The Southern Flinders Football Club finished second on the ladder last year and are hoping to go one better this season and claim the premiership.

“The club will build on a very successful 2008 season, our A grade put up a valiant effort in the grand final, as well as our senior colts playing finals, our netball girls had five teams in the finals as well,” said president Peter Reichstein.

This season will be the first time in the history of the club that the team has been made up predominantly of local players, which is due to many of the team’s players achieving apprenticeships with local businesses.

“We are determined to achieve victory this year and will be training hard,” Mr Reichstein said.

“We have lost two or three players from last season, but senior coach Scott Brand is pleased with the young players at his disposal, the experience they gained throughout the finals will be invaluable for this coming season, as about 15 of last year’s A grade were under 23.

“Sponsorship is going well at this early stage, as a club we are very pleased that many of our sponsors have employed a lot of our young footballers.”

He said this season was sure to be nothing less than exciting and hoped the club performed well.

Coaches for the coming season are Scott Brand in A grade, former player Koby Nettle is B grade coach, Michael Gaunt will be in charge of the senior colts while Kym Woolford and John Ballantyne will coach the junior colts team. Captain for the A-grade team this year will be Ben Brown, while last year’s Mail Medallist Matt Woolford will be vice-captain.

The seniors have already been training for the past month preparing for the upcoming season.

Mr Reichstein said the team was made up of a lot of young players who were hard working and determined.

“About 12 to 13 A grade players are aged 21 or under,” he said.

“We also have a good number of lads coming home from university and work in Adelaide to play,” he said.

Vice-presdent of the club is Jim Lynch while David Humphris is secretary. The club’s social committee will again put on some great shows during the season so get behind your local club and support the Tigers as they fight for the flag in 2009.