Don McSweeny Cup Match makes a return

By ZAC MILBANK

First Nations Round celebrations will continue on Saturday when the Don McSweeny Cup match makes a highly-anticipated return at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.

Kicking off at 3.30pm after the Hostplus SANFL League game between Woodville-West Torrens and Yartapuulti, it will be the first time since 2019 that a host of budding regional First Nations stars will get their chance to shine in the big smoke.

This year’s contest will see the APY Thunder team tackle the All Stars, who have come together from the Clontarf and Tjindu programs.

APY Thunder, headlined by David Coombes (Pipalyatjara Lions), Scotty James (Central Swans) and Paul Brumby (Indulkana), will be playing on a turf field for the first time this season with the SANFL APY League taking place on the red dirt ovals of Central Australia.

Hosting the Don McSweeny Cup further strengthens the Eagles’ ties to the remote communities in the far north of the State, having previously had Fregon’s Amos Frank line up at Woodville before being drafted to Hawthorn following his SANFL debut in 2011.

Since then, a number of talented APY Lands players have represented the Eagles, with Kieran Roberts featuring in a Reserves Premiership.