Cam Sutcliffe will again lead Port Adelaide's SANFL side in 2022.

CAM SUTCLIFFE will again lead Port Adelaide’s SANFL side and fan favourite John Butcher is back on a permanent basis among the club’s signings for the 2022 SANFL season.

Sutcliffe was named Port Adelaide’s leadership player for the first time in 2019 before being upgraded to the club’s AFL rookie list mid-season.

Since losing his place in the AFL side, Sutcliffe has remained with the club to guide its inexperienced SANFL outfit and work in its community programs as the Program Coordinator for the Power to End Violence Against Women and Empowered programs.

The 29-year-old played 12 matches in 2021 with a shoulder injury causing him to miss a handful of games, but he was still finished fourth in the best and fairest having averaged 19.3 disposals and booting 15 goals for the season.

Butcher played just the one game in 2021 having signed late in the year when injuries took their toll on the playing list.

The 30-year-old previously played 69 SANFL gams for the club for 118 goals between 2010 and 2016 before stints at Central District in the SANFL, Hamley Bridge in the Adelaide Plains Football League, Maffra in regional Victoria and Nightcliffe in the Northern Territory.

John Butcher celebrates kicking a goal for the Magpies against South Adelaide in Round 18 this year.

Along with Butcher and Sutcliffe, Port Adelaide has retained 17 players from 2021 including Campbell Wildman, who took out the Anthony Williams Memorial Trophy as the SANFL contracted player of the year, and Tom Corcoran and Jake Westbrook who each finished top 10 in the best and fairest voting.

The club has yet to finalise its playing list but so far has signed five new faces including former Woodville-West Torrens pair Jackson Lee and Nick Moore along with Brayden Kirk from Crystal Brook and formerly North Adelaide.

Moonta forward/midfielder Aidan Turner and Mac Nield from PHOS Camden round out the signings.

“Jackson has played League football at the Eagles and will add depth to our outside mids and half backs and Nick also played 16 league games,” said SANFL and Next Generation Academy Manager, Shane Grimm.

“He is a high energy forward who will provide a lot of pressure and energy to our forward line.

“Aidan spent time in the Woodville-West Torrens talent program before an injury saw him miss a lot of football. He played at his home Club Moonta in 2021 and comes highly recommended along with Brayden, who played League football with North Adelaide in 2019 and played at home in Crystal Brook in 2021.

“Mac is a West Adelaide junior and along with Jackson, Nick, Aidan and Brayden, will add significant depth to our SANFL contracted list. We look forward to having them all at the club.”

The SANFL squad will commence pre-season training on Tuesday 30 November.

2022 SANFL Squad (as at 17/11/2021)

Returning

  • Cam Sutcliffe (Leadership player)
  • Matt Appleton
  • Dylan Aldridge
  • John Butcher
  • Miller Carter
  • Ollie Cheesman
  • Tom Corcoran
  • Ethan Moore
  • Campbell Wildman
  • Jake Westbrook
  • Jake Weidemann
  • Luke Surman
  • Callum Saunders
  • Aryan Sareen
  • Jack Strange
  • Sean Samblich
  • Owen Montgomery

New

  • Aidan Turner (Moonta) (Forward/Mid)
  • Brayden Kirk (NAFC/Crystal Brook) (Forward/Mid)
  • Jackson Lee (WWTFC) (Forward/Mid/Back)
  • Nick Moore (WWTFC) (Forward/Mid)
  • Mac Nield (PHOS Camden) (Forward/Mid)