Print this pageAdelaide midfielder Brent Reilly has turned his back on the chance to play in an SANFL premiership with Sturt. Despite playing the mandatory three minor round SANFL games, Reilly consulted Sturt coach Rick Macgowan before making the shock decision not to play in Sunday's qualifying final against Central District.
It comes just 12 months after Power midfielder Nathan Lonie - who was also qualified - pulled out from lining up with North Adelaide in last year's SANFL grand final.
"Brent won't play and that's a decision he and Sturt made," Adelaide operations manager John Reid confirmed.
"Brent hasn't been an integral part of their (Sturt's) year and so he and Ricky Macgowan got together and that's the decision they made.
"I think Reills probably thought he was taking up a spot someone else (at Sturt) would have earned.
"We haven't got a problem at all with that, it's sweet.
"If we've got a player we don't want to play because he's injured or needs remedial work then we obviously step in.
"But it's got to work both ways because generally the clubs go out of their way for us."
Before Sturt's round 19 contest with Norwood, Reilly hadn't played for the Double Blues since 2004.
The man known as Radar then qualified for the SANFL finals series by taking his season's tally to three games with matches in round 22 and 23.
But Sturt coach Macgowan said he understood Reilly's decision, given the 24-year-old Victorian hadn't played for the Unley-based club in more than four years.
"It's tough for him," Macgowan said after Reilly earned 20 possessions with the Double Blues against Central District on Saturday night.
"He's been with the Crows all year and for the past three or four or five years he hasn't had much to do at this (Sturt) footy club and their (Adelaide's) season is finished.
"We've got plenty of depth around so we're probably better off playing someone from the reserves."
The Double Blues will have access to all four of their Power-listed players qualified for the SANFL finals.
Power operations manager Peter Rohde declared Fabian Deluca, Mitch Farmer and Adam Thomson would all be permitted to face the Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval from 3.10pm.
But utility Greg Bentley, who suffered a hamstring strain while training with the Double Blues, is unlikely to be fit for another fortnight.
"We think he's going to miss a couple of games, there was a definite tear there," Rohde said.
"He'll be available at some point during the finals but obviously match practice is going to be the issue with him."
STURT will play West Adelaide in Waikerie next premiership season for the River Murray Cup.
Courtesy of The Advertiser
Story by Zac Milbank