All eyes will be on the Barossa Valley this weekend as the state’s best footballers converge on the region for the 2023 State Country Championships.

Local competitions will have a bye this weekend as the best players from the Western Border, Mid South East and Kowree-Naracoorte Tatiara leagues head north to compete.

The three local leagues will combine to form the South East side that is looking to defend its first title which it won in 2022.

This year’s team will be coached by Nick Davis from the KNTFL with Port MacDonnell’s Ben McGregor, and Millicent’s Clint Gallio both acting as assistant coaches.

Gallio will be the only one of the three coaches who will also take the field as a player during the weekend.

The squad that will travel up to the Barossa Valley region will also have nine under 21 players playing.

The high numbers of younger players demonstrates the young talent the three local leagues have at their disposal.

The South East’s first game will be against Southern Districts at 10.35am on Saturday, before it faces up against Eyre Peninsula at 1.05pm.

Depending on results Sunday will see the side playing a final game that could possibly give the chance to defend its title should they win on the first day.

The South East will also have a women’s team competing, it will be the fifth year of the women’s competition and the local team will be searching for its first ever Country Championship.

The South East women’s side will be filled with the best players from the Limestone Coast Women’s Football League.

The team will go into the competition with high hopes of being the first local women’s side to take out the title.

The event will have a lot on offer for members of the football community, as well as the many games which will be played over the weekend.

Saturday’s competition will end with Southern Districts and Central Districts acting as a curtain raiser for the SANFL match between Central Districts and Adelaide.