The South East Men’s Zone team will compete in the 2022 South Australian Country Championships in July under the guidance of current Robe player Jack Kelly.
Kelly’s coaching history includes coaching at Robe Football Club in the Mid South Eastern Football League in 2017-19 and 2021.
His highlight was winning a premiership in 2018, while he was also appointed coach of the Mid South Eastern Football Interleague team for 2017 and 2018 and Murray South East Zone assistant coach in the 2018 and 19 South Australian Country Championships.
Kelly ventured from his home club, Kybybolite, to play Under 17’s and Under 18’s at Glenelg Football Club.
He then moved to Prince Alfred Old Collegians Football Club and won the Division 3 Mail Medal which saw him recruited to the Sturt Football Club in the SANFL where he played 12 League games over four years.
His next move was back to the South East where he started playing for the Roosters and progressed into the playing coach role.
Kelly has been a passionate player when it comes to representative football, enjoying the opportunity to test himself against the best players in the state and has been a popular player with his team mates.
He has been at his best when representing his state and will bring that passion to zone football.
Kelly replaces Adam Merrett who coached the zone team for five years and has left a legacy of very competitive teams which won the championship in 2016 and 17.
Merrett’s passion, time and effort is greatly appreciated and leaves a great foundation for the future of coaches and teams alike.
Kelly, will be assisted by a highly credentialed assistant coaching group consisting of the Mid South East’s Ben McGregor and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara’s Nick Davis KNTFL who will be coaching their respective leagues in the South East Zone Carnival plus Western Border representative Steve Duldig.
The South East Zone Carnival which is being played on Saturday, June 11 at Kongorong Football Oval will give Kelly and coaching staff a great opportunity to see players in action for the training squad to represent the South East zone team.
The South East Men’s Zone squad will be named after the carnival.
