Strengthened by 11 BL&G players, the expansive and restructured Murray-Mallee-Barrier-Barossa (MMBB) Zone last weekend won the 2008 SA country football championship.
The championships were played over Saturday and Sunday in the Riverland.
“The support we received from everyone involved in the Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association could not be faulted,” winning coach Craig Griffiths said.
“The way all the players approached the weekend and the challenges presented was first class.
“Winning the State Championship for the first time speaks volumes for the three leagues involved – BL&G, Riverland and Mallee.
“The players are part of history and no-one can ever take that away from them.
“It is amazing what can be achieved when three proud leagues work together to achieve one goal.”
On day one at Berri Oval, in the preliminary round, the side had a convincing 45-point first up win against the Northern Cities Zone.
Brad Valentine from Kapunda produced a sterling display in defence, while Tanunda’s Ben Newberry racked up a number of possessions.
Chris McLean (Willaston) was creative across half forward and Greg Bain (Angaston) had an influence on his wing.
Starting slowly in the second game against Southern, the MMBB side were 14-points down at the break.
They regrouped and kicked four goals in the second half to win by nine points.
Valentine was again stoic in defence, while Bain continued his sterling tournament, giving plenty of drive and run from his wing.
On Sunday, after a tight first quarter, the MMBB side controlled the final against the Central Zone, breaking the game open in the second term. They secured victory by a handsome 50-point margin.
Tanunda big man Luke Wells gave his smaller midfielders plenty of opportunities, while Newberry and Bain continued their brilliant form.
Three BL&G players Valentine (centre half back), Newberry (ruck-rover) and Wells (interchange) were among seven MMBB players in the team of the championship’s side and this trio are also in a 29-man squad for the Australian Country Football Championships in Shepparton in Victoria from July 24-27.
All the 11 BL&G players, Matt Stelzer (Barossa) as a rover, McLean as a small forward, Darren Leske (Freeling) across half back, Andrew Prior (Tanunda) in the last line of defence, Andrew Pech (Angaston), as a part of the on-ball rotations, Brad Taylor (Kapunda) at half forward and on the ball, and Shawn Gibson (Nuriootpa) in defence had an influence on the team’s performances.
Brad Valentine was also awarded the Maynard Medal as the Zone’s player of the carnival.
Griffiths said that having former AFL players Rodney Maynard and Troy Lehmann as well as BL&G interleague guru Paul Ryan in the coaching group had been another significant factor in the team’s success.
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