing facilities. Work in this area over the years and as a volunteer for the Mt Lofty District Community and Sports Club has also been recognised with Life Membership to Leith.
On behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty, we thank Leith sincerely for the exceptional role he has played throughout the entire 47-year history of the club.
Leith’s Last Match in 2018 with Brother Bruce, nephew Ostyn and son Callum
Leiths final premiership in 2016
Many Mt Lofty Devils players started Auskick and went on to be coached by him as they progressed through to Modified Rules to Junior Grades to Senior Football
Leith – the Master of Ceremonies at so many Mt Lofty events over many years.
Register your interest legends@mtloftydevils.com.au and join us as we celebrate the rich history of our incredible club!
Saturday, 22nd August 2026 1:00 PM Upstairs in the Clubrooms Afternoon tea provided by the Lofty Legends
As we gather at our final home game of the season against Lobethal, we’ll be bringing together past and present players, volunteers, supporters, families, and friends to celebrate the people and moments that have shaped our club.
We’ll also be recognising some remarkable milestones:
80 Years – 1946 Stirling FC A Grade Premiers (Post-WWII) 60 Years – 1966 Heathfield-Aldgate United FC competing in the Adelaide Metro League & the opening of Heathfield Oval 50 Years – 1976 HAU A & B Grade Premiers 40 Years – 1986 Mt Lofty FC A & B Grade Double Premiers 20 Years – 2006 Mt Lofty FC A Grade, B Grade & Senior Colts Triple Premiers 10 Years – 2016 Mt Lofty FC Inaugural Women’s Team
Whether you played, volunteered, supported from the sidelines, or simply have great memories of the club, we’d love to see you there.
A great excuse to reconnect with mates and celebrate the club we all love.
Mt Lofty District Football Club would like to thank Haydn Cutting who is did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin this week’s HFL Round 7 match against The Hahndorf Football Club at Heathfield oval in front of the Arkaba Clubhouse on 30 May 2026.
He is joined by his wife Dee, eldest daughter Allison and Granddaughters Mia and Harriet and Sister-in-Law Jill Colotti and James Colotti. His other children Heath and Claire and families all live overseas and cannot be here today, along with sister Annette who lives interstate.
Haydn was made a Life Member of Mt Lofty in 2017 as a volunteer but had played for Heathfield as a junior and for Heathfield Aldgate in the 1968 B Grade Premiership and the 1971 A Grade Premiership.
When his son Heath commenced playing Junior Football for the Devils, Haydn coached those sides for several years and was subsequently a member of the Junior Committee. Later, he and Kevin Hampton worked together to commence the Lofty Legends Group and has since assisted the Football Club and the District Community and Sports Club, of which he is also a Life Member.
Haydn has admiration for the many people who have built Mt Lofty into one of the biggest clubs in South Australia with 20 teams catering for men, women, boys and girls.
He has very fond memories of the people and achievements of the United days, but very special memories are of playing football with his late brother Neil and then, in later years, watching Heath as Captain of the Devil’s A Grade Premierships in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Very proud family moments took place when Heath got to raise the Neil Cutting Memorial Challenge Cup for competition between Mt Lofty and Bridgewater A Grade. Neil had played and volunteered for both clubs, including the Presidency at Bridgewater before his passing at just 44 in 1998.
As a result of being so involved either playing or supporting, he was the co instigator of the Lofty Legends Group in the role of convenor. Bringing together the heritage of the Club so effortlessly with his connection to the current and future of the club. In the role of Convenor he spent countless hours ensuring the history is always respected for reunion day every year and creating the space for many legendary tales to be told well into the evening. Even though he has handed over this role, he is still a part of what makes our club history flow and assists around the club along with fellow lofty legends.
Haydn is extremely honoured to have been made a Life Member of the Devils and is very grateful for the opportunities which so many wonderful Devils people have given him.
On behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty, we thank you sincerely for all you have done for the Mt Lofty District Football Club.
2018 Lofty Legends Reunion of 1968 B Grade Premiership side – LtoR Peter Hunt, Lew Malzard, Richard Symons, Haydn Cutting, Ian O’Riley, Kym Radbone and David Fuller.
Very Proud Moment – 2006 Mt Lofty A Grade side with Captain Heath Cutting and Coach Nathan Grainger holding the Neil Cutting Memorial Challenge Cup won by the A Grade.
Source of Pride and wonderful memories playing together – The Neil Cutting Memorial Challenge Cup so named after Neil playing and volunteering for both Mt Lofty and Bridgewater – Neil is pictured far left with the team drink container used in those days and celebrating the A Grade winning the Courier Cup in 1987.
Mt Lofty District Football Club would like to thank Ian Deans and welcome Ian Deans, who is a Life Member of the Mt Lofty District Football Club and did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member Coin for the 2026 HFL Round 3 match against Uraidla. A round particularly specially being falling on ANZAC Day. Ian was joined by his wife Mary, his two brothers Bruce and Harry Deans with their wives Dianne and Lynda.
The Deans Family were extremely proud to be asked to toss the coin for this ANZAC Day match. This is especially significant, as their parents Frank and Joan, were involved in World War 2. Frank was a Northern Territory Policeman who joined up and saw action in the Malayan Peninsula and the Battle of Singapore. He was captured and imprisoned in Changi for 3 years. Their mother, Joan, was an English woman serving as a Nursing sister on the English Hospital ships throughout the war. Frank and Joan met after the war and married, however due to the terrible deprivation Frank suffered in Changi prison, he endured ill health and died suddenly, leaving Joan with 6 children. The Deans became a Legacy Family, and to this day, are grateful for the support Legacy gave to our mother and our family.
The five boys of the Deans family, Bruce, Harry, Jim, Ian and Tom, have all been involved with, and played in, Aldgate & Heathfield United Football club. This ultimately became the Mt Lofty & District Football Club that we know today. During this time with the Club the Deans brothers have played in a total of 17 Premierships. One in particular stands out, when Harry Deans kicked the winning goal after the final siren to win the 1986 A Grade Grand final. Harry was subsequently presented with the “Golden Boot” which the club still has, and is displayed in the clubrooms. Tom Deans, was the Mt Lofty & District Football Club A Grade Best & Fairest on two occasions.
On behalf of everybody at Mt Lofty, we thank you sincerely for all you have done for the club.
PHOTO ON DAY Back row: Greg Bond, Mt Lofty President, Renae Deans, Mt Lofty Life Member Ian Deans, Daniel Deans, Paul Deans, Seb Deans, Bruce Deans, Diane Deans, Steve Dunning, Haydn O’Shaghnessy, Trevor Ranford. Front row with Harry Deans: Lynda Deans, Laura Deans and Mary DeansPHOTO ON DAY United Premiership Players from the late 1960’s and 1970’s. Don Lobban (official), David Evans, Trevor Ranford, Ian Deans, Haydn O’Shaughnessy, Bruce Deans, Steven Dunning and Harry Deans.PHOTO ON DAY L to R Diane Deans, Laura Deans and Lynda Deans2019 – The Deans Family – Harry, Lynda, Bruce, Diane, Ian and Mary2015 Harry & Ian Deans2015 Ian Deans and Jill Dawes
We would like to thank Lew Malzard who did us the honour of tossing the commemorative Life Member coin for the match against Lobethal on Saturday 11 April 2026. Lew was joined by his son Jonathan and grandson Lucas.
Lew was a passionate player, member and supporter playing in many premierships over a long period of time. He spent some time at Sturt Football Club but his first love was always Heathfield FC.
Living in Eden hills he commuted to Heathfield by train each week to train and play on the rough oval in the middle of the skyline raceway where Heathfield High School stands today. Lew regularly stayed overnight with the Strazdins family and very close friendships were formed, spending hours on Sunday mornings clearing rocks and debris to create the oval we play on today.
The formation of the Heathfield Aldgate United Football Club saw the team enter the Hills Central Zone in 1967. Unfortunately, Lew missed this premiership as he was in hospital recovering from a car accident. But before long, the hospital room door burst open, with teammates raising the Premiership cup high with many cheers!
Lew played in the 1961 Under 16 premiership for Heathfield, followed by the 1962 first senior premiership in the Sturt District Football League. In 1971, with Coach Warren “Sherg” Foster at the helm, then began the dynasty of a long period of success with 88 games without a loss. Lew also played in the last B grade Premiership with Heathfield Aldgate United in 1978 before the club amalgamated with Stirling in 1979 to become the Mt Lofty District Football Club. He was a staunch club committee member and along with his wife Elizabeth, a foundation member of the sports club.
Lew was proudly awarded Life Membership prior to Mt Lofty entering SAFA, and eventually retired and took up umpiring. Unfortunately, an achilles injury ended his field umpiring career, however after moving to the Fleurieu Peninsula, Lew took up Goal Umpiring at A grade level in the Great Southern Football League with his now local Club Encounter Bay.
Lew is proud of his association with this club and it has been a pleasure to connect with so many over a lifetime. He wishes everyone associated with Hills Football an enjoyable 2026 and his hope to see Mt Lofty get the win on the day came to fruition against the 2025 runner up!
On behalf of everybody at Mt MLDFC, we thank you sincerely for all you have done for the club.
Lew doing us the honour of performing the Life Member Coin Toss. Mt Lofty won the Toss, Mt Lofty Captain Tyson Hone elected to kick uphill first and we won the match.L-R Son Jonathan, Lew Malzard, Grandson LucasL-R President Greg Bond, Lew Malzard, A Grade Coach Michael Bawden, Lofty Legends Convenor and Head Trainer Nikki Moore
Saturday, 22nd August 2026
1:00 PM
Upstairs in the Clubrooms
Afternoon tea provided by the Lofty Legends
80 Years – 1946 Stirling FC A Grade Premiers (Post-WWII)
