The South East Men’s Zone Team will compete in the 2025 South Australian Country Football Championships next month.
Former Robe and Kybybolite player Jack Kelly will coach the team in the event, from July 11-13 in Port Pirie.
Kelly returns to the position after successfully coaching the zone in 2022.
His coaching history includes stints at Robe Football Club in the Mid South Eastern Football League in 2017-19 and 2021, winning a premiership in 2018.
Last year he coached his home club Kybybolite in the KNTFL, taking them from bottom to the grand final.
Kelly was appointed coach of the Mid South Eastern Football Interleague team for 2017 and 2018 and Murray South East Zone assistant coach competing in the South Australian Country Championships in 2018 and 2019.
He was appointed as the South East zone coach in 2022 with the team winning the South Australian Country Championships in Whyalla and was then appointed assistant coach of the South Australian State Country Team.
Kelly ventured from his home club Kybybolite to play Under 17s and Under 18s at Glenelg Football Club, before moving to Prince Alfred Old Collegians Football Club and winning the Division 3 Mail Medal.
This saw him recruited to the Sturt Football Club in the SANFL where he played 12 League games over four years, before returning to the South East to play for Robe and then moving into the playing coach role.
A South East Zone spokesman said 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 teammates.
“He has been at his best when representing his state and will bring that passion to zone football,” the spokesman said.
“Kelly replaces Nick Davis who coached the zone team for the past two years.
“Davis’s passion, time and effort was greatly appreciated.
“Coach Jack Kelly will be assisted by a highly credentialled assistant coaching group comprising of current Border District playing coach Zac Richards from the KNTFL and current West Gambier premiership playing coach Daron McElroy of the LCFNL.
“The South East Zone Carnival which is being played on Saturday, June 7 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 squad will be named after the carnival.”
