We are very excited to announce that A Grade Men’s coach Michael Bawden is back to lead our senior men’s group for Season 2023. Having led the lads on a great trajectory both on and off field over the last two years, we are thrilled to have Bawds back to continue their journey.
A message from Bawds to the club: I’m really looking forward to getting back into training as we prepare for the 2023 with high expectations. We have a strong group of players who have shown excellent improvement across the past two years. The fantastic effort by the B Grade team to win the premiership shows we have quality depth at the club. As we head into 2023 we are confident our outstanding young group will make the next step to play finals footy along with the recruiting of some high quality mids, and much needed scoring power into our forward line, plus a terrific group of lads graduating up to senior footy from our Under 18s, should set us up for a successful season in both grades.
In the coming days, Mount Lofty District Football Club (MLDFC) will open the registration portal for the 2023 season. Considerable time has been spent reviewing the expenses the club will incur over the next 18 months to ensure registration fees align with the ongoing viability of the football club.
We are all living through significant pricing pressures at home and at work, and the football club is not immune from these same pressures. We are expecting, and in many cases have experienced, significant cost increases in electricity, gas, game day consumables like footballs, guernseys, sporting tape, food, beverages plus maintenance costs for playing fields, clubrooms and change rooms.
Your senior and junior committees have worked hard to increase our revenue streams and reduce expenses to maintain a strong and vibrant destination for AFL loving families in the Adelaide Hills and one of those actions is to introduce a modest increase in playing registration fees in 2023.
Please see below the increases by age group:
An early bird discount of $20 will apply to all registration prior to 31 January 2023. Also, all South Australian children in Reception to Year 9 are eligible for the SA Government $100 Sports Voucher. This means if a child is 5 (or turning 5 in the calendar year) to 15 years old, they are eligible. Remember it is one voucher for each eligible child per calendar year. In 2023, eligible children are born between 2008 and 2018.
I am pleased to confirm that we have secured a high proportion of our coaches for the 2023 season for the modified and junior teams. However, we still require nominations for the Under 11 SANFL Girls team and the Under 8s mixed teams.
The Devs are thrilled to welcome key forward Josh Sykes to Arkaba Oval for season 2023.
Josh is a proven goal kicker across many seasons of senior footy. He has played in A Grade Premierships for Port Bulldogs in the Spencer Gulf Football League. He also has Division 1 Amateur League experience at Salisbury North and Athelstone and has been the leading goal kicker at Birdwood Footy Club across the last three seasons.
In his senior career Josh has a total of 6 club leading goal kicker awards.
As a Full forward Josh is hard to beat 1 on 1, quick off the mark, leads strongly at the footy and loves to kick a goal.
On top of his ability to kick goals Josh’s football experience and knowledge will be a big plus to the Devs as he works with the outstanding group of young players making their mark in A Grade footy.
Welcome to the Devs Josh. We are looking forward to seeing you kick a heap of gaols in 2023. Give ’em Hell!
Mt Lofty Football Club is thrilled to announce to have Tyson Hone back playing for the Devils.
Tyson played his junior footy for Mt Lofty before heading down to Sturt, where he moved through the junior grades to be a key player in the Under 16s and Under 18s.
Tyson played in an Under 18 Premiership for Sturt in 2017. He then Captained the team in 2018. whilst also moving up to the reserves side in that same year.
Tyson has been a key player in Sturt’s Reserves team for the last four years winning the Best Team Man award in 2020 and playing in the Premiership in 2022.
Tyson’s experience and football ability will be a major plus for the Devils in 2023, he is a fast, fit, skilful onballer, who hits the scoreboard when he goes forward. Tyson is an outstanding lad, and the Mt Lofty Footy Club is delighted to have him back at Heathfield.
Mt Lofty Football Club is excited to announce that Sam McTaggart will return to Mt Lofty from North Adelaide for the 2023 season.
Sam won multiple Best and Fairest awards moving through the Devs juniors, before heading to North Adelaide to play Under 16s, Under 18s and Reserves football.
Sam had a great 2022 season and finished off his season playing in the SANFL Reserves finals for North Adelaide FC.
The Devils are absolutly stoked that Sam has chosen to return to Arkaba Oval full time in 2023. His massive running capacity, combined with his ability to find the footy and consistently hit targets, will be a huge boost for the Devs this season.
Sam has shown a high level of leadership already at Mt Lofty, and his work rate Is highly respected by his team mates.
The lads are really pleased to have Sam back, and we look forward to seeing him making a big impact on the Hills Footy League in 2023.
