SPOC Football Club Update

What a season it was for the SPOC Football Club. All 4 grades making finals, and to top it off, the B grade and D grade winning a flag (D grade won their 3rd in a row). As for now, preseason is underway and has been for 3 weeks, with some great numbers out on the track, including new players and coaches.

We also invite all school leavers of 2022 to attend our pre-season sessions. We have already seen great numbers from this group, so if you are interested, below is the SPOC FC training schedule for pre-season.

Monday: Skills and Conditioning – Caterer Oval, St Peter’s College – 6pm start

Tuesday: Gym – St Peter’s College Gym – 5pm to 6:45pm

Wednesday: Skills and Conditioning – Caterer Oval, St Peter’s College – 6pm start

Thursday: Gym – St Peter’s College Gym – 5pm to 6:45pm

If you have any more questions, please contact Ben McGill at benmcgill55@gmail.com

We are also delighted to announce the re-signing of James Higgins and Lachie De Cesare. Both boys are a crucial part of the future at the club and will be pivotal in making a run for another successful season. We can also announce new A grade assistant coaches Michael Barker and Jonnie Read (playing/assistant coach). Both have been fantastic in pre-season so far, giving fantastic instructions as well as quick and honest feedback. This will put our young group in a good space heading into the season.

Details about Our new A grade coach, Mike O’Leary, as well as new players Charlie Allan and Ed Colley are below. 

SPOC Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Mike O’Leary as its Senior Coach for 2023. Mike impressed the recruitment panel as the best candidate from a well-qualified group of external and internal candidates who applied for the advertised role.

Mike has an extensive football background having originally played league football at both Norwood and Sturt in the SANFL. His coaching credentials include being the SPOC Assistant A Grade Coach in 2022, Assistant A Grade Coach and B Grade Premiership Coach at Adelaide University, an A Grade Premiership Coach at Pembroke Old Scholars (Div. 3), A Grade Coach at Old Ignatians and more recently in the St Peter’s school program assisting the First 18. Mike is an Old Scholar, who also captained the First 18.

Mike said "I would like to thank Guy and the Committee for the opportunity I have been given to lead the SPOC FC as A grade coach. I am excited to be continuing my time with SPOC and am eager to start the pre-season in late November, reconnect with current players, be involved with the recruitment of new players and welcoming the latest batch of "new" old scholars to the club.

I look forward to the prospect of creating a positive coaching and learning environment for all players and contributing to the development of the long term vision of the football program".

Mike's existing positive relationships with the players, support team and Committee will help provide a smooth transition and preparation for the 2023 season.

The SPOC Football club are delighted to announce the signing of Charlie Allan from the West Adelaide Football Club.

Charlie is a tough inside midfielder with great running capacity and has the ability to hit the scoreboard as well. In 2022, Charlie played 6 SANFL League games for West Adelaide and averaged 16 disposals per game. Charlie also finished runner up in the SANFL Reserve’s Best and Fairest count.

Charlie will be joining his close mates and more importantly, his brothers Edward and Hamish. We are told it will be the first time all three Allan’s will be taking the field together!

SPOC FC are delighted to announce the signing of former SPOCCO Ed Colley, from the Minman Eagles.

Ed is a fast, tough midfielder/forward who brings a wealth of experience back to our young club. For those who don’t remember Ed, he was a part of the famous 2018 D2 undefeated premiership winning side, kicking what was arguably the sealer in the grand final against Brighton.

After his departure in 2021 to Dudley United (Kangaroo Island), Ed was rewarded with the Mail medal for being voted the best player in the competition. Coll then came back to Adelaide and signed with the Minman Eagles, where he played 10 games, being named in the best players 6 times, whilst also kicking 9 goals.

Ed comes back to us at the perfect time. His experience and knowledge of Div 1 footy is exceptional and will help the younger players along the way.